finally assaulted

For the last few years, the Soapstone Assault has hung out there as a tease – at the wrong time of summer if you work with camps, ideally placed right at the wrong time for mid summer illnesses, obligations etc.
Except this year.
I was told it is 5.4miler that seems like a bit more than a 10k. Basically, there are six approaches to the top of Soapstone Mountain in Somers, CT. The race app states 1800 feet of vertical climb and 1500 feet of vertical drop (one finishes at the top).
But, that seems like fun to me.
The start is based off of the Dipsea handicap system, so I got a 2:21 advantage – but there were plenty of very good runners who started out ahead of me. So, when my time came (some 20 minutes after Richard Busa), off I went to who knows what.
Going up the first hill, I caught one person I know one time group ahead of me (was I going out too fast?) and on the way down, I saw Matt Dawson strongly driving up.
Matt caught me almost at the top of the second climb, but my ‘downhill prowess’ kept me ahead of him…until we hit the bottom and he took off.
I saw him descending 3 and 4, but by the time I was going up #5 – he was finishing #6 (he finished in 50 & change – that is amazing).
I finally caught Richard Busa somewhere after 4, but it would seem false bravado to boast that it took one that long to catch a 78-year old.
Going up Quarry Hill (did we *really* just do that?!?!) my overall watch showed 54 minutes, could I complete #5, head down to the bottom and do Killer Hill in less than 6 minutes?
What descending Quarry didn’t take from me was quickly removed by the road to and the base of #6 Killer Hill ~ a 45 degree pitched climb for roughly 300 or so feet.
But, I kept the legs moving and ran up the fire tower in 1:01:16 – which should be a 58:55 time adjusted.
No Grand Tree points for this one and it doesn’t matter. A great challenging, but not insane event so close to home, plus early enough not to alter a whole day and getting to see some trail friends.
Next up – the social event of the summer – People’s Forest!

the stars align

when the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with mars ~
we’ve hit the age of aquarius here folks. I’ve been growing out much of my locks this summer in the hopes of changing the ch’i of staleness and headaches since Northfield.
Today, it seemed to work.
If not, at least I’ll be ready for the final scene of Hair.
In an effort to resolve this continual sinusitis, headaches and assorted respiratory system problems, I went to a EENT (who also happens to be a good friend) and the expected result was for an MRI of my entire head. I understood clearly what this meant (and I agreed) – let’s make sure that there are no growths or tumors in there.
And for the record, there are none.
The day after I got the results, I slept well for the first time in much more than a week.
BUT…
My septum looks worse that the pathway for the Olympic ski mogul course. It explains why my breathing is as tough as it is. There essentially is no straight part of this ‘should-be-straight’ item.
So, onward towards more trail races knowing whatever presents to me is not going to harm me further. Just suck it up and go with it. That I can deal with.

black bear mating season

as much as i enjoy the trail, life and work and my own aging body required me to back *way* off of training.
Like run twice since Northfield.
So, I did that.
and tried to catch up on work and life (both without success).
BUT we did get to catch up with most of our soccer friends at a great July 4th party.
and got in two good runs this week on some very humid days.
Skyline is Sunday and I just might do that.
Soapstone Assault is the weekend after and I think I finally will be able to do that...
finally!
getting back in the saddle doesn't seem that bad after some time away.
* * *
I did a bunch of reading recently. Including some work on the mating habits of black bears here. Apparently, their sex lives in Connecticut reach a peak around July 4th and therefore that is *not* a good time to be in the woods.
You see, mating often can last an extended period of time and with various partners. That's a lot of bear behinds that I don't want to run upon.
Which reminds me of a great quote from "A Walk In The Woods".
There appear to be several strategies for responding around different types of bears in different situations. Mr. Bryson felt that they should all be handled the same way. "The experts advise you not to run, but you may as well do something with the last 7 seconds of your life".
Well said.
I am still more afraid of seeing a catamount.