As we make our way through September, there are a lot of miles flying by as we make our way to Baystate and Chicago, and also for all the great halfs coming up over the next month. The plan for this week is that I’ll be at Nick’s Pizza for the whole morning. Whatever distance you’re running, swing by there every 4 or 5 miles and grab a snack. Write your name on a cup when you pass through the first time. When you aren’t coming back anymore throw your cup away. When all the cups are gone I’ll head home.
The planned route is as follows: Run up Main Street, past Ell Pond where you say hi to Clarence DeMar. Continue north on Main Street into Wakefield to the intersection of Main, North Ave, and Nahant. Nick’s Pizza is on the right, after Dunkin Donuts. Grab a drink.
Continue running up Main Street until you get to southern end of Lake Quannapowitt. If you’re running short you’ll turn left there on Church Street, following to North Ave where you turn left to bring you back to Nick’s Pizza. Follow Main Street back to Melrose to finish up your 8 mile run. If you want more like 10.7 miles you can loop the lake with the long runners. They’ll stay on Main Street running the east side of Lake Q and run almost a complete loop of the lake counterclockwise: left on Lowell Street, left on Quannapowitt Way, left on North Ave. Follow North Ave straight back to Nick’s Pizza.
After that water stop the plan is to run Nahant over to Wakefield High School. Cross Farm Street and run up by the Voc on Hemlock Road and through the parking lot straight through to the entrance of Breakheart Reservation. Run a counterclockwise loop of Breakheart by staying to the right as you enter, running the hills first, use the bathroom or water fountain at the headquarters as needed, continue around to the left and then bearing right as you come to the beach area. Watch for the Voc on your right and pop back out into the parking lot, down Hemlock, over to Nahant and back to Nick’s Pizza.
To finish a 16 mile run take Main Street back to Melrose to finish. To do a 22, find yourself a nice 6 mile loop that brings you back to Nick’s. One option using streets we’ve trained on before is to head up Main Street to Wakefield Center, turn right onto Water Street (Rte 129), follow to a left on Montrose which will bring you to Lowell Street. Turn left on Lowell, follow it up to Lake Quannapowitt bearing right at a fork of Salem and Lowell streets along the way. Once at the lake turn left and follow Main Street back to Nick’s. That’s just one option. However you go I’ll wait for you at Nick’s Pizza.
As far as water stops go, I’ve got this. There is one water stop and I’ll take care of it. This will be my last week of water stopping you this season though. After this week your trusted Lois will take you through to the finish of the season.
Roll Call. Who’s in?
Hi Jim
Julie and I are in for 22. Going to start early to do the extra miles!
We will see you at Nicks! Thank you for organizing every week and getting us ready for Chicago.
In for the half!
In for the 8
In for 9+
In for 22. Thank you so much. I appreciate your thoughtful consideration of Chicago runners!
Hi Jim…planning on a 20 miler and running the extra 4 first, so I will see you at nick’s. thank you for the support!
Must….Run…The…Full… Thanks Jim!!
Thanks Jim— I’m doing 9 before we start so 1400000000000000 with the group.
Half for me
In for the half, thanks!
In for some or part of the full, thanks!
In for 10+ miles. Thanks Jim!
Stan in for full/22 and I second what Amy said thank you for all your hard work
In for 10 or so…will start and end at Nick’s. Thanks:)
Jim, hope you can hang at that water stop for the rest of the year as Nicole has big plans for mileage 🙂
In for the half, thanks!
In for the 8 miles. Thank you.
In for something . I’m bringing an extra person.
In for 8- thank you!!
Iftf!!
I’m in for the full, please!!
IFTF. Thank you!
Newbie here! What time is the start? If I’ve read previous weeks it appears to be 8am, correct? If so then I’m out :-(. Too late of a start for me. At least this weekend.
In for half. Thanks
In long good night ????????
In for the half…thanks Jim!
Freddi and I will there for something??? Thanks Jim!!!
Roz, it is 8am, almost always 8. See you some other week then!
Btw, I’m pretty sure I’ve met you many years ago at Barry’s party, correct?
Everyone else, we’ll see you for 14 bazillion miles tomorrow! 🙂
IFTF! Both noah and I. May start from Reading and pick it up at the lake. Thanks Jim!!!!
Full please. Thank you, Jim.
Judi and IRIF 13ish. See you at Nick’s, and Nick’s, and Nick’s…
In for something short of the half. But I will be at Nick’s at least once.