After a perfectly executed Hopkinton to Boston College run (thanks to all the volunteers for being where they needed to be when they needed to in order to make this such a great day, and for all the runners for making it a joy to keep you running strong along the course!) it’s time to taper. For those in this for the first time, Taper Time is that time where you let your legs recover from all the training runs, making them as ready as possible for Boston. To do this we do shorter runs at normal training pace. Back in the first week in January you probably didn’t think of a 15 mile run as taking it easy, but this Sunday you’ll see that it is.
This week’s run if 5 laps of Breakheart. April Fools! Actually the run is very similar to what we did two weeks ago. The weather seems to have spared us, there is snow on the ground but the sidewalks of Melrose are visible but wet.
We’ll start out East Foster up to Melrose Common, turning right on 6th Street and continuing straight as it becomes Swain’s Pond Ave. When you get to the pond, turn right at the stop sign to continue on Swains Pond Ave. Follow this to an intersection with a closed convenience store on the right and a very wide turn of Lebanon Street. As some of you know, if you don’t turn right here you’ll end up in Malden. Nothing against Malden but TURN RIGHT. When you get to a set of lights on Lebanon turn left, this is Forest Street which will take you past Oak Grove Cemetery and over to Main Street in Malden. Across Main you’ll find water stop 1.
After this stop, just like before, leave through the other end of the parking lot onto Winter Street, run past Oak Grove T Stop and straight through a 5-way intersection on to Glenwood. This street will wind its way to Highland Ave where you take a right and another quick right on to the Fellsway East at a traffic circle. Run through the hills, past Grimsby’s on to the LynnFells Parkway… unless you’re running short where the route turns onto West Wyoming which brings you to a left on to Main Street to finish up 7 miles. Long runners will follow the LynnFells Parkway to Melrose High School where they’ll find water stop 2.
After this stop continue up LynnFells Parkway to Saugus, turning left onto Main Street in Saugus. Follow Main as it turns into Farm Street in Wakefield, turning left on Nahant across from Wakefield High School, and running to Main Street in Wakefield coming out at Nick’s Pizza where you’ll have water stop 3.
After Nick’s Pizza follow Main Street back to Melrose and back to Brueggers.
Water stops. I only need one volunteer to help me. Who will it be? I believe Hank is taking a well deserved vacation. Tom?
Who’s in? Roll Call?!
IFTF. Ty
IFTF
very clever trick! I’m in for short. Thanks!
Ahh Jim you still got it!!!!
In for the full.
In for the full. Thanks Jim!
In for the short! Thanks Jim.
IFTF. Bring on the taper. My brain hurts from reading this upside down!
IFTF. Thanks!
I am in for half
Jim, I don’t think I’ll be able to do the water stop tomorrow.
Luckily I was able to find the transform: rotate property and read this.
That’s ok Tom, Jessi’s going to help. Thanks anyway!
Also, if anyone still has supplies from last week, bring them tomorrow.
Bethany is in for the full. Me and Jen Dodge are in for the full (but maybe a little less)! Thank you, Jim!!
In for the full. Thanks
Volunteer love
Jess and I are in for the short. Thanks.
Mike and I in for part of 1/2 route!
IFTH. writing this post is OK. As long as you don’t try and read while texting. Not only is text upside down, but it fills in backwards too. Yep, definitely time for another beer!
Thanks, Jim!
Full please. Thank you!
Hi Jim. I’m in for at least the half–maybe the full. Thanks and see you tomorrow.
In for the full 🙂
Oh that Engineer Jim and his hi-jinx!
Change of plans. Bethany is not running and me and Jen Dodge will do the half. Thanks!
In the full
I’ll be stopping at my house so I’m in for, uh, 87%? 🙂
IN for the half plus something
In for the half plus something…thank you!
IFTF… thanks
I am in for the Full.
Thanks Jim and everyone last week fantastic job myself and ray in for the full going out to shovel and not an April fools joke
In for the full thanks
In for the half…thanks Jim!