Sunday Run

Last week runners were treated to cool temperatures, dry air, and an overcast sky. Most people would complain that their summer Sunday morning was like that, but not runners. The group embraced the opportunity for a run unencumbered by the heat of summer and ran strong with glowing smiles. The running we’ve done in the heat has shown to make us stronger, and it shows when the weather turns cool. This past week was a nice tease for what to expect in October half marathons and marathons… or even Iceland. This week won’t be as cool, but its August so…

Our route this week starts out heading to Winchester via Franklin Street. Take Main Street north (say hi to Clarence DeMar as you pass Ell Pond, our patron saint of running) to a left onto Franklin. Follow this through Franklin Square, up a big hill, past Stoneham High School to a set of lights at an intersection with Summer Street. Turn left there and wind your way over to Main Street in Stoneham. Cross Main over to Marble Street. Follow that as it crosses over I93 and becomes Forest Street in Winchester. Look for the water stop on your left on Eugene Street.

Going short? Turn around and come back over I93. Turn right at a set of lights onto  Park Street. Follow Park until you get to Main Street where Friendly’s is. Turn right here and run the backside of Spot Pond following Main over I93, under I93, through a few hills to where you’ll turn left onto Elm Street, your first major street intersecting with Main Street. Follow Elm up to the rotary at Highland and Woodland Street. Hug the turn left at the hockey rink and run the front side of Spot Pond to Pond Street. Right on Pond, continuing onto West Wyoming at Grimsby’s and a left turn on Main Street will get you to the end of your 8.2 mile run.

Going long? From the water stop you’ll continue on Forest Street and turn left onto Highland Ave at the Winchester Hospital signs. Highland will bring you up to the hospital, turn left onto Reservoir Road and run along my favorite street of the SLR program. This road will loop along the fells and drop you back onto Highland where you turn left. Follow Highland all the way to its end. In there is a 5-way intersection that sometimes causes confusion, you want to go straight through. At the end of Highland will be a water stop. Enjoy.

After that water stop you want to turn right on Rte 38, Main Street in Winchester. This will take you to a small rotary, here you want to run around it counterclockwise, as if you’re driving it, skip the tiny first road and turn onto the next major road. There is a historic sign for Symmes something-or-other there to continue on Rte 38. You’ll bear right at a fork which will put you on Washington Street. At another 5-way intersection you’ll cross Mystic Valley Parkway and bear right onto Washington Street. If you find yourself running past Winchester High SChool you’re going the wrong way. Follow Washington Street to Forest Street, where Gingerbread Construction Company is. Turn right onto Forest, up some big hills back to the first water stop.

Now you’ll follow what the short route runners did. Follow Forest to Marble, turn right at Park, right at Main Street in Stoneham, left on Elm, left at the rotary by the hockey rink, right on Pond, left on Main and you’re done. (read the short route paragraph if you want more detail).

Water Stops. Two helpers besides myself would be useful. I know AJ was thinking of it. AJ? Anyone else?

ROLL CALL! Who’s in?

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 15th, 2015 at 9:15 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.