Sunday Run

Last week winter storm Neptune brought us more snow, a lot more snow, washing out our Sunday in a sea of white. To beat the storm we ran on Saturday morning despite a starting temperature of 1 degree and an ending temperature of 12 degrees and a stern warning from an elderly gentleman in Brueggers explaining how dangerous it is to be running. We adjusted the route due to giant snowbanks and we moved a water stop due to narrow roads, but more than a dozen runners that showed up made it through safely. All the long runners opted for the hills of East Border Road and the Fellsway East to avoid some of the unsafest running along Woodland Road. Thank you so much to Jannel, Jackie and Christopher, and Sue for coming out and braving the frigid air to keep the runners fueled throughout their run.

Another week has dropped some more snow on the roads of Melrose and Stoneham, but I’ve seen the snow bank shaving truck out there widening out streets. I’m not sure if they’ve done Franklin yet but I know West Wyoming has been widened. I also hear the sidewalks of Spot Pond have been somewhat plowed out. So this week I think the route stays the way it is. That’s the good news. The bad news is winter storm Pandora is on its way. Named after the first human woman in Greek Mythology placed on earth by the Gods. The myth tells of how she opened a jar out of curiosity to  find what was inside. By doing so she unleashed all the evils of humanity. Like the myth this storm is predicted to bring all the evils of winter weather to New England, rain, snow, and sleet along with wind. Which one will be happening during our running hours, I’m not sure. Whatever it is, this run will likely be a test. But when Pandora closed the jar there was one thing left inside… hope. So lets get through this one and hope not just for better weather, but for great races this spring after all the adverse training you’ve been through this winter.

Lets go over the run: Like last week we’ll start out Main Street heading north towards Ell Pond. Past the pond, continue on Main Street up to Franklin Street. A left on Franklin will take you into Stoneham all the way to Stoneham Center. Take a left on Main Street and follow it all the way to Friendly’s. There will be a water stop at the parking lot of Friendly’s on your right.

After the stop, running the half route you’ll turn left on South Street and head up past the Stone Zoo. Turn left on Pond Street to head towards Grimsby’s. At Grimsby’s turn left and run along the LynnFells Parkway past Melrose High School. Take a right on Melrose Street and a right on Main and head back to Brueggers for a 7.2 mile run.

Running long? Continue on Main Street after Friendly’s around the back side of Spot Pond. Turn left on Elm Street up to the rotary at Highland Ave. Turn right on Highland and run all the way to the Fellsway East rotary. Somewhere on Highland, near the Fellsway East, will be a water stop. After that stop go the rotary and turn left on the Fellsway East. Chug up and down those hills to you get to Grimsby’s. At Grimsby’s turn left on Pond Street and head up to Spot Pond. Turn right and run past the Stone Zoo and back to Friendly’s where there will still be a water stop waiting for you. From there you’ll go back the way you came, Main Street in Stoneham, right on Franklin, back into Melrose, a right on Main and back to Brueggers.

Water Stops. There are only two water stop locations so I can get by with one helper this week. Who’s it going to be?

Who’s up for running through whatever Pandora unleashes on us? ROLL CALL!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 20th, 2015 at 7:27 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.