SLR_Week8_SnowLast week we had our first above freezing SLR since January. It wasn’t snowing. Some of the streets were cleared. Besides a near-rumble with an aggressive plow driver in his pickup truck things are looking up. This week I have to find a new 18 mile route for you. The planned one goes through Breakheart. I’m sure this isn’t the first time the Breakheart route hasn’t been runnable this far into the season, but I don’t recall my plan to adapt to that. For those that have ventured near Breakheart, is the flatter side even runnable? I’m planning on no, but let me know if its as easy as changing the route to “just run the flat side to the Voc and then come back”. Other than that stay tuned for the route.
Water stop help… I’m assuming I need at least two helpers wherever we run. Who wants to help?
That’s all I have for now. This post will be edited with more information about our first run of March 2015… you know, the month where we get above freezing regularly, snow melts, Easter Springtime and Boston are just around the corner. That March. Goodbye February… we’re not gonna miss ya!
Who’s in for the Mystery March 1st SLR Route? Roll Call.
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2/28 Update:
Having driven around the area a few different ways, I really can’t find a good continuous route. We’ll keep the plan simple, Spot Pond + Lake Quannapowitt. We’ll leave Brueggers south on Main Street to a right on West Wyoming. Follow past Grimsby’s and up Pond Street to Spot Pond. Go left onto Woodlawn Rd along the front side of Spot Pond. Find the first water stop at Flynn Rink.
After the water stop go right on Elm Street. At the end of Elm go right on Main St/Rte28. Follow this into Stoneham. Turn right at Straw Point and cut through the parking lot over to South Street. Right on South will bring you onto Pond Street and past Stone Zoo. The sidewalks will open back up at the zoo where you’ll keep going until you get to the left on Pond Street that will bring you down to Grimsby’s. You’ll find a water stop there.
After that stop run out along the LynnFells Parkway over to Melrose High School. If you’re running the half route turn right on Main Street and head back to Brueggers for an 8.5 mile run. Running long, turn left on Main Street and head to Wakefield. You’ll find the next water stop on your right at Nick’s Pizza.
After Nick’s run along Main Street along the east side of Lake Q. Turn left at the end onto Lowell Street, then left onto Quannapowitt Parkway to cut over to North Ave. Take a left on North Ave and follow that all the way back to Nick’s Pizza for more water.
After the last water stop head back along Main Street to Brueggers for 18 miles.
Here’s a map:
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I can help with water stops this week.
INTFM(..ystery) run. Hopefully sans angry plow driver going 50mph out of a side street.. “Hey guys… I’m right here!!!!”
I’m in for the full..where ever it may lead.
I’m in for the half.
Jim a couple years ago we couldn’t run in Breakheart for this route. We ended up doing an extra loop around Lake Q instead of the loop inside Breakheart.
In for the mystery full!! An extra loop around the lake wouldn’t be bad?
iFTF
I can help with a water stop
IFTF
IFTF
I’m in!!
In for the half. Thanks!
I’m in for the mystery full. Needing some motivation from my MRC peeps. This winter has been tough to get motivated for solo long runs.
I just drove all around Melrose and Wakefield. The good news is Melrose has some clear sidewalks and some shaved shoulders of the road. The bad news is Wakefield doesn’t. Montrose is definitely unrunnable. Farm Street works, but Water Street and Nahant look troublesome. So that route is out.
We might be doing something that combines a few smaller loops like:
Some sidestreets of Melrose running.
A run up and around Lake Quannapowitt (although Lake Q doesn’t have a sidewalk all the way around).
Another trip up and around Spot Pond.
Unfortunately I think we’ll be sticking to the same roads for at least another week. If you have a 4 mile loop that seems well cleared please suggest it here.
Thanks,
Jim
I can help out with the first water stop as usual. It will be nice not to freeze my fingers off while handing out water. Just let me know where we should go. Thanks!
I’m in for the half!
I snowshoed most of breakheart yesterday, trails and loops. You’d definitely need yak trax in sections of both loops.
I think I’m in for something? Thanks Jim,Paul + Jackie!
I still don’t know the really long routs,so I was wondering it there is anyone running the full that I could pair up with? I’m trying to keep a 10.5 11:00 minute pace, so I have no problem trailing.
Jim, I’ll meet you at the 1st water stop.
Jannel, That would be great. After your stop you can drop supplies off at Grimsby’s.
The second water stop will be Grimsby’s. Paul if you want to meet me there a little before 9AM that would be good. I’ll set you up and then move on to water stop 3.
Lois, if you’re looking to run some, you can start and end at Grimsby’s and then bring the left over supplies to water stop 3 and help me out there.
Sounds like a plan.
I’m in for the half or so
Thank you Jannel !!
I’ll meet you at the 1st water stop as well.
Great – see you at Grimsby’s around 9:00.
In for the half or so, maybe 10 miles. I ran around spot pond today so happy to help advise on the icy spots. Thanks Jim!!
IFTF Jim!!! Thank you so much for all your hard work finding is an alternate route! 🙂
In for something