Sunday Run

Last week we endured yet another harsh rainy Sunday after a better weather Saturday. Running marathons are almost an equal part body versus mind endeavor. While we are training your heart, lungs, and legs to get through increasingly tough miles, we’re also training your brain to adopt the “I can do anything” attitude. You’ll need both when things hit a bump in the road on a 26 mile journey, and things typically do hit that bump. If you can run through some wind and some rain or some snow, you can take whatever they give you on marathon day. The 25 people that proved that last Sunday, plus those that were out racing in Hyannis in it, you can do anything! Hopefully the blustery wind that has been howling for over a day is gone by tomorrows run.
Shoes… If you are running a marathon in 6 weeks, its time to look at the bottom of those running shoes you’re wearing. You’ll likely see all these miles have started to wear this pair out. This is a good time to hit up the running shoe store and get yourself another pair. You’ll either be breaking in the pair you will toe the line with, or you’ll save the tread on this pair by only using it for long runs hear on out.
The Route… This week we have a trip to Winchester, and for those running long a visit to the Mystic Lakes.

Start – We’ll start down Main Street to West Wyoming, taking a right and running up past Grimsby’s to Spot Pond. Turn right at the pond, past the Stone Zoo, past Friendly’s, straight onto North Border Rd. Continue to a set of lights where you’ll turn on Marble Street. Marble will become Forest Street as you enter Winchester, where you’ll find a water stop tucked on Eugene Drive.

Half-2 – The half runners will continue with the long runners, heading down Forest Street and turning left on Highland Ave where the Winchester Hospital direction sign is. They’ll continue on Highland until they find a little park on the right side at the corner of Eaton Street. This will bring you down to Washington Street where you’ll turn right. Continue on Washington to the Gingerbread Construction Company where you’ll turn right on to Forest Street. Run back up Forest Street until you find the water stop at Eugene again.

Half-Finish – The third leg of the half run will take you back to Melrose the way you came. Go over I-93 and Forest Street will become Marble Street. At the set of lights turn right on Park Street which becomes North Border Road, taking you back past Friendly’s. Continue straight as you go past the Stone Zoo to where Pond Street turns left to head towards Melrose. Run past Grimsby’s onto West Wyoming, turn left on Main Street and get back to Brueggers to finish your 10 Mile run!

Long-2 – The long runners will head down Forest and turn left on Highland. This week continue straight on Highland all the way to the end where you’ll find a water stop.

Long 3 – You’ll venture into new terrain for this section. Turn left on Main Street/Rt38 and head to Medford. Cross to the right side of the road and as you run along the wall of the Oak Grove Cemetery, turn right at Playstead Road. This will continue along the cemetery, past a soccer field, along the commuter rail to High Street in Medford. You’ll turn right on High, cross the train tracks, and if you must the Dunkin Donuts has been a convenient rest stop for many years. Continue on High Street, making sure to keep left to stay on High where Grove Street forks off. DO NOT GO ONTO GROVE STREET. High will bring you to the source of the Mystic River. Do not cross the Mystic or you’ll be in Arlington and we don’t go to Arlington. Instead turn right on the Mystic Valley Parkway at the little rotary. Follow this past the Mystic Lakes, which feed the Mystic River, until you get to what seems to be the end of the Mystic Valley Parkway where you’ll turn right on Bacon Street. Follow Bacon under the commuter rail and then take your first left onto Mystic Valley Parkway (told you it wasn’t the end). This part of the Mystic Valley Parkway runs along the Aberjona River, which feed the Mystic Lakes. Along this stretch will be a water stop which feeds you.

Long 4 – Continue along the Mystic Valley Parkway, going through a set of traffic lights and then turning left at the next set of lights on to Washington Street. Washington will take you through a five way intersection where you cross Mt Vernon Street and keep right to stay on Washington. If you run past Winchester High School, well you didn’t learn the last time we ran through here and are likely to be lost for a while. Washington will cross Winchester taking you over to the Gingerbread Construction Company where you could buy a muffin but won’t, you’ll instead turn right onto Forest Street and head back up, up, up to the water stop at Eugene Drive.

Long 5 – After this water stop you’ll continue on Forest over I-93 as the road becomes Marble Street. You’ll turn right at the lights onto Park Street and continue as that becomes North Border Road. At Friendly’s you’ll turn right onto Main Street and continue as that becomes the Fellsway West. Turn left on Elm Street, which will stay Elm Street all the way up to the rotary at the other Highland Ave. Turn right onto Highland and look for a stop right after you turn.

Long Finish – The final leg of this journey will take you down Highland all the way to the traffic circle at the Fellsway East. Turn left and follow the Fellsway East through our version of Heartbreak Hill as you make your way to Grimsby’s. Here you will happily remember that you can take a right on West Wyoming and a left on Main to finish your 20 Mile run at Brueggers!

Water Stops – There are quite a few stops this week. I believe Hank is back, Tom and I will be there,  and Sheree Wheeler has volunteered to help out with the stops.

Roll Call!  Who’s in?

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 at 8:41 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.