Last week the unofficial tally was over 60 runners joined in for the run. That’s the largest crowd we’ve had on a Sunday Morning in the 11 years of training runs. Good group, great run, good times. This week the expected crowd is slightly lower with the Great Stew Chase (the first of the MRC Racing Series runs) and the Derry 16 Miler going on at the same time.
The route this week will follow the foot steps of the old Melrose Law Enforcement Half Marathon. Back before Marathon Sports moved to Melrose, our local running store was called Runners Edge. They hosted the predecessor to what is now Boston’s Run to Remember. We’ll run over to the starting line and run the whole hilly course.
The Route: Start on Main Street heading up by Ell Pond. Turn left on Melrose Street, and left on LynnFells Parkway. The starting line was in front of Melrose High School so as you pass there the race is on! (not really, this is just a training run, don’t hurt yourself) If you’re running long you’ll turn left on Tremont Street and circle Ell Pond with a bunch of lefts on Lake Ave, West Emerson, Main Street, Melrose Street, and back on the LynnFells Parkway. This time continue straight on LynnFells Parkway to Grimsby’s. If you’re running the half route, skip the loop and keep going to Grimsby’s. There will be a water stop there if you need it.
After Grimsby’s continue along the LynnFells onto the Fellsway East, up to the traffic circle at Highland Ave, turn right on Highland and continue up to the next water stop if you need it.
Next, if you’re running shorter, run the front side of Spot Pond by staying right at the Flynn Rink rotary onto Woodland. This will bring you to a right on Pond Street back past Grimsby’s onto West Wyoming. Turn left on Main Street and finish at Brueggers.
Next, if you’re running long, circle Spot Pond clockwise with a left on Elm Street, right at the end of Elm onto the Fellsway West, under then over I93, turning right into the Straw Point parking lot, right onto Pond Street past the Stone Zoo, continuing along the pond back to Flynn Rink, through the rotary and back to the Highland Ave water stop.
After the Highland Ave water stop, turn left on East Border Road, left at the lights back onto the Fellsway East, through the lights at Grimsby’s onto the LynnFells Parkway, back to Melrose High School. If you were running the old Melrose Half you’d finish the race in front of the bleachers with a loop around the Melrose High School track (which no longer exists). But you’re not running the real Melrose Half so keep going on the LynnFells Parkway, turning right onto Melrose Street and right on to Main Street. Finish up at Brueggers after a good hilly run.
Water Stops: I’ll be out there, with help from Hank I presume. If anyone else wants to pitch in, let me know.
Roll Call: Who’s in?