Sunday Run

Last Week – Over 30 people kicked off their winter training on a cold, moist, Sunday morning. While the temperatures were good for running, the lingering wet from the night had frozen to black ice in places along the route, most noticeably on the steep hills of Breakheart. Always be prepared for anything when you’re training for a long distance race, the weather likes to mess with you.

This Week – We’ll meet back at Brueggers at 8AM on SATURDAY to step up the distance and take on Spot Pond. Why SATURDAY? Because SATURDAY night is the MRC Holiday Party!!! Let’s get in those miles on Saturday morning so you can dance and be festive without worrying about your next long run. It’ll be pretty warm for a winter training run, so dress for the 50s. The half run is about 7 miles, the full about 12.5. Generally every other week of the long run will step up 4 miles and then the next will drop down 2 miles as we walk to 22 miles. Meanwhile the short run will step up 2 and then step back 1 headed towards an 11 max before the race.

Week 2 – Spot Pond

Start – Leaving Brueggers we will head south on Main Street (in the direction of Malden), past Dunkin Donuts, and turning right on West Wyoming, like the start of the MRC Summer Route. West Wyoming will take you out to Grimsby’s where you’ll turn left onto the Fellsway East. Two hills will great you on the Fellsway East which you’ll hate, but maybe someday you’ll grow to love. Ignore the incline and enjoy the feel of running through the Melrose section of the Middlesex Fells. Eventually you’ll go through an intersection with a set of lights and come down to a traffic circle in Medford where you’ll turn right on to Highland Ave. Follow Highland up towards Spot Pond, finding a water stop on the left right before a rotary by the Flynn Rink.

Half Finish – After the water stop, the short runners will continue straight through the rotary on to Woodland Road, running past the Flynn Rink. Follow this to Pond Street where you’ll turn right and head down a steep hill to Grimsby’s. Turn left there and follow the Lynn Fells Parkway past Melrose High School, after which you’ll turn right on Melrose Street and then take a quick right onto Main Street to finish up at Brueggers.

Full Route 2 – The long runners will leave the water stop and turn left at the rotary on to Elm Street. Run to the end of Elm Street and turn right onto the Fellsway West. This will bring you through another portion of the Middlesex Fells, up what we’ve named Slackers Hill after that urge you get to walk instead of run up the hill, keep running. You’ll then cross under I-93, past the Sheepfold, and over I-93. Watch on your right as you cross an off ramp from I-93, cars come down there very quickly! After that you’ll want to turn right into the Straw Point parking lot. There will be a water stop there, so grab some water and keep going through the parking lot to Pond Street. Continue right to keep circling Spot Pond, pass the Zoo, continue straight as Pond Street becomes Woodland Rd, up to Flynn Rink, through the rotary and back to the water stop at Highland Ave.

Full Finish – After the final water stop you’ll cross Highland and take your first left on East Border Road. This will bring you up to a set of lights where you turn left to get back on the Fellsway East. Ride those two hills back past Grimsby’s and onto the Lynn Fells Parkway. Run past Melrose High School, turn right on Melrose Street, and right on Main Street which will take you back to Brueggers.

Water Stops – I’ll handle the Highland Ave stop and Lois will be at Straw Point. I may chose to run around Spot Pond. If I do, remember where my car is because you may have to help yourself.

Parking – Note that there is a 3hr parking limit in the lots around Melrose Center. Don’t linger too long, get your run done, your bagel eaten, your coffee sipped, and skedaddle. Hopefully we’ll see you Saturday night!

Roll Call! Those are the plans, who’s in?

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