Last week we had a good run out to Breakheart and through. There were at least 37 people running (because there were 37 plastic cups with names on them). The numbers stay strong, as did the runners pushing their way through the hills of Breakheart. The most interesting sighting of the day was a chalk drawing on the path at Breakheart seemingly pointing the way. If you saw it, you know what I’m talking about, if you didn’t I’m not saying what it was a drawing of.
This week we have 16.2 miles on our plate with our first trip to Winchester. We’ll start out Main St north to Franklin St where we’ll turn left toward Stoneham. The run will take you past Stoneham High School to a set of lights at Summer St where you’ll turn left. The road is narrow here so stay single file! This will bring you out past South School in Stoneham, across Main St and onto Marble St. Continue straight over Rte 93 onto Forest St to Water Stop 1. (That seems like a lot of streets but its really only 2 left turns.)
If you’re running short, you turn around and turn right on Park  St past Friendlys to the front side of Spot Pond past the Zoo and left on Pond St to Wyoming to Main to Brueggers. For a run that’s more interesting, I suggest starting at Water Stop 1 and running with the crew through Winchester.
From Water Stop 1, continue on Forest St and enjoy the downhill that brings you to a left on Highland Ave. Now head up hill to Winchester Hospital. If the hill was too much for you stop by the hospital for some oxygen, if it wasn’t turn left onto Reservoir Rd across from the hospital. Be prepared for what I think is the best road in all of the Sunday Long Runs. You’ll come up to a view of a reservoir in the Fells, follow a street with gas light styled  streetlights past large stately homes on the right, the Fells on the left (son’t mind the hill in front of you) back to Highland Ave. Another left onto Highland will take you through a 5 way intersection where you’ll go straight across to continue on Highland. Here you’ll hit a few more fun hills that will take to water stop 2. (Again sounds like a lot but just take three lefts)
From Water Stop 2 you’ll go RIGHT (yes, now you start taking rights) onto Rte 38, Main St in Winchester. This will bring you to a rotary. Pay attention here, follow the rotary counterclockwise as if you were driving in it. Don’t take the first little street, take a right at the second big street. I believe there is a historical sign there for Simmonds something or other. This will keep you on Main St/Rte 38. This will take you to another 5 way intersection. As you come here you’ll have Mystic Valley Parkway crossing in front of you, Washington St across the Parkway going rightish and another street going lefttish. You want to follow Washington St. Got that? Don’t turn on the street going right, cross and bear onto the street heading soft right. (Just don’t get lost) Take Washington St to Forest St. Look for the Gingerbread Construction Company for a landmark to where you turn. Follow Forest St up (and up, and up) to Water Stop 3 which is the same one as water stop 1.
From there you continue on Forest St over I-93, turn right on Park St out to Friendly’s, turn right around the back side of Spot Pond, left up Elm to the hockey rink, left on to Woodland to the front of Spot Pond, and right onto Pond St to Wyoming back to Main St and Brueggers. Got it?
WATER STOPS. Guess what, I can’t be there this week. I have Derek lined up to help with water stops, but I need one more person. If a shorter distance runner wants to start from Water Stop 1 they can help with that stop. Any volunteers? I’ll try to get the supplies to someone in Melrose tonight and they can give them to the volunteers at Brueggers in the morning.
The outlook for the next 4+ weeks is that I won’t be at the Sunday Runs so we’ll be looking for people to help with the water stops. Let me know if you can help out. Thanks!
So who’s in, ROLL CALL!