Sunday Run

This week’s Sunday Long Run will take us out Horn Pond in Woburn. Last week we had a pretty hot run as the group headed to Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield for the morning. Overall the crowd was about 40 people, split equally between the half route runners and the full route runners, with a few improvising for something in between.

I will be out of town this Sunday running a race (yes, I do run), and usually I pass off the SLR duties to Lois but she will be running with me, so this week the run will be hosted by Audrey and Tom. We’ll be venturing west through Stoneham into Woburn to Horn Pond. This has been a favorite for many over the years, one of the few routes we only do once a year. There are legends of a muscular shirtless man running around the pond that have been told over the years as well. If you’re into that sort of thing, keep your eyes peeled!

The run will take off from Brueggers at 8AM, although as always anyone wanting to venture out slightly early can but keep in mind the first water stop won’t be set up until about 8:15 to 8:20. Half runners, if you want to experience Horn Pond feel free to carpool over to the first water stop and jump in there for a 7 mile run from Eugene to Eugene.

The route will take you south on Main Street, past Marathon Sports and Dunkin Donuts before turning right at a set of lights onto West Wyoming Avenue. Follow W Wyoming past Grimsby’s and up Pond Street. When I say up, I mean it, a nice hill to start the day. This will take you to Spot Pond where you go right to keep on Pond Street. Watch for uneven terrain due to construction, it’ll be best to cross over to the pond side of the road and run on the sidewalk. Run straight past the Zoo as the street turns into South Street, and straight past Friendly’s as the street turns into North Border Road, and then straight past the I-93N on ramp as the street becomes Park Street. You’ll get to a set of lights and turn onto Marble Street, passing over I-93 into Winchester as the street turns into Forest Street. On your left will be a small side street named Eugene where you’ll find Tom at the first water stop.

If you’re running the half route you can turn back onto Forest, back over I-93, and continue on Marble Street past Park Street and across Main Street onto Summer Street. Summer will go through one set of lights and then bend over to Franklin Street. At that set of lights turn right onto Franklin and head back to Melrose. When you hit Main Street in Melrose, turn right and head back to Brueggers.

The full route will leave the water stop and head down, down, down Forest Street. Turn left at the set of lights at Washington Street where the Gingerbread Construction Company is, crossing over to the right side to take a right onto Cross Street. Cross Street will cross from Winchester into Woburn where you’ll hit yet another Main Street. Turn right on Main, and a quick left on Lake Street. Lake Street will take you to a… wait for it… pond, not a lake. Horn Pond. There is a parking lot off the right side of Lake Street where you’ll find Audrey prepared to give you a drink.

From here circle Horn Pond clockwise. It should be pretty obvious how to accomplish this, stay on the main path, you’ll cross over a little section over the water and turn right onto a street, Water Street/Sturgis Street. Follow Sturgis up the big hill (although there is a path that skips the hill for the faint of heart) and turn right on Arlington Road. This will bring you along the side of Horn Pond… if you’re bored look for the planet markings set apart to represent the solar system. Once you hit Lake Street again you can take a right to grab more water, or a left to head back along the next section. If you are skipping the water stop let Audrey know when you come through the first time so she isn’t standing there all day waiting for you to come back.

Head back the way you came along Lake Street, turning right on Main, left on Cross, back to Washington. At Washington turn left and cross over to turn right on to Forest. Remember when I said “down, down, down” on Forest? Now its time to pay that back with an up, up, up! The prize at the top is at Eugene where Tom will have more candy and drink for you.

Now its time to finish off the 14+ miles along Forest, back over I-93, and continuing on Marble Street past Park Street and across Main Street onto Summer Street. Run through one set of lights on Summer and follow the bend over to Franklin Street. At that set of lights turn right onto Franklin and head back into Melrose. When you hit Main Street in Melrose, turn right and head back to Brueggers.

Again, I’ll be away but Tom and Audrey have the water stops.

Who’s in? Roll Call!!!

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