Mine Falls Park Ice Out

I've been running in Mine Falls for several weeks now. Mostly I've been running the 5 mile trail race course used by GCS during the summer trail series. Each time I go out the trails get a little better. A few weeks back I'd say about 80% was either pure ice or at least snow covered. Now it's down to about 10-20% ice and snow covered, a very doable trail run. I brought my camera along this time and stopped a few times to take some pics.

Gate House entrance to Mine Falls.


Main trail along the canal on Mill Pond coming in from Stello's Stadium. Most of the trail from the Gate House down to the 1st canal bridge is still snow covered.


Single track just east of RT3 which runs along the fence, down to the Nashua River. The river trail was in decent shape and most is easily runnable. The snow is gone in most spots with just a couple areas of snow which can easily be avoided.


River trail along the Nashua River on the north side of the park. One of the few areas along the river trail that is still snow covered.


Looking east from the Wipple St bridge. Trail appears to be clear although I haven't run the entire loop yet.

Events in March/April

Ok, so I want to be a trail runner but....
My all time favorite race distance is the 1/2 marathon. So with that in mind my planned race schedule for the next few weeks is as follows:

April 6th - Great Bay 1/2 Marathon Newmarket, NH. This will be my 1st time running this one. Looks like a decent course but I may ask some friends who ran it last year to comment on it.
April 12th - Xterra Merrimack River 10 mile Trail Race - Andover, MA. Haven't decided on this one yet, I have another race scheduled for the following day. I don't think I want back to back race days so I need to decide on one.
April 13th - Nashua Soup Kitchen 10k - Nashua NH. This race is a club race, part of the New Hampshire Grand Prix series.
April 20th - Xterra Muddy Moose Xduro 14 mile Trail Race - Wolfeboro, NH.

Welcome to my blog

And away we go!
This blog is about what interests me. If you find it interesting...great! If not, no big deal, my feelings won't be hurt. I'm doing it for me, not you (no offense intended). It's sort of like running therapy. I had a tough running year in 2007, struggling through knee surgery in January, a blood clot shortly there after, another knee surgery 3 months later and discovering I had a blood disorder which put me on blood thinners for life. Trust me I'm not complaining, things could have been much worse. It was a disappointing year and I want to come back faster and stronger than ever. I hope to write about the things I do related to the sport I love...running. Sometimes I may deviate from the topic of running and head down some tangent if something is on my mind. Mostly though it will be about running, and specifically my running.
I hope to share info on my training, my favorite races (or least favorite), places to run, my injuries (hopefully not much to talk about) and maybe products I've tried and liked (or maybe not).
Welcome 2008!