To the trails

I hit the local East York harrier trail this morning to check out it's condition. The run was my substitution for the start of the Southern Ontario 5 Peaks Trail Series, which kicks off today in Chicopee. I'd run a couple of their races last year and had a blast, doing Durham forest and Rattlesnake Point. I even amassed a handful of age group points (I slid into 16th spot for males 40-49, just behind Des Maloney, not bad for having only run 2 events). Next year I turn the big 5-oh and want to run their full schedule in my new age group.

The local trail I ran this morning was in not bad shape, mostly runable. The section behind Massey Square at the east end of the trail (it ends at Vic Park, where Dentonia Golf Course begins) was a bit tattered with fallen trees and you have to pick your way around them. Everywhere else was in perfect condition, lots of mud along the upper swamp section high above Taylor Creek, and the switchbacks at the west end were fun as ever. I really like this course and try to get it in every couple of weeks. By later summer the growth gets pretty thick, you gotta keep your mouth shut to with the proliferation of flying creatures about, so I've learned to breath with my teeth clenched (having once swallowed something sizeable while pushing through some branches that I'd rather not ever learn what it was).

It's 2 weeks to Mississauga. For anyone doing the full, they're getting into taper mode. For me doing the half, it's full speed ahead with my foot planked firmly on the gas. Mississauga will be a good long tempo run and hopefully give me a much needed boost as I prep for the the Nightcrawler and maybe the Toronto Challenge. The Challenge is supposed to be an accurate course based on feedback from those that have run it, although it's not listed as certified according to Merrel's. However, mts does list the Nissan 5k challenge course as certified for 2007 and I believe this is the same course the Toronto challenge uses (it was originally named the Nissan Challenge). I'll assume it good for marking a 5k time against. The MTS site, by the way, is a good comprehensive listing of certified courses through Canada, very well done. Not the number of times the Nightcrawler course has been remeasured as the city's been doing work in that area the RDs have had to adjust start/finish lines nearly every year as a result.

Beauty Saturday upon us, mid-high 20's today, rain tomorrow and hot again Monday.