**SPRING** Race Series

In a sure that sign that Spring is just around the corner, please see the announcement below from our friends at Princeton Athletic Club:

Princeton A. C. announces
Spring Classic 5k Cross-Country Races and fun runs

Entry forms can be found at
http://www.princetonac.org

All events are 5k cross-country races at Rosedale Park,
424 Federal City Road (approximately), Pennington, NJ.

Wednesdays, May 19, May 26, and June 2

6:30 pm start time, check-in from 5:45 pm.

Safe, fun, no-frills racing. We do have the group
picnic area reserved.

If anyone is interested in making this a group thing, there are some incentives and special offers available to award excellence and participation. Please just leave a comment to let me know or speak to me at the next group run.

On the Road Again...

For the second week in a row we took to the roads around Mercer County Park due to the poor conditions on the trails -- this was actually the third week in a row that we ran roads if you count the Sunday run we did at Gold's. We ran pretty much the same route as the week prior, with an extra loop added on to bring our total mileage up to about 10 miles. This was, of course, probably more than some would have chosen to do but I think everyone enjoyed pushing the distance a bit. At least, I hope they did!

With more snow in the forecast in these parts for the end of the week, it's looking like we may have to take Charlie's recommendation to rename the group to Hamilton Area Road Runners until Spring. Either that or have everyone invest in some spikes or snow shoes so we can get back on the trails safely despite all the snow and ice.

Roll call: Bill S., Bill Y., Butch, Charlie, Gary, Karen, Linda, Lisa, Michael, Yasi

1o miles

L to R: Charlie, Michael, Yasi, Karen, Linda, Lisa, Bill Y., Bill S., Butch, Gary

Snow Day!

When we arrived at Mercer County Park on Saturday morning the entrance to the East Picnic Area had yet to be plowed which made the road leading to our usual meeting spot just about impassable. Instead, we all parked along Edinburg Road which fortunately for us had a nice wide, clean shoulder. After a quick jog in with Michael to check on the trailhead we turned around and headed back out to the street to deliver the bad news to the rest of the gang. Without spikes or snow shoes, there was no way we were going to be running trails, or even the bike path, today.

It didn't take long though before we took to the roads around the park and put in a 6-mile loop. We even ducked into the back entrance of the park and peeked in on the lake near the rowing center for a bit before heading back out on the road to complete our loop. In the end, it was a nice change of scenery but with the last two weeks having run on roads, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm itching to get back on the trails. Hopefully, this weekend we'll at least be able to get on the bike path at MCP. We'll have to wait and see...

Roll call: Bill S., Bill Y, Butch, Damian, Karen, Linda, Michael, Nate, Yasi

6 miles

L to R: Linda, Yasi, Butch, Karen, Nate, Damian, Bill Y., Michael, Bill S.

Total Accumulations

As I've previously stated our inclement weather policy is a rather simple one. If the postal service will deliver your mail, then we run. Well, on Saturday we got a total accumulation of 1 foot of snow dumped on us and, yes, all post office operations were suspended. As a result, we did not have our normal group run on Saturday morning.

On Sunday, however, the sun came up so a couple of us got together for a run. Since the trails were sure to be a mess and the bike path probably not even plowed yet, we went with something a little different and headed over to the parking lot at Gold's Gym near Quakerbridge Mall. Four of us met there to run some of the roads surrounding the mall. While we all ran together for the majority of the time, we all ended up putting in slightly different mileages that day for a total accumulation of 49 miles!

For more details and some great mid-run shots, be sure to check out Yasi's report.

Roll call: Bill S., Bill Y., Frank, Yasi

L to R: Yasi (13 miles), Frank (16 miles), Bill S. (9 miles), Bill Y. (11 miles)

A Month Gone By

It's hard to believe it's been almost one month since the last time I've posted anything here but it's been that long. Fear not, though. Just because the postings have been lacking we've been plenty busy. Here's a recap of the month that's gone by...

On 1/1, a couple of HATR folks -- those who weren't sick, out of town, or too hungover -- met at Veteran's Park for the Hamilton Hangover 5 Miler. For a detailed report, check out Charlie's race report.

On 1/2, we cancelled our normal Saturday group run due to the number of folks who were sick and/or out of town.

On 1/9, we got back into the swing of things with a group run at Mercer County Park. After feeling like crap for almost two weeks straight I decided enough was enough and purposely overdressed for the run with the hope of sweating out the last of the bug that had been keeping me indoors for too long. The good news is that it worked. The bad news is that I look like a freak in the group picture that was taken that day. Oh well!

Anyway, as I said before we met at MCP and ran out to the dam and back. I don't recall too much else about the run other than that fact that is was freezing out and that we welcomed yet another new face to the group. Tammy hasn't been back since though. You ladies need to get on that...I think she was scared away by all the guys!

L to R: Bill S., Charlie, Gary, Bill Y., Rob, Tammy

On 1/16, it was amazing what a difference a week made. The week before we had been freezing our you know what off around Lake Mercer but just a week later the temps were 30-40 degrees warmer. The temperature wasn't the only thing that got dialed up that day though. As we gathered for our pre-run push ups at Clayton Park Nate decided to turn up the heat as well, leading the charge up Death Hill not once, not twice, but four times. I think we were all so glad to have such great weather we probably would have done five just to be out there a little longer.

L to R: Brian, Yasi, Bill S., Linda, Butch, Nate, Lisa, Bill Y., Charlie

On 1/23, we again met at Clayton Park in what was planned as a light day. It was light because the group would be heading out to Reading, PA, the next day to participate in the Chilly Cheeks race. All I remember about this group run is feeling like it was more difficult than I had expected it to be. We only ran for about 45 minutes, which is about 20 minutes shorter than normal but for some reason I felt it more than normal. Oh yeah, maybe it was that one sprint of Death Hill that we did! I don't think I ever recovered from that one. So much for a light day.

L to R: Bill Y., Yasi, Nate, Karen, Butch, Linda

On 1/23, the gang made a road trip out to Reading, PA, for Chilly Cheeks. It was with a torn heart, however, that I had to back out of the race this year to stay home and watch my NY Jets play in the AFC Champioship game...yeah...I probably should have just made the trip but hindsight is 20/20. There were seven brave warriors that did make the trip though and as you would expect from any race directed by Ron Horn, they reportedly had a blast. Be sure to check out Yasi's race report.

L to R: Brian, Butch, Linda, Yasi, Nate, Bill S., Frank

Still with me? Good. Because this is where it starts to get serious...

On 1/30, six badasses met at Clayton Park once again. You gotta problem with that? I didn't think so. We ran out the back and hit all the soybean fields and then headed directly into the trails...yeah without stopping because we're bad like that. Then it was uphill both ways into the extra loop which we did backwards. When we exited the extra loop we bushwhacked directly up to the top of the backside of Death Hill until we reached the fence. There we were greeted by a dozen or so horses who were out training because they too are badasses. After taking a second or two to enjoy the view...uh...I mean stare down those damn horses -- who did they think they were anyway -- we bushwhacked back down the hill. At that point, we thought one of the horses yelled something down to us so we again bushwhacked up the same hill just to see what was up. When we got there most of the horses had taken off though so we just headed back down and finished our run. Good thing!

L to R: Charlie, Bill Y., Nate, Brian, Butch, Bill S.

Well, there it is. A month in review. What will February bring, you ask? Well, hopefully, weekly updates because it's a real PITA trying to remember everything that happened over the last month. Many thanks to Charlie and Yasi for letting me cheat and check back on their blogs to fill in the blanks.

Overdue!

Don't tell the librarian, but this post is long overdue! Between getting sick over the holidays and trying to keep pace with 3 kids during Christmas I've been a big time slacker when it comes to keeping the blog updated...not to mention my own general fitness. Have no fear, however, because here, finally, are couple of quick recaps and pics from the last runs of 2009.

On Christmas Eve, a couple of us met at Mercer County Park for an easy run. It was anything but though because the snowstorm we had received earlier that week left the trails covered with ice and snow. For most of the run the group stuck to the bike path which they had at least attempted to plow and didn't even venture into the deep snow which had hidden our trails. Even though I had to leave early I enjoyed the chance to use my Kahtoola MICROspikes. I'm really looking forward to using them out in Reading, PA, when we head out to the Chilly Cheeks race too. They definitely provide the extra traction needed when running in slippery conditions and I'm real happy with them.

Roll call: Bill Y., Butch, Frank, Linda, Nate, Yasi

L to R: Linda, Yasi, Nate, Butch, Frank (not pictured: Bill Y.)

On Saturday, the day after Christmas, the group met at Clayton Park and attempted to get a run in despite the dreadfully soggy conditions. With the temps having taken a bit of a jump melting away some of the ice and snow, and rain showers on top of that, the trails were reportedly the worst they've ever been. Although I wasn't there to "enjoy" it I'm told it was quite the run. For details, be sure to check out Charlie's report.

Roll call: Bill S., Brian, Butch, Charlie, Linda, Nate, Rob, Yasi

L to R: Charlie, Bill S., Linda, Butch, Yasi, Rob, Nate, Brian

Happy Holidays

May the beauty of this holiday season

bring you hope and peace

throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

- Hamilton Area Trail Runs -