Hamilton Area Trail Runs
2nd Annual Turkey Day Trail Trot
Thursday, 11/26/09 @ 6:45am
Mercer County Park

You know you're going to pig out later that day so why not start the day off right by getting a head start on the calorie intake and giving thanks for another healthy year of running. As with all our group runs, this run will be a non-competitive event and open to anyone who wishes to attend. All you need to do is simply show up. We'll meet at the picnic area off Edinburg Road for an easy run out to the dam and back. We may not see any turkeys but there will be a "twirly bird" along the way!

In the spirit of the holiday we do invite, but not require, anyone who attends to bring along with them a non-perishable food and/or hygiene item which we will be donating on behalf of Hamilton Area Trail Runs to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, to help them meet the needs of Trenton’s poor and less fortunate. Suggested items for donation include: canned soup, powdered milk, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, shampoo, hand/body lotion, etc.

Be there if you can and spread the word!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

And Now For Something Completely Different...

On Saturday 8 warriors dragged their butts out of bed and met at a soggy Clayton Park. It was so soggy, in fact, that as we did our push-up we felt our hands sinking into the wet ground. After that we popped up, dusted ourselves off and headed straight into the trails. As we headed in I decided we'd try something completely different. Instead of turning off the main path on the way in we dove straight in and followed Bridge's trail all the way around for a short loop, meaning that the big, long hill we usually come up towards the finish was now being tackled in the beginning of our run. I thought it would be nice to hit that hill fresh. It wasn't.

After the first loop we found ourselves back on the main path leading into Bridge's. It was there that I noticed lots of clear trees and even a few fences...perfect back support for some wall sits. So, it was everybody down into a wall sit and let's see who can hang on the longest... Not me! Hey, I just come up with the ideas. I think I dropped after about 30 seconds (weak!). Then the others starting to drop off one by one. In the end there were two remaining and guess what they had in common...yep, they are both boot campers. Linda hung on the longest and after about a minute or so we were back on the trails. Say, have you ever maxed out your quads doing wall sits and then tried to run downhill? Ouch!

Back on the trails and shaking out the legs we headed further down Bridge's until we reached the left turn into Doctor's Creek where we headed in towards and up death hill. At the top of death hill we took another left and then completed the extra loop. Coming out of the extra loop we took a right and then headed back out to Bridge's, made a left, and came out up the big, long hill we had already completed once on our initial loop.


Roll call: Bill Y., Brian, Butch, Damian, Karen, Linda, Rob, Theresa

L to R: Linda, Theresa, Butch, Rob, Karen, Bill Y., Damian, Brian

Indian Sprints

On Saturday, we had our coldest run since last winter. I'm not talking frost on the eye lashes cold but it was cold. I think my thermometer read 28 degrees when I got out of the car. Despite the conditions, however, we had a total of 8 runners come out for our group run at Clayton where it is now officially looking like fall with leaves everywhere.

As we did our warm ups Nate broke it out -- it being his infamous whistle. For those of you who have ever taken one of Nate's classes no explanation is needed and for those that haven't...well, be afraid of the whistle. After some moaning and groaning was heard Nate then instructed us that his idea for today was to do indian sprints the entire run. Oh joy!

As we set off along the back and headed down towards the soybean fields it started right away. It didn't let up either. By the time we worked our way around to death hill we had done probably 4 or 5 sets. Then, it was time. To run up death hill is difficult enough but to try to pull off an indian sprint up the thing is just plain crazy. About half way up the hill it pretty much fell apart and turned into let's all just try our best to chase Nate and Bill S. up this hill. Once we all reached the trail crossing at the top, half of us took off further up the hill and then turned back around at the top to come back and catch up with the others who had turned left at the trail crossing.

When we all got caught up it was just in time to head straight into the extra loop where, of course, it was time for another couple of sets of indian sprints. When we came out of the extra loop we again split up with half the group heading out (or should I say up) and back and then on to catch up with the others who had headed off in the opposite direction into the down-up-down. This worked out nicely the first time when we did it at the top of death hill. The second, however, not so much. By the time we got back to the spot where we had split they were no where in sight. We pushed on figuring they were just around a corner or something. That wasn't the case though so I started to think that maybe they were trying to lose us. When I mentioned this to Bill S., he replied "let's pick it up and go get 'em!" What else would he say, duh? After a few seconds we caught a glimpse and knew we had them. I could have sworn I heard someone saying: "here they come let's move it!"

When we caught them it was just past "root city" and just before yet another big hill. At this point, I was wiped after pushing hard to run down our prey. I was really looking for a breather when Nate suggests we take off up the hill in yet another sprint and that the last one up has push ups to do. I couldn't get my hands off my knees before everyone was off. It was then that I decided I would welcome the push ups if it meant I could just cruise up the hill and sneak in a recovery. So, I get to the top and drop to do my push ups and what happens? Yeah, they take off again. Now I have to crank out my push ups and push to catch them.

As I started to sprint towards the back of the pack I realized where we were though and that we would be approaching a trail split where as long as the rabbits split to the right I could stay left and time it so they dumped back out right in front of me. It worked perfectly...and for about another 200 feet I was right there with the rest of them. Then it was time for one last uphill sprint which I wasn't feeling at all. Reaching the top dumped us back at the top of death hill. From there it was an easy run downhill and then out to the left with just one long, steep hill to go to get out to the parking lot.

Maybe it's just me being out of shape but this had to be one of the toughest runs we've had with the possible exception of when Nate decided to do 'Death Hill x 5'...wait...uggghhh...did I just mention that??? Well, maybe Nate won't read this.

Roll call: Bill S., Bill Y., Brian, Butch, Ed, Linda, Nate, Rob

L to R: Ed, Bill S., Butch, Bill Y., Linda, Nate (w/his damn whistle), Rob, Brian

People!

I couldn't make the group run this week because I ran with my wife as she completed her first 5k ever! Way to go wifey! As a result of my absence, this week's run report is brought to you by Butch:

We were told it would be scary, we were told there would be monsters, and honestly, it felt like a horror movie...you know the scary dream, where you're trying to run away and the zombies are chasing you and your legs don't move?

Welcome to Nate's Scary Trail Run!!! Whistle and all!!!

Aaahhh!!! Mmmmyyyyy leggggssss hurt!!! And boy did they.

After our usual 50 pushups under the gazebo where many happy gatherings occur (not ours of course) we headed off over the footbridge and as soon as we crossed it the whistle was blown and our group was sprinting a painful 40 yard sprint to kick off the latest challenge and torment.

"That shut everyone up pretty quick" I heard Bill S. say.

The monster said nothing, only smiled to himself.

Heading into the trails quickly it was rough going as it was hard to see due to lack of daylight. Staying on the upper ridge after the tennis courts we made our way through and out to the clearing by the lake always hearing:

"Close the gap!"

And then the whistle and another 40 yard sprint to the tree line, then through the trees past the boathouse and stop!!

"Push ups People!"

After catching our breath we headed along the lake on the path to the high wires where we took a left and negotiated the construction area. Just before entering the trails again, we indulged in a squat and hold session. Our legs were like cement.

"Watch the roots people!"

It was the usual trek out to the dam with indian sprints mixed in for good measure. Then back to the parking lot....

And so it went like this: Run, run some more, do some lethargically counted squat and holds, run, do some push ups and squat and hold a little bit more and drag those heavy legs back to the parking lot where, wait, wake up, there on the tailgate...

I see yes, yes indeed the scary nightmare is ending, and we're all waking now as the Munchkins come into view and Jess is treating us this week to Yesss!! more instalax and donuts. Yes indeed, for the third week in a row we ate donuts and gulped our Big Joe while dripping sweat after a total of 125 pushups and what seemed like an hour and a half of squat and holds.

The scary dream was over, but I heard someone say"thank you" for another great trail run...

And then the monster gobbled his instalax and donuts and went home...with his whistle.



Roll call: Bill S, Brian, Butch, Jess, Karen, Linda, Nate, Rob, Rob (the neighbor), Theresa, Yasi

L to R: Rob, Yasi, Bill S., Karen, Nate, Butch, Linda, Rob, Theresa, Jess, Brian

Running for Donuts...part two

As I mentioned in my last post, our group run ended with donuts and coffee which Linda had brought along to celebrate Butch's birthday. As luck would have it, Linda's birthday was the following week which meant that Butch, not to be outdone, had to bring donuts and coffee along to celebrate Linda's birthday. For the second week in a row our group run ended with Dunkin Donuts.

Before the treats though, we were sure to put in our work. After starting off with our normal 50 push-ups we ran the bike trail all the way up to the tennis courts where we cut it into the trails. We took the trails all the way out the path that leads to the dam but instead of taking it out to the dam we crossed over it and headed straight back into the trails. We then took the 3rd right, at the large boulder, and looped all around the trails behind the dam. After a couple of ins and outs we eventually came back out to the path and then headed back via trails to the bike path.

For as cold as it was the week prior, you wouldn't have known it this week as the temps were almost 20 degrees warmer. While it wasn't raining, the ground was wet from the rain the day before and the skies were overcast for most of the run. The sun did start to peek out as we finished up though as can be seen in the pic below.

Roll call: Bill Y., Butch, Brian, Carlah, Karen, Linda, Lisa, Nate, Theresa, Yasi

L to R: Lisa, Karen, Yasi, Bill Y., Theresa, Nate, Brian, Linda, Carlah, Butch

Running for Donuts

The credit for this week's blog post title has to go to Topher over at I'll Run For Donuts. The credit for the donuts (and coffee), however, has to go to Linda who brought them along on Saturday to celebrate Butch's birthday. Ya know, rumor has it Linda had a birthday this week too...I wonder what Butch will bring this week???

While Linda was nice enough to bring donuts and coffee along, she was smart enough not to tell us about them until we reached the dam by way of the twirly bird. That's what I call motivation. It seemed we all found an extra gear once we learned there were snacks awaiting us at the finish. As we headed back we decided to double up on the twirly bird and then took the lower trails back along the lake before turning it uphill and heading back to the bike path for the final sprint.

The weather this week felt more like November/December than it did mid-October with the temp in the lower 40's and a light drizzle. Of course, it was only 3 days later that we hit the lower 70's but that's Autumn in NJ...you never know what you're gonna get. Hopefully, this coming week will be a little warmer but there is some rain in the forecast yet again. That never stops us though so don't you worry.

Roll call: Bill Y., Brian, Butch, Damian, Linda, Lisa, Nate, Rob, Theresa

L to R: Lisa, Theresa, Butch, Linda, Nate, Bill Y., Damian

(not pictured: Brian and Rob...don't worry guys we ate your donuts!)

Trip, Drop and Roll

This week's run report is brought to you by guest blogger Butch:


Four relatively healthy souls braved Clayton today on a beautiful fall morning, while a good number of our crew were home sick or had prior obligations. After telling my story about dry-heaving at the end of last week's run we entered the trails via the soybean field taking a right around the pond and on to the massive uphill that pretty much determines how you will fair for the rest of the trek - see Butch's klutzy tripping episode a treat for all!

Lungs heaving, we connected back to the trail that leads up to the parking lot (no...we didn't run back to our cars) and took the left that leads down the long hill to the split rail fence and across the bridge where we had a nice little run in with DEATH HILL. Pausing at the top (only to enjoy the scenery of course) we continued down and around to the right and back up a small hill where almost in succession Lisa took her first graceful tumble, immediately followed by (newcomer/bootcamper) Theresa - just as graceful! Trip-Drop-Roll!!! Following this loop which continued around and back DOWN DEATH HILL we came back up to the split rail and took the right that took us out around the soybean field to the right of us through the straight away and through to the parking lot.

Roll call: Bill S., Butch, Lisa, Theresa

L to R: Theresa, Linda, Butch, Bill S.