I don’t have an overall theme this week, but it was a good one. This training plan works so well every single time – the mileage ramps up at just the right pace. The week’s total is now marathon distance, and I was realizing that for the next six weeks every long run will exceed a half-marathon. Right now that seems a little intimidating, when 12 miles was about as far as I could go on Sunday, but I know when I get there I’ll be ready. Highlights of the week:
- 42.2% of Easthampton – I’m adding more than 5% a week, successfully balancing completing short streets with plugging away on the long ones. Easthampton is easier to manage than Northampton was – fewer total streets (346 vs 539) and also much smaller (14 vs 36 square miles). The person in first place has a private profile so I can’t see if they’ve been running recently, but I don’t think they’ve changed from 92.49%. I’d love to complete Easthampton first!
- Expanding my range in Northampton to other beautiful neighborhoods like Village Hill. I’m taking more photos here as well so I’ll have two galleries on this post.
- I picked some mint gone wild at the edge of the Northampton community gardens and crushed it in the bandana I carry. Wow, why did I not think of scent as an extra enjoyment that way? I do stop to smell flowers, enjoy woodsmoke etc., but bringing something with me to sniff… so many possibilities!
- I realized I’ve been expanding my intangible collections (sightings/photographs) – for years I’ve kept an eye out for interesting weathervanes, but now I’m also looking for Little Libraries and cool mailboxes. So many fun things to enjoy but not have to own!
- A delightful experience on East Street: as I approached four or five cattle in a pasture, a pickup truck approached from the other side. The cows started mooing and heading for the corner gate even before it pulled into the driveway – they clearly recognized the engine, just like dogs do. Cross-species excitement!
- Less delightful but interesting: I picked up a huge cloud of gnats about an hour in, which followed me for several miles despite my attempts to whisk them off with flailing arms and my bandana. The little black dots dancing around my head were like wearing one of those black veils with dots, or a fringed hat.
- I covered most of East Street, which runs along the flank of the traprock ridge connecting Mount Nonotuck to Mount Tom – several miles of great views.
- I’d heard about the Treehouse Community in Easthampton but had never seen it – what a lovely place with a great mission.
Northampton weekday photos
VW bus mailbox for my “collection” 
Hedge of escaped mint 
Sledding hill looking towards Smith 
Lotus in full flower 
Further up the hill, lotus among other flowers
Easthampton Sunday run photos
Squash blossoms 
Peace Pole at Treehouse Community 
House nestled at the base of Mount Tom 
Scars of the 2014 microburst still visible on Mt Tom 
Mountain View Farm with a crop of sunflowers(?) in the background 
Hobbit door 
View at the end of a long boring new development’s street
| Date (temp/humidity) | Distance | Avg pace/fastest split | Time | HR (avg/highest) | Notes |
| Tue 8/3 (60°F/89%) | 4.09 | 12:55/12:29 | 52:47 | 144/174 | |
| Thu 8/5 (61°F/90%) | 6.12 | 12:30/11:34 | 1:16:30 | Intervals only: 131/167 | |
| Fri 8/6 (67°F/93%) | ~4 | 12:33/no good data | 58:53 | 135/158 | runkeeper crash |
| Sun 8/8 (68°F/87%) | 12.44 | 13:53/12:53 | 2:52:37 | 147/167 | |
| Totals | ~27 miles | | 6 hours | | Weight avg 116.3, resting heart 55 |