All Things Pumpkin

An afternoon filled with pumpkins! 🎃

Late October

Although the early maples are gorgeous with their brilliant reds, there is something equally as beautiful as the later fall foliage despite the more muted tones. The yellow and golds of the oaks, beeches and birches, while more subtle, offer a wonderful contrast to the evergreens and the bright red of the winterberries. And while daylight is slowly dwindling, there has been some wonderful early morning light on these late fall days.

Tuesday was an intentional day off. Wednesday was not but it was rainy and whipping wind at 4:00 am and I did no want to get up. So, I didn't. Then I somehow managed to grab two right shoes when putting my stuff together to run during Sam's afternoon swim practice. Yup, I'm an idiot 😂 Therefore, there was no running Wednesday either. 🙈

But that's OK. Still four days left to run and finish out the remaining four runs I wanted to get in 😉 Nothing like cramming it in. Ha! But in all seriousness, this tends to happen to me often and I do think that it has worked for me to train this way in larger blocks each week. I don't do huge mileage, but stacking days upon each other has worked for me.

Thursday morning was a very dark run on the cart paths. But a beautiful, crisp, clear morning with a crescent moon and many stars shining brightly overhead, and a wonderful orangey pink glow on the horizon in the final half mile. (6.0 miles)

Friday, I met up with Val up at Riverlands for a mid-morning run. I had seen some photos she had posted of the singletrack all nicely leaf-blown, and I was all in 😀 It really was lovely, and so good to catch up with Val too! She gave me a tour of a really nice singletrack loop, with some pretty river views. (7.6 miles)

Pretty blueberry bushes along the Ridge Trail

Yesterday, I got up and out just as it was getting light for my long run. With it being Youth Hunting Day, I was dressed in an orange shirt and hat, and didn't go anywhere I felt might be a possible hunting spot. Definitely no need to tempt fate! Ran the cart paths first then wandered out into the Cathance, where no hunting is allowed, enjoying the roaring river, scaring up a few deer and finding a few cool mushrooms. Still, I didn't head out into the father reaches of the preserve, just to be safe. Then it was back onto the cart paths for a few more holes and onto the roads for the final 5 miles. Really pretty morning for a run. Beautiful morning light too. (15.0 miles)

It was too nice not to get back out in the woods later in the afternoon for a family walk. Always good to enjoy a bit of trail time together! (1.7 miles walked)

😍😍

So much growing on this piece of bark lost off an old dead tree. Very cool!

So much shelf fungi! 

Sam had a sleepover last night so Ryan and I were able to head down to Mindy and Pete's for their annual fall party. I remember taking Sam down there a few weeks after she was born, so this party is a tradition at least 10 years old!! Fun to catch up with friends and enjoy an evening socializing. Even managed to stay up past my 9:00 pm bedtime 😂

Forecast this morning was calling for rain rain rain, but it looked like there would be an early morning window to get out before the precipitation started. The cats don't care that I went to bed late, so they were a nice natural alarm this morning 😉 Got a bit later of a start than yesterday, heading out at 7:20 am and missed the sunrise, but it wasn't raining so there's that! Headed out into the Cathance for a mellow run. Although it was overcast, there were still some beautiful late-turning maples shimmering against the gray and the brilliant red winterberries are really showing right now. Saw two deer, and was happy to feel good after yesterday's 15 and the late night and to be wrapping up the week with 42 miles. (6.2 miles)

Not Ghost Train

It was Ghost Train weekend this weekend. I know that it was the right decision to give up my spot and let it go, but I can also can't help wondering how it would have gone if I'd gotten out there and readily admit to feeling a bit of FOMO and regret this weekend about it. And that's OK.

Sam had a sleepover with one of her friends Friday night, so I set out from a quiet house on Saturday morning, not feeling guilty about missing out on a morning with the kiddo, and looking forward to enjoying some time on my home trails. Headed out down the powerlines under bright blue skies. The red winterberry is starting to pop amidst the yellow and browns - so lovely!

Ran a bit of the mountain bike trail system out by the pond which was nicely leaf-blown or raked and then headed back towards home. Took the back road, where I saw a belted kingfisher flying and calling above a pond, and then headed out into the Cathance. After this week's rain, the river is flowing quite nicely, and there is still quite a bit of lovely foliage gracing the trees. Despite the cold temps, the sun was warm enough that there was a little garter snake out sunning himself in the opening near the Heath - what a fun sighting. And although my legs were definitely tiring in the final few miles, overall I felt good, and it was such a nice morning to be out on the trails and in the woods! (15.0 miles)

Sunday morning, I met up with Emma over at Brad. A gorgeous cold, crisp and bright morning and so nice to be out enjoying it! We had fun chatting away as we ran along the leaf-covered singletrack. Always good to catch up!! Legs felt good after yesterday's miles too, so that was a plus. (8.0 miles)

Ryan and Sam pulled up shortly after I had changed into dry clothes, and as Ryan headed out with the Sunday morning group for his run, Sam and I headed up to the summit for a hike. Brrr - quite chilly - but glorious sky and colors at the summit, and always nice to walk and talk with the kiddo. 💗 (2.0 miles walked)

I had put in long ago for today off, thinking I'd be home recovering from Ghost Train miles. I never got around to changing that request, so decided I'd stick with the day off despite the whole no racing thing. Sure, I could go into work, but that's no fun 😉 So, after dropping Sam off this morning, I headed north to Camden for some trail time. Parked at the far end of the multi-use trail, ran/hiked up Bald, crisscrossed over to Cameron, up to Sky Blue and down via the multi-use. It was a gorgeous day and the views of the ocean, deep red huckleberry and blueberry bush leaves, the sweet smell of the hay-scented ferns and fall leaves, the quiet trails and time in the woods were all a wonderful balm for my soul. Always a treat to get up to the Camden hills! (7.3 miles)

Bald vista

Colors atop Cameron 

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers," - L.M. Montgomery. Truly, yes 😍

The sweet singletrack that is Sky Blue

And since there's not much that pie can't fix, or make better, I stopped for a big beautiful piece of four-berry pie (a la mode of course!) at Moody's on the way back home. Yum! 😋

So good!

Then I got a massage with Lauren, which is always good, and we finished the day with a family walk out on the powerlines. Such a nice fall evening, and always good to get out together! 💗 (1.75 miles walked)

So while I feel a little sad at what I might have missed, really, there's always another race and another day, and I'm lucky to have been able to take today, although originally set aside for another purpose, to just enjoy, with no expectations, to just be. After all, what can be better than a trail run in the sunshine, a big piece of pie, a massage from a friend and time spent outside with family? I'd say that is pretty darn good. 💕

(Also, just because I was feeling slightly melancholy myself does not mean I am not so excited and proud of so many friends for having awesome Ghost Trains this weekend!! Yay running!!)