Story
I’d been working up to being able to run higher mileage all year, but since I seem to have a bad case of One Damn Thing After Another (currently the right foot/ankle, and after Friday, my right knee), I was forced to do some significant hiking for the Lick Brook & Treman FLT course on July 23rd, where I ran 3.5 miles with @crosby.woods and then hiked the rest, and then again today, when I wanted to get the Brookton Hill & Dale course done before we leave for vacation for a week. There was time to do it after we got back, but not much, and I saw no reason I’d necessarily be able to run it then either.
So I got up early and started a little after 8 AM. I opted for the clockwise direction, which provided nice shade for the first 5 miles, though much of Coddington and Middaugh were in full sun. Going up Vandemark was particularly scenic, though the entire course was pretty. I didn’t see any other Challengers out there, but a few drivers waved enthusiastically enough that I thought they might have recognized the shirt.
Rather than run first and potentially have to hobble the rest, I started off walking, with the plan that I’d run the last 3 miles if I was feeling OK. I’d worn some old double-layer Wright Socks that had holes in one layer and the left one started to give me a blister on my heel within the first mile. It took a few stops and fiddling to figure out what was happening, but once I switched socks, it didn’t get worse. Still, I felt it on each left foot strike unless I scuffed slightly so my foot moved forward in the shoe. Once I hit 7.5 miles, I started to jog, which did nice things to my pace per mile (about 15:00 for walking, but 16:00-something due to the stops, but dropped to 13:40 by the end). The right foot/ankle held up OK for the running, but my right knee started to hurt toward the end, particularly with camber on Brooktondale Road at the end.
I enjoyed being out there, but I would have been much happier without the left heel blister and if my right knee hadn’t started to hurt during the run part. Luckily, I have some Hydro-Seal blister bandages, which are fabulous, and I’m hoping the knee chills out with a few days off such that I can do the group runs on the 13th and 14th to finish off the Challenge for the year.
And the socks went in the garbage as soon as I got home.
Shop Local
I approve highly of chocolate to celebrate finishing the Challenge but was more in need of chocolate milk than a chocolate bar.
So unfortunately, I did not purchase any treats at the market (or take advantage of a free coffee 
), but what I did do was stop by the Six Mile Creek winery on my way to the East Hill Dryden Rail Trail. They were open, have nice bathrooms, and importantly, wine. While there, I was able to ask about the wine barrels and aging process but was not quite satisfied about how gluten-free their wines would end up being for me, so I grabbed Jeff a beer. I did want to make a purchase of some kind. The girl who helped me was really helpful.
You should definitely feel accomplished with this run. It’s a great one too. And enjoy your time at Lick Brook and Treman, definitely a beautiful run.
