Use this topic for posts to collect community stars for the Valley Views course.
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I realized the drive from Hammond Hill to Brookton’s Market is actually not that far, so I hit the Valley Views en route to Lindsay Parsons. My boss, who’s also an experienced runner, lives withon walking distance of the market and offered to run with me if I wanted company. But when I arrived at the sign I decided it was a bad idea to knock on doors looking for his house — I forgot exactly where it is — since it was 2:30 a.m. and probably looked like I just crawled out of the woods (which in more or less did.)
RunGo worked beautifully here. I don’t remember much else about the run as I was busy rehashing the plot of Return of the Jedi in my mind for the full hour I was out there after hearing a bird that sounded like R2D2.
You probably heard a bobolink! I heard them at the Blueberry Patch course last year.
I took advantage of the cool weather today to do a tempo run on Valley Views. I wanted to go as fast as I could without compromising my ability to do tomorrow’s indoor track workout. I wasn’t sure what pace that would be, especially on a hilly course, so I felt it out as I went.
The course goes uphill for the first 1.5 miles or so. I meted out a moderate effort and made it to the peak of Burns Road feeling pretty good. Then I let my legs shift into a gravity-assisted higher gear on the way back down. Once I was back on Valley Road I started pushing a little harder.
Around 4 miles in I was starting to feel some fatigue. I permitted myself a brief reprieve and eased off the effort a bit for the short climb on White Church Road. After cresting the hill I settled in to a pace that was tough but manageable.
Soon Brookton’s Market was in view. I glanced at my watch. It read 39:30. This was extremely significant because as all runners know it is much better to finish just below a round number than it is to finish at or above it. It looked like I had about 150 meters to go. As long as I didn’t have to stop for traffic I could probably kick for sub 40. Luckily no cars were coming. I darted across the road, tapped the sign, and stopped my watch at 39:58.
I’ve cycled these roads many times, and in fact a friend and I use Burns hill as a measuring unit to compare all other hills to (i.e. Snyder Hill we think is 3 x Burns). It keeps us going! Today, I convinced my non-runner boyfriend to jog/walk the first 1.5 miles with me to the top of Burns. He did so, and probably never will again haha!
Overall I enjoyed this route much more than I thought I would. The rest of the course felt like it flowed really well and my legs seemed happy. Of course most of the rest was somewhat downhill so that probably explains it 
Another course 
after work today. 
I really liked this course, I found it easier than FH Fox 
not sure why 
(though burns hill 
)
Also forgot my visor
I vote for more courses that end with food/snack shops 
did this three times and third time it crashed. I restarted and didn’t go into the app again and it was able to finish the navigation I did message the app people about it. I couldn’t find anything with my settings that could be causing it.
It’s always a consideration when I’m looking for them! Wait until you try Run Rabbit Run. 
This is sounding like a particular issue for your phone and RunGo. Hopefully they’ll have something to suggest.
Nice running weather for today’s challenge after the heat this week…keeping in tradition of map challenges we somehow ran the first loop backwards but I think it’s a first of not adding mileage on!! I still think there should be an award category for most accident mileage added…
If you have the time the coffee and sandwiches at the market are pretty tasty. I recommend the local on sourdough toasted.
It could be named the Ferdinand Magellan award and the prize is a globe. 
Had a blast this morning running with @jennarice, @julie19 and @twalsky (who ran the first loop with us). The rain held off, the wind died down, we didn’t get lost, and we didn’t get chased by the dog on Burns Hill road – what more could you want from a challenge course run ?
Had a nice cool day for a run from Brooktondale. I like this route! At the end of my run, as I was walking into the Market, there were people walking in beside me with musical instruments. By the time I finished my sandwich they were playing! Quite a nice surprise. In case any runners are interested in timing their end of run to coincide with live music, here’s a pic of their blackboard with the May schedule.
This was my first trip to Brooktondale and its cute market. What a find! Burns Road was a challenge, but the rewarding descents and flat roads following the climb made it well worth the effort.
Let me echo our trusty RunGo friend’s advice: When you turn left onto White Church Road, watch for cars coming to an abrupt stop at the sign. They won’t expect to see you barreling around that corner and you may be cruising at a decent pace.
This route includes a lot of asphalt and a lot of sunshine. Enjoy the mud-free, dry run and please consider wearing sunscreen.
Drove over from Hector with my buddies and had a ball! This was our first Challenge Course and we were total rookies with the timing and posting…. Will do better next time!
Loved the market and had a wonderful morning!
This was my first Challenge Course and I loved it - the company, the gorgeous views, and the delicious post run lunch at the Market!
I made a new friend!
I arrived at Brookton’s Market at the same time as @Lois_Meyer and although I was meeting another friend there, we all ran together for the first bit and I chatted with Lois a bit more afterwards in the Community Center parking lot where I thought to take the picture below. It was super fun to meet her and make a new running buddy.
So just a heads up, they stoned and tarred a good chunk of the course so there is a lot of gravel at the shoulders of the road. The paving did make the camber greater in a couple spots but still not terrible, so just an fyi.
And as previously noted, just be careful on white church road (rt 118) there is very little shoulder when you go up that hill.
And despite all the neon I wear (like the 80’s threw up on me 
) I had a near miss when someone was turning right on to the road… While looking left 
bright colors don’t matter if they never look in your direction
Always run in high alert my friends 
A views-filled course is always my favorite! This one did not disappoint. Although it was a very hot (90 degree) day, I set out fairly early and brought a hydration vest with a water pouch (???) (what is the correct vernacular?) that I had refrigerated overnight so it was extra cold the whole way! It was quite humid; I remember picturing my body slicing through the thick air, but it was good heat training for summer.
A word of warning for those unfamiliar with these roads: in the first quarter of the course, you reach “the top of the climb” (aka you’re running uphill for the first 1.5 miles). My watch alerted me that I had reached my “flights climbed” goal (10 flights) partway up Burns Rd, and then doubled it less half a mile later.
The horses and meadows were breathtaking.
This time in May, the honeysuckle and lilacs are both in full bloom, which made for a perfumed course! That and running alongside the creek for most of it filled my heart.
The final mile includes a serious gravel and sand mining operation with fascinating old fashioned looking sorting machines on tracks from the creek. I’ve never seen anything like it in person, and marveled (through my exhaustion) at how they used gravity and simple mechanisms to sort gravel of different sizes into massive piles.
Coming round the bend, Brookton’s Market was a welcome sight at the end, and I couldn’t NOT treat myself to a fantastic sandwich. I chose the “Aye Aye,” which is toasted (GF) bread with scrambled eggs, melted jack cheese, fresh salsa, and guacamole. It truly hit the spot.
Looking forward to trying this course again when I’m not just “covering the ground” and want to push myself on some hills. Will try to choose cooler days, when possible, since it is all on asphalt, which reflects the heat considerably.
Thanks Adam for ending the course near good food!
Okay, so this is my favorite course this year. The almost 2 mile climb right out of the gate is totally worth it for the views and the next 4 miles of downhill.
After a rest day yesterday, I was feeling pretty awesome on this one, and kept a 8:30-9:00 per mile pace (after the climb that is). The sun was out but there was a perfect breeze, so at no point did I feel too hot even with the lack of shade on most of the course.
Seriously loved it. 9/10! Freeville Fly-in tomorrow to finish up the challenge!
P.S. if you’re planning on running this course today, you’ll need to park at the community center or the post office because there is a band playing at the market.
Had a fun time running this course yesterday with @jennarice, @twalsky, @Cecelia_Madsen and special guest @amalia who was in town for a quick visit after recently starting a new job in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was a hot day and there was some discussion of jumping into the creek along side Valley Rd. 
@tonya-engst joined us afterwards for much appreciated cool drinks at the Brookton Market.
ran course backwards to get flat sunny spots along Valley Road out of way early … would have worked better if I had started at 6 as intended. however late start enable me to get post-run (and post PT exercises) treat at Brookton’s Market. and running this way gave better valley views
Sadly, didn’t even get a nod from the horses - they had their faces buried in their breakfast!
