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Hey Root Kickers and Tree Slappers,

Come join us this weekend for the final Muddy Shoes Saturday Trail Run of the year. That’s right! The Grand Finale! After this we transition to the MCRRC Winter Trail Program until the Spring of 2023 when we’ll return. We still do our Tuesday and Thursday evening runs though. They are year-round.

Anyway, I digress. So, for this weekend I thought it would be fun to return to the venue where we kick off our Saturday runs each Spring – Meadowside Nature Center. We’ll start out visiting some of the historic and natural sites around the park together as a group before taking off on your own at your pace for the rest of the run. These cool sites include the Pioneer Village, the Fire Tower, the Valient Covered Bridge, the Lost Cemetery and, finally, the Bald Eagle aerie. Then folks continue at their own pace for the rest of the run which will take you out under Muncaster Mill Road and on to the Kengla and Upper Rock Creek Trails to a turn around at Bowie Mill Rd. BTW you’ll also pass the famous ‘race car in the woods’ on the Kengla Trail. Great place to take a quick photo with your odiferous trail friends. No one knows how it got there but it must’ve been one hella party!

All together the mileage should top out around 11 or so miles but folks can feel free to go shorter.

We’ll have snacks and fluids back at the cars as usual.

OK, details:

Location: Meadowside Nature Center

Address: 5100 Meadowside Ln, Rockville, MD 20855 (Go all the way to back parking lot)

Coords: 39.113694, -77.106480

Date: Saturday 3 December

Time: 0730

Course: Meadowside Sites then out-n-back on Kengla/Upper Rock Creek Trails

Distance: 11-ish miles

Vibe: Chill

Alrighty, C U there cuz THESE TRAILS AIN’T GONNA RUN THEMSELVES!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

Hey Trail Dogs,

Welcome back from a week of culinary and caloric decadence! If you are like me you are probably suffering from a touch of Dunlop’s Disease. What’s that, you say? Well, Dunlop’s affects those people who lack the willpower, strength and mental fortitude to push themselves beyond reach of the Thanksgiving table when the Pecan Pie or mashed potatoes come around for a second time. In clinical terms it’s when you’ve consumed so much food that your belly done lops (Dunlop’s – get it?) over your belt preventing a direct line of sight between your eyes and your wiggly toes. Yes, we all can suffer from it to a degree, and with the advent of the holiday season more and more people will become afflicted, sad to say. But good news! I have a cure! A remedy! A tonic to get you back on track! It’s simple: drag your newly acquired pudge and flab out to Redland Middle School this evening for a trail run/calorie burn off in the Forests of Derwood! Sounds like a plan? Good! I’ll C U there…even if U can’t see your toes anymore.

***Announcements***

· Join us this Saturday 3 December for the final Muddy Shoes Saturday run of the year! Lets get in one more run before the start of the MCRRC Winter Trail Program with Coach Audrey and crew! Details coming later this week. We’ll pick up where we left off in Spring 2023!

· Speaking of the Winter Trail Program, only 28 spots left as of this morning! What are U waiting for? Sign up, dag-nab-it! https://runsignup.com/…/Rockville/MCRRCWinterTrailProgram

OK, details for this evening:
When: Tuesday 29 November
Time: Warm up – 6:00 Run – 6:15
Place: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 – go around back to the right
Course: We will alternate each week, clockwise and counterclockwise. This week COUNTER-CLOCKWISE (Lower Trail first)
Headlamp: Yup
Pets: Dogs OK. Turkeys – at your own risk!
Distance – 5-ish with the warm-up
Pace: Slow, Fast and In-between; all are welcome!
Vibe: Chill
Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!
Cheers,
Coach Phil

Hey There, Trail Turkeys,

Last chance to burn off some of that pre-Thanksgiving flab before you dive face first into a plate full of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, pie, and turkey (or a meatless substitute). Admit it. You’ll be a glutton. So, come out to the Forests of Redland and hit the trails with your trail buds. Earn your right to feast!

*** Don’t forget to sign up for Winter Trails! Only 52 spots left!

https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/MD/Rockville/MCRRCWinterTrailProgram

OK, details for this evening:

When: Tuesday 22 November

Time: Warm up – 6:00 Run – 6:15

Place: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 – go around back to the right

Course: We will alternate each week, clockwise and counterclockwise. This week CLOCKWISE (Upper Trail first)

Headlamp: Yup

Pets: Dogs OK. Turkeys – at your own risk!

Distance – 5-ish with the warm-up

Pace: Slow, Fast and In-between; all are welcome!

Vibe: Chill

Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

Howdy Trail Dogs,

I know you’re all counting calories with Turkey Day right around the corner so that leaves little room for excuses for not joining us for some Muddy-Shoes-Calorie-Burning-Forest-Jogging this Saturday. It is so worth it! Especially cuz it’s a free way to burn off some pre-Thanksgiving flab. But we will be serving our world famous Pennyfield Quesadillas after the run (yes – we got hot sauce!) so some of those calories come right back <sigh>.

The Quesadillas were a huge hit with the Stone Mill runners this past weekend at the Pennyfield Aid Station and we have stuff to make more! Come run and then indulge at the post-run mingle! Woot! Woot!

This week’s trail run will start at Watkins Mill H.S. and head North on the Greenway up to Watkins Road for a little out-and-back of just under 5.5 miles each way. Of course, folks can opt for a shorter distance as well.

Here are the details:

Location: Watkins Mill H.S.

Address: 10301 Apple Ridge Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20886

Coords: 39.183741,-77.2181477

Date/Time: Saturday 18 November 0730

Course: Seneca Greenway North to Watkins Road; Out-N-Back

Distance: Total RT is just over 10 ½ miles but folks can turn around for less.

Who: Anybody who wants to run. No whiners!

OK, recovering Stone Millers can do this for a recovery run and a chance to brag about your exploits to anyone who will listen (however, expect some eye-rolling)!

Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Winter Trail Program here:

https://mcrrc.org/training…/winter/winter-trail-program/

We’ll C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

HEY YOU…YEAH, YOU, TRAIL DOG!

Why is it that when I look at the list of participants I don’t see that you signed up for the MCRRC Winter Trail Program??? Who wouldn’t give their right arm to be able to ramble through the forests of MoCo on some beautiful Winter mornings with a bunch of trail friends? You (obviously). I’m just gonna leave the link to sign up here for your viewing pleasure and keep checking the list to find your name. I got my eye on you!

https://mcrrc.org/training…/winter/winter-trail-program/

C’mon! Get to it! What are you waiting for? Only 75 slots left!

C U there cuz those trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

Hey Trail Dogs,

Well, if the weather peeps are correct – which is at best, 50-50 – it could be a tad wet and chilly. That’s all the more reason to come out and enjoy your time on the trails with other Muddy Shoes nut-cakes. This is the kind of night that builds character. Not sure what kind of character but, character nonetheless.

I came up with a saying that I used to implore upon my runners back when I started coaching – ‘The more sh*t you run through, the less sh*t will affect you!’ Makes total sense the more adversity you face, the less perplexed you will be the next time you face it. Helps you on race day should the weather be foul. Plus, while your friends, family and co-workers are blabbing how they stayed in last night, sipping hot cocoa in their bunny-slippers and watching re-runs of their favorite Hallmark mini-series you can casually drop the line that you were out in the dark, wet woods with a bunch of other similarly deranged root slappers being a MUTHA-CHUCKING BAD-ASS – YEAH!!!

***Legal Disclaimer – No MUTHAs were harmed in the writing of this post. Nor does Muddy Shoes condone or recommend CHUCKING yours or any other MUTHAs anywhere at anytime. You do so at your own risk. A MUTHA brought you into this world, they can easily take you out of it at anytime!***

OK, a HUGE, LARGE shout-out to all the Stone Millers who competed last Saturday. The conditions were tough but, I saw a lot of Muddy Shoes folks cranking through. I can’t name you all for fear of leaving some one out but I will call out our own Denise Gravelle who trained her butt off all Summer and Fall and took 3rd Female Overall (15th Overall) with a crushing time of 9:32:16! Well done, Denise!!!

Of course, Muddy Shoes member Nico Crouzier won the whole damn thing for the umpteenth time by just over half an hour but that’s no surprise. Congrats, Nico!

OK, details for this evening:

When: Tuesday 15 November

Time: Warm up – 6:00 Run – 6:15

Place: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 – go around back to the right

Course: We will alternate each week, clockwise and counterclockwise. This week COUNTER-CLOCKWISE (Lower Trail first)

Headlamp: Yup

Umbrella: Sure

Pets: Dogs OK. Ducks OK cuz, well, rain!

Distance – 5-ish with the warm-up

Pace: Slow, Fast and In-between; all are welcome!

Vibe: Chill

Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

TUESDAY TRAILS @ REDLAND & OUTTA THE WAY CAFE!

Hey Trail Beasts,

It’s Trail Tuesday and Pre-Stone Mill Carb Load at The Outta the Way Café night after our run!

And not only that it is also election day. Here are my positions on certain issues:

· I am pro-mud and anti-pavement (Puck Favement, right!?)

· I am pro-hydration, pro-electrolyte and pro-pickle juice!

· I am anti-chafing, anti-tripping and anti-sprained ankles

· I am pro-ice cold mini-Cokes, pro-watermelon and pro-Crab Chips

· I am anti-deer tick, anti-humidity and anti-bloody knees (but they do make ya look bad-ass!)

· I believe people should be able to pick the trail shoes of their choice. One that fits their feet and does not cause blisters!

· And at least for today I am fervently pro-Outta the Way Café after the run!!! That means I might actually be pro-burger!

So, all you registered trail runners should head on over to Redland Middle School for an evening on the trails with Muddy Shoes. Don’t forget your headlamps! Afterwards we’ll vote to see how many are heading over to The Outta the Way Café for some sip-sips and nom-noms! How does that work for ya? Vote Muddy Shoes! Come run trails! It’s your civic duty!

Details:

When: Tuesday 08 November

Time: Warm up – 6:00 Run – 6:15

Place: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 – go around back to the right

Course: We will alternate each week, clockwise and counterclockwise. This week CLOCKWISE (Upper Trail first)

Headlamp: Yup

Pets: Dogs OK. No Ferrets!

Distance – 5-ish with the warm-up

Pace: Slow, Fast and In-between; all are welcome!

Vibe: Chill

Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Outta The Way Café Afterwards!

Cheers,

Muddy Shoes

Hey Muddy Shoe-zers!

Well, it’s a nice Fall morning out there for ya. Weather looks great this Sunday for a nice jaunt out on the awesome trails of MoCo. Of course, first weekend in November always brings us the Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Haph (Half, get it?) Marathon and Taper Run. Phew, that’s a mouthful. Anyway, this will be the 8th year in a row we’ve doneit and it’s always been a phantastic time! You get to touch your feet on a whole bunch of MoCo single-track such as Lake Needwood, the phamous Redland Trails and the Ag Farm to boot! All for the price of $5! What a deal!

You can do the complete 13.1-ish miles or we have a 10k option as well.

This is a perfect taper run for all you Stone Mill 50 milers or anyone else with an endurance event coming up next weekend. Time to relax from all the rigorous training miles and just loosen up your legs and have some fun on the trails. We don’t give out prizes but there will be some good stuff to nibble on afterwards as we do a post-run mingle! Feel free to bring a dish to pass as we’ll all be hungry1

Here is a link to the sign up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4dabab2da64-phantastic3

Here are some logistical details for ya:

Location: Lake Needwood Hiker Biker Trail Parking Lot

ADDRESS: 15679 Needwood Lake Cir, Derwood, MD 20855

CORDS: 39.114637S, -77.127564

DATE: SUNDAY 6 November

TIME: 0730

DISTANCE: 13.1 miles or 10k

DONATION: $5 (cheap!)

WHO: Open to all levels of ability, speed, and attitude! …wait…check that…only those with positive attitudes will be allowed to run. All others get chucked in the lake!

PARTICIPATION TROPHY: You kiddin’ me?

VIBE: Pretty chill

We’ll set up afterwards in Picnic Area #1, Pavilion A for the post-run.

OK, C U There!

THESE TRAILS AIN’T GONNA RUN THEMSELVES!!!

Cheers,

Coach Phil

TUESDAY TRAILS @ REDLAND

Hey Root Kickers,

It’s Tuesday all over again! Time to strap on a light source and head out into the Forests of Redland. This is not news. We do this every week!

50 Miler Pro Tip – If you are running in an upcoming 50 Miler or greater (100!) then you will be running on trails in the dark. That is a given. At least you will be starting in the dark. Faster folks might finish with the sun up…I guess DNFs will too! Anyway, the pro tip is to get some miles in when its dark. It’s a little less intuitive hitting the trails at night than daylight running. Join us Tuesday’s (Redland M.S.) or Cabin John (Thursdays) for some nighttime trail miles. Just sayin’…

Also don’t forget about the Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Half Marathon this weekend starting and finishing at Lake Needwood with a group mingle afterwards. Great taper run for you 50 milers!Feel free to bring something to share. Here is the link to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4dabab2da64-phantastic3

OK, usual details for tonight:

When: Tuesday 01 November

Time: Warm up – 6:00 Run – 6:15

Place: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855 – go around back to the right

Course: We will alternate each week, clockwise and counterclockwise. This week COUNTER–CLOCKWISE (Lower Trail first)

Headlamp: Yup

Pets: Dogs OK. Turtles..mmm, not so much…

Distance – 5-ish with the warm-up

Pace: Slow, Fast and In-between; all are welcome!

Vibe: Chill

Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!

Cheers,

Muddy Shoes

It’s time for the PHALL PHAT ASS!!! I hope you all will come out tho and enjoy the good phriends, pholiage and most importantly the TRAILS!! This course mixes up the best MoCO has to offer. We’ve got a lake, a farm and lots of trees! What more do you need? Come out on Sunday, November 6th at 7:30 AM. I’ll even let you sleep in an extra hour (Courtesy of Daylight Savings) Sign up now!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4dabab2da64-phantastic3