OK, Stone Millers, it’s time to start training up and getting’ yer head in gear for Stone Mill. Its coming up. We’ll be hittin the course piece-by-piece in a series of course preview training runs. The purpose of these trots is to get folks out on the course to get a look-see at what they’ll be tackling on race day. Gives ya just a little advantage that you’ll have in your back pocket on race day. This year the runs will be put on by the MyMuddyShoes Trail Runners, a local group of trail runners in Montgomery County, MD. The preview runs will be held over 4 Saturdays in October, with a BONUS 5th week at the 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Haph Marathon and 10K also put on by MyMuddyShoes. The Half will be a great taper run for Stone Millers.
On each of the training runs there’ll be water set out on the course and chewable stuff back at the parking lots. However, these runs will be BYOTP…yeah, the TP stands for toilet paper. Feel free to bring a pass-around to share if you want. All runs will be on Saturday mornings, starting at 0730. Open to all. Folks can feel free to donate $3 or $4 bucks or any loose change they find on the floor of their car to help defray the cost of water and snacks…and to pay for my vacation home at the beach…kidding!…wanted to see if you were still paying attention!
*Please note, the course may not be marked beyond the normal trail markings (tree blazes), and neither Stone Mill nor MyMuddyShoes are responsible or liable for any incidents that may occur during these runs including. This includes fronting bail money!
While subject to change, here is the schedule as of right now. I’ll send out notifications the Friday before each run. OK, here ya go:
Preview Run #1 – 7 October – Stedwick E.S. – The run will take you from the school onto Stedwick Rd. for a short bit then left on Watkins Road (yeah, its pavement, but only for a short bit) over to the Seneca Greenway trailhead where you get back on dirt heading South to Clopper Lake. Go around lake and back. Distance – about 20 Miles
Address: 10631 Stedwick Rd, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Preview Run #2 – 14 October – Pennyfield Lock – Start at Pennyfield Lock and head North up Muddy Branch Trail to Rt. 28 and back. Distance – about 17 Miles
Address: 39.0537° N, 77.2889° W
Preview Run #3 – 21 October – Pennyfield Lock (again) – Start at Pennyfield Lock and head up C&O Canal to the start of Greenway Trail by the actual Stone Mill and head North up to Rt. 28 parking lot. Distance – about 20 Miles
Address: 39.0537° N, 77.2889° W
Preview Run #4 – 28 October – Rt.28 Trail Head – Head North up Greenway and Seneca Ridge Trail to Quince Orchard Road. Down Rt. 28 (sidewalk to start of Muddy Branch trail. Distance – about 22 Miles
Addrss: 39.128111, -77.332955
Bonus Taper Run – Sunday 5 November – 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Half Marathon and 10k. Great taper run.
Note: Each of these runs is an out-n-back, so the distance is easily customized to your needs.