Hey Trail Dogs,
*** We will be monitoring the weather. If situation warrants – we will cancel for safety – we won’t cancel for comfort! Keep checking back***
Ya ready for Fall? No, not a ‘trip-on-a-root-face-plant-skin-your-knee-boo-hoo’ kind of fall. I’m talkin’ about Fall, the season..with a capital F! That kinda Fall, aka Autumn. Well, Saturday is the official first day of Autumn. No better way to celebrate the demise of Summer (Buh-bye!) and the beginning of my favorite season of the year then to head out onto some sweet MoCo trails for a little single-trackin’. This Saturday we’ll be heading down to the Southern parts of the realm to enjoy a jaunt from Riley’s Lock out on the Seneca Bluffs trail.
OK, now, to be frank, the weather is going to be wonderful…that is for a duck! Right now, they (who are ‘they’ anyway?) are calling for a really wet and breezy day with start time temps in the upper 50s. OK, so, here I go into my coaching lecture voice (can ya hear me?). If you are training for any upcoming trail ultra or marathon, even a half, you should always – always – come out and train in inclement weather. Yes, it might suck while you’re out there. You’ll be soaked, you’ll be muddy, and you’ll be cold, but it will be a beneficial training experience. For one thing, it will raise your level of endurance. Tough out these conditions and when you face them again, very possibly on race day, you will be able to shrug it off with a ‘been there, done that’ mind set. I have always said ‘The more shit you run through the less shit will affect you”. You never know what conditions you’ll be facing on race day. Might be nice but if it’s not, you’ll be set. Plus, bad weather runs are usually epic. In the least, it will make that beer, wine or martini taste all the better on Saturday evening. Mark my words. Me, and many of your other trail compadres have ‘been there AND done that’!
OK, coaching lecture over. Announcements then details (thanks for listening):
Merch! Merch! Merch! – get it while it lasts! We got Muddy Shoes Baseball Hats ($15), Buffs ($10) and Reusable, collapsible cups ($5). Do your holiday shopping early…or just treat yourself! See Coach Phil or Coach Mike C.
Donations! –Thanks to recent donations we were able to purchase a brush cutting attachment for the Muddy Shoes weed-wacker. Keep the donations coming. Any amount appreciated! I humbly thank you for all we receive!
Events – Aside from our three regularly scheduled weekly runs (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays) we have a big October/ November planned. In association with The Stone Mill 50 race, Muddy Shoes sponsors the ever-popular Stone Mill Course Preview runs. Each Saturday in October (7th, 14th, 21st28th) we will hold a run that will preview a part of the Stone Mill course. Each run is an out-and-back on a section of the course ranging in distance from ~18-22 miles. You don’t have to be signed up for the race to join us. Come on out and just do a few miles. All are welcome. We ask folks to provide a donation to help with costs. All are welcome!
Phall Phat Ass – Continuing the tradition started by Coach Robin we hold the Phall Phat ass Trail Half Marathon and 10k the Saturday before Stone Mill. Great taper run! More details to come!
OK, thanks for reading through. Now for this Saturday’s details:
Location: Riley’s Lock
Address: 13015 Rileys Lock Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
Coords: 39.069183, -77.339993
Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/FBB1P
Date: 23 September 2023
Time: 0730
Course: Start on C&O Canal and cross over creek. Take immediate right on gravel road. This is the beginning of the Greenway (also known as Tschiffley Road) You will pass the ruins of a large red granite building on your left. This is THE Stone Mill. Continue up road for 1 mile until you get to River Road. Carefully cross over and bear left onto Old River Road. Poole’s Store will be on your right. Continue up road for about 100 yards. Seneca Bluffs Trailhead will be on your right. Head onto trail and continue for ~6 miles until you hit Rt. 28. Turn around and come back. Options for extra mileage will be discussed at pre-run brief.
Distance: ~12 miles give or take
Pace: You pick. We have all paces including walkers.
Vibe: Chill
Hope to C U there cuz these trails ain’t gonna run themselves!
Cheers,
Muddy Shoes