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Haunted Tuesday Trail Run – Redland M.S.

BOO!!!!

Did I scare ya? Perhaps. One thing that won’t be too scary is hitting the haunted trails of Redland tonight for some trick-or-treating. Actually, there will be no tricks and no treats but at least I won’t have to listen to the doorbell ringing every 30 seconds. It’ll be much quieter on the trails. BTW, I de-clowned and de-zombied the woods today so that won’t be an issue…i hope…unless I missed one…or two….BUT I digress.… Tonight we run!

Here are the details :
Address: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855 (Park around back to the right side of school)
Coordinates: 39.140327, -77.131554
Time: 6:30 (6:15 warm up)
Course: Redland Trail (upper and lower) clock wise (upper trail first)

***Announcements***

– Mark your calendars so you don’t accidentally commit to running a road race. This Sunday 5 November – The 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Haph Marathon and 10k. We’ll will be running from Needwood to Ag Farm and back. Great Trails, Great Phood and Great Phun. Don’t miss it. It is a non-official taper run for those doing Stone Mill the following week. This is our signature event. Donations will be accepted as well as a dish to munch on. Robin is still looking for volunteers. A Phood sign up sheet is also available.

– We still have Muddy Shoes Buffs ($10) and Car Magnets ($1 cheap) for sale and now we have Mussy Shoes hats!!! OMG, they are soooo cool…ands stylish too! See me or Robin ($15…cheap) Don’t be caught without one!

– Our website is now up and running (no pun intended…well, actually my puns are all intentional). Check out the link:

https://mymuddyshoes.org

– Registration for the MCRRC Winter Trails Program is OPEN! Come join Coach Bruce and Coach Audrey (Co-Directors) and a bunch of foul-mouthed, stinkin’ coaches such as myself to run the frosty trails of MoCo this Winter as we train for the Seneca Greenway Marathon and 50K. Here is the link:

https://www.mcrrc.org/
…/winter-trail-running-training-prog…/

OK. Nuff.
C u on the dirt in the dark! We’ll have a howlin’ good time
Cheers,
Muddy ‘Pumpkin’ Shoes

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Stone Mill 50 Miler Course Preview Run #4 – Grand Finale – 28 October 0730

OK, My Fellow Grime-Encrusted, Foul-Smelling, Potty-Mouthed Trail Maggots,

It comes down to this Saturday for our last Stone Mill 50 Course Preview run. Sad, I know, but inevitable. But, just think on the bright side, now you get to taper! That’s the fun part of training for an any endurance event. You get to cram food into your pie-hole by the shovel full while you are resting and relaxing! Ain’t nothing wrong with that scenario! But to get there we have to hit the dirt on Saturday. The course will be a little different and therefore, a little complicated IF YOU DON’T LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTIONS! (Yes, I’m YELLING in an email). Better pay attention!

So, in order to cover every inch of the entire 50.66 miles of the Stone Mill course we need to do two separate out-n-backs from our starting point at Riffleford Road. Yes, two for the price of one! First we’ll head North up to Quince Orchard Road and down the cement (yes, cement) sidewalk along Rt. 28 for 1.25 miles and through the tunnel to the start of the Muddy Branch Trail (where we had the water and bird-poop potato aid station two weeks ago). This is a section of the outbound part of SM50 we hadn’t done yet and one of the most confusing. Need your wits about ya to stay on course here and not end up doing extra mileage especially on race day. This is the turn around point for the first out-n-back of the day-now we head back to Riffleford. I’ll give more explicit instructions in the morning. Once back at the parking area we’ll head South on the Seneca Ridge and Greenway Trails all the way down to the Rt. 28 Greenway Trailhead parking lot (Last Saturday’s turn around) Then head back up to the cars and snackeroonies and we’re done. Total distance should come in around 22 miles or so. If folks want to do extra they can easily access Clopper Lake and the upper part of the course.

Here are the details:

Location: Greenway Trailhead at Riffleford Road. 16899 Riffle Ford Rd, Darnestown, MD 20878
Coordinates: 39.132829, -77.267667
Time: 0730
Parking: There is a small dirt lot that holds about 20 cars (new) but there is ample parking on both shoulders. Just be careful of traffic.

***NEXT WEEK – Join us for the 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Haph Marathon and 10K at Lake Needwood. This is a great event with a Pot Luck Post Race that is scrumptious. Course will take yopu on the trails of Needwood, Redland (upper and Lower) and the Ag Farm. Great trails if you’ve never been on them before. There is a RSVP on the webpage ( www.mymuddyshoes.org under Events) and our Facebook page as well. Let us know you’re coming and sign up to bring some special grub to share after words. Don’t miss it. Cost is a $5 if ya can afford it (low-interest payment plans available).

Also a plug for the MCRRC Winter Trail Program coming your way. Registration is open. Awesome program that targets the Seneca Greenway Marthon and 50K in March. https://www.mcrrc.org/…/winter-trail-running-training-prog…/

That’s all I got for now. Its been a pleasure hosting these Preview runs on behalf of the Stone Mill 50 Mile Race. Been greaty to meet new trail dogs too! Hope ya’ll had fun

C U on the Single-Track!
Cheers (not sneers),
Muddy Shoes

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Time for Tuesday Night Trail Monkey Business!

Hey Trail Chimps,

Its Tuesday again! Time to hit the trails of Redland! Tell ya what. Its getting dark early. We’ll have headlamps on when we start . Might be a little left over moisture around, if we’re lucky. I flagged the half loop if folks want to do extra. It adds on a total of 2 miles.

…

Here are the details:

Address: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855 (Park around back to the right side of school)
Coordinates: 39.140327, -77.131554
Time: 6:30 (6:15 warm up)
Course: Redland Trail (upper and lower) counter-clock wise (lower trail first)

***Announcements***

– Mark your calendars so you don’t accidentally commit to running a road race. Sunday 5 November – The 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Haph Marathon and 10k. We’ll will be running from Needwood to Ag Farm and back. Great Trails, Great Phood and Great Phun. Don’t miss it. It is a non-official taper run for those doing Stone Mill the following week. This is our signature event. Donations will be accepted as well as a dish to munch on. Robin is still looking for volunteers. A Phood sign up sheet is also available.

– We host the Stone Mill Course Preview Training Runs every Saturday in October. You don’t have to be running Stone Mill to come out and join us. Courses are all out-n-backs so you do more or less miles. All are welcome. Donation – $5 Run #4 is this Saturday. Details posted on Friday

– We still have Muddy Shoes Buffs ($10) and Car Magnets ($1 cheap) for sale. Don’t be caught without one!

– Our website is now up and running (no pun intended…well, actually my puns are all intentional). Check out the link:

https://mymuddyshoes.org

– Registration for the MCRRC Winter Trails Program is OPEN! Come join Coach Bruce and Coach Audrey (Co-Directors) and a bunch of foul-mouthed, stinkin’ coaches such as myself to run the frosty trails of MoCo this Winter as we train for the Seneca Greenway Marathon and 50K. Here is the link:

https://www.mcrrc.org/
…/winter-trail-running-training-prog…/

OK. Nuff.
C u on the dirt in the dark! We’ll go bananas!
Cheers,
Muddy ‘Monkey’ Shoes

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Stone Mill 50 Miler Course Preview #3 – Saturday 21 October 0730

 

Wassup, Trailies!

OK, Week 3 of the Stone Mill 50 Miler course previews is upon us. Third times a charm, so they say! But, I’ve heard it said that bad things also come in threes…but we won’t go there. Be positive, Stay Positive. And I’m positive about one thing, we are going to get a real good, intimate look at Part III of the Stone Mill 50 Miler course tomorrow morning. OK here’s the plan. We are meeting up a…t the same parking lot as last week (Pennyfield Lock) but we’ll run in the opposite direction to get a look at the next section of the course (Mile 24.28 to Mile 34.28). I’m going to leave it up to you Math nerds to crunch the numbers but using my finger digits and doing the ‘Rithmatic I get 10 miles up and 10 miles back for 20 total.

So, about this section of trail. During the race Pennyfield Lock is basically the half way point. There will be a full-blown Aid Station here that provides not only liquids, real food and pottys but this is where you will find your drop bags. Crew access is also available here. We will head up the C & O Canal to Riley’s Lock where you will pass the real Stone Mill at Mile 27.78 and another full-blown Aid Station (no drop bags here) with all the amenities. You might see something stronger than Gatorade available on the beverage table here (wink, wink) :0. This is the point where you pick up the Seneca Greenway Trail and head North. We’ll turn around at the Rt. 28 Trail Head, during race day you just keep going.

OK, details, details:

Location: Pennyfield Lock, Pennyfield Road off of River Road (When you get to the canal go all the way down to your left)
Coordinates: 39.053729, -77.288852
Time: 0730
Course: I already ‘splained it! See above!
Distance: 20-ish miles or so.
Cost: Coupla bucks to keep things going. Put in donation box or slide $ to Coach Phil or Coach Mike

Etiquette: No pushing, shoving or elbowing on the trail. Snot rockets encouraged (Be green…literally!)

Time for a shameless plug…these runs are brought to you by MyMuddyShoes. We keep trail running going in MoCo year ’round, day/night sun/rain/snow since 2014. Join us for our other events. Go to www.mymuddyshoes.org or find us on yahoo or Facebook.

*** Mark your calendars and sign up for the 3rd Annual Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Trail Haph Marathon and 10k coming your way on Sunday 5 November. This is an annual event that serves as a perfect taper run the weekend before Stone Mill. Its low-key, lots of phun with a delicious pot luck and mingle afterwards.

So, rest up, hydrate and don’t eat too much tonight cuz…well, ya know…
C U at Pennyfield in the morning!
Cheers,
Muddy Shoes

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Tuesday Night Trail Running 101 – Redland M.S.

 

Well Trailies,

Its getting pretty dark out there early, isn’t it? We actually lose 21 minutes of daylight per week this time of year. So, if you are doing any ultras this Fall most likely you will be starting and, for many of us, finishing in the dark. Take my advice, running trails at night with proper illumination is safe…very safe…except for the clowns lurking in the bushes…but as far as falling goes I see fewer falls on the night trail runs than I do on day light runs. Why, you ask? Simple A) You naturally go a tad bit slower and B) there are no visual distractions. Just your cone of light hitting the ground. Now, while night trail running is safe it is a different experience that needs a little getting used to. I highly recommend folks come out and try it especially if you will be running in the dark during race season. You never know, you might get hooked!

Here are the dark details for tonight:

Address: Redland Middle School, 6505 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD 20855 (Park around back to the right side of school)
Coordinates: 39.140327, -77.131554
Time: 6:30 (6:15 warm up)
Course: Redland Trail (upper and lower) clock wise (upper trail first)

***Announcements***

– Mark your calendars so you don’t accidentally commit to running a road race. Sunday 5 November – The 32d Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass Haph Marathon and 10k. We’ll will be running from Needwood to Ag Farm and back. Great Trails, Great Phood and Great Phun. Don’t miss it. It is a non-official taper run for those doing Stone Mill the following week. This is our signature event. Donations will be accepted as well as a dish to munch on.

– We host the Stone Mill Course Preview Training Runs every Saturday in October. You don’t have to be running Stone Mill to come out and join us. Courses are all out-n-backs so you do more or less miles. All are welcome. Donation – $5 Run #3 is this Saturday. Details posted on Friday

– We still have Muddy Shoes Buffs ($10) and Car Magnets ($1 cheap) for sale. Don’t be caught without one!

– Our website is now up and running (no pun intended…well, actually my puns are all intentional). Check out the link:

https://mymuddyshoes.org

– Registration for the MCRRC Winter Trails Program is OPEN! Come join Coach Bruce and Coach Audrey (Co-Directors) and a bunch of foul-mouthed, stinkin’ coaches such as myself to run the frosty trails of MoCo this Winter as we train for the Seneca Greenway Marathon and 50K. Here is the link:

https://www.mcrrc.org/…/winter-trail-running-training-prog…/

OK. Nuff.
C u on the dirt in the dark!
Cheers,
Muddy ‘Nocturnal’ Shoes

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Stone Mill 50 Miler Course Preview #2 – Saturday 14 October 0730

Listen Up, Trailies!

Time to do #2! ….uh…that is as in Stone Mill 50 Course Preview Run #2. Not the other Number 2 as in…well…ya know…that poopy-thing that bears tend to do in the woods…or is it the Pope? I dunno. Actually, a lot of trailies end up doing that Number 2 thing in the woods as well..cuz…well…as you know…shit happens…ba-da-boom…but I digress…again. Speaking of digressing, did I ever …tell ya ’bout the time I was running after eating spicy Thai the night before and…wait…back on track!

Here we go. So, this Saturday you all will get a look at what is almost the entire second half of the outbound section of the course minus one small stretch we’ll get to later on. We will be running on the Muddy Branch Trail in its entirety. Starting at Pennyfield Lock we’ll head up to the Rt. 28 tunnel and then back down to the start. That 2nd part, the return leg of the out-n-back, is the way you’ll be coming during the race so that’s where ya need to pay attention. Altogether this will only be 19 miles or so. Feel free to add on extra if your little legs desire. We’ll have Pete setting up some aid at Turkey Foot Road for your dining and replenishing pleasure. That will be at about mile 4 outbound or 15-ish inbound. We’ll also have snacks at the end.

Check out the attached map to get an idea where each of the preview runs will be on the course. Mileage is -ish (Duh!)

Location: Pennyfield Lock, Pennyfield Road off of River Road (When you get to the canal go all the way down to your left)
Coordinates: 39.053729, -77.288852
Time: 0730
Course: Out-n-back on Muddy Branch Trail (up to tunnel at rt. 28)
Distance: 19-ish miles or so.
Cost: Coupla bucks to keep things going
Etiquette: Foul language and use of four-letter words permitted if used as an adjective as in. ‘This mud is effing scrumptious’, as a verb ‘So-and-so is sh*ting in those bushes’ , as a noun “That hill was a real b**ch”. etc.

OK, C U Stinking Trail Hounds there.
Cheers,
Muddy Shoes

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Stone Mill 50 Miler Course Preview Run #1 – Saturday 7 October 0730

Hey Stone Millers,

Ready for Stone Mill Course Preview Run #1??? Well, we are! No bout a doubt it! Yes, I know those words are reversed and perversed, just like you’ll be at the end of the run. Well, hopefully not reversed cuz that means you went off-trail and we have to go get you. And hopefully not perversed cuz…well… just cuz we don’t need that either. But we can guarantee you’ll get a good look at th…e top part of the Stone Mill 50 course which is a part that you will run on the way out (first leg) and on the way in (last leg). Plus you get to go around Clopper Lake (which you have to do on the way out.)

Fair warning – there is a wee bit of pavement involved in this run. But only a little. That’s right, we’ll be starting and ending at the official Start/Finish line and giving you a look at what you’ll see at the beginning and glorious end of the race and that involves hitting a bit of asphalt to get you to and from the trailhead (1.25 miles each way)

There will be water on the course and snacks back at the start/finish. Feel free to bring a snack if ya got one.

Fan-favorite Mike Edwards will be leading this run. Listen to him, he’ll explain everything. Do what he says (within reason).

Here are the details:

When: Saturday 7 October
Time: 0730
Location: Stedwick Elementary School 10631 Stedwick Rd, Montgomery Village, MD 20886
Cost: Slide us a $5 bill or some loose change from under your couch cushions.
Distance: I dunno…somewhere in the 18-19-ish range? (Ya didn’t really expect exact mileage from a trail runner, did ya?)

OK, side note, these course preview runs are brought to you by MyMuddyShoes, the local trail tribe here in Montgomery County, in conjunction with the Stone Mill 50 Race Directors – all rise – Barry Hauptmann and John Fitz! You may be seated. Anyway we run every Tuesday (in the dark) every Thursday (in the dark) and every Saturday when MCRRC Winter Trails is not in session. Check us out on Facebook, Yahoo or at www.mymuddyshoes.org .

OK, that’s it! Be there or be square.
Cheers,
Muddy Shoes

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Fall Trail Running – Saturday – Cabin John

Yo Trail Hounds,

Saturday with cooler temps and lower humidity? I’ll take it! After all of our suffering through the heat this Summer, we are finally being given the weather we thrive in. Not a good morning to sleep in. Wait! Sleeping in?!? What is that? Not something trailies are used to. Naps? now that’s something I know a little ’bout. But, I digress.

…

Tomorrow we will be puttin’ (Not to be confused with Putin!) our trail shoes on the lovely dirt of the Cabin John Trail for a nice long run. How far? Up to you. The trail is somewhere between 8 and 9 miles long and we will be starting in the middle of it. We’ll do the short Northern loop first (North of Tuckerman) then head South to MacArthur Blvd and back up. Of course, you can run longer or shorter. Up to you!

Here are the details:

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

– The 3rd Annual Muddy Shoes Phantastic Phall Phat Ass is coming up phast. Mark your calendars. Sunday November 5th at Lake Needwood. Better than any thing on pavement. We need volunteers as well. Great pot luck following event.

– We have Muddy Shoes Buffs ($10) and Car Magnets ($1) for sale. See Coach Phil or Mike Chau.

– The Stone Mill 50 Miler Course Preview and Training Runs will be held each Saturday in October. Get a peek at what the course lloks like. Open to all.

– Check out the NEW Muddy Shoes website www.mymuddyshoes.org

OK, Nuff Stuff!
Cheers,
Muddy Shoes

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R-U-Bluffing-Me Saturday Trail Run – 0730 @ Riley’s Lock

Gonna be a great day for a long trail run, Cowboy. No, I’m not bluffing you BUT we are going to ‘Run the Bluffs’ as they say in MoCo trail running circles. Actually, I don’t know who ‘they’ is…or are…its just a figure of speech, ya know. BUT (another but in all caps?! must be important!) I digress! Seems to happen to me alot..that ‘digress’ thing…ya know, did I ever tell ya ’bout the time I …never mind…we are running Seneca Bluffs …Trail on Saturday morn. One of my favorites. I’m not bluffing! A real treat. Out-n-back to Rt. 28 will be about 14 round trip. Stretch it to Black Rock Mill and back to get in 17 if you like. I’ll try to put some water out there.

Here are the details:

Location: Riley’s Lock Lock 24, Darnestown, MD 20874, USA
Latitude: 39.068813 | Longitude: -77.340832

Time: 0730

Course: North on Seneca Bluffs to Rt. 28 and back

Other Stuff:

NEXT SATURDAY – We are doing the Phat Cat Run up North in the Catoctins. Robin will be in charge (God help us!- just kidding….God can’t do anything! We’ll be on our own!) Here is the link to sign up

https://www.facebook.com/events/1911987719055841/)

Stone Mill Traing Runs start October 7th…look for more info to come your way. Donations will be appreciated. You don’t have to be doing Stone Mill to do these runs. All are welcome and you can go longer or shorter.

OK…boss-man wants me to start working (What the hey!?!)

C U Muddy Minions in the Morning! I’m not bluffing!

Cheers,
Muddy Shoes

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Thursday Evening Trails at Cabin John

Go forth and run, oh ye Muddyshoes bunch! Cabin John awaits you tonight, bring lights, bring your nerves for overcoming the fears 😱 of darkness. I promise you, you’ll get used to it and enjoy running by fireflies💥, headlamps and others, before it really gets colder — and by then the reflections on snow will light up the run.
As Phil would say, I digress. You’ll want to run north tonight from the Tennis Center parking lot across Tuckerman and around the “new” trail near 270…. 7-8 miles in all unless you turn back early.

Sadly, I won’t be with you. It’s that day once a month when I must go to the Board meeting. Phil Epstein,
Ashley Tipton, Smita or another regular, please direct the hordes for me. I’ll be back next week. Actually had to run favement this morning to make up for it and fit running in the schedule today. Puck it.

Here’s your schedule and location–

Where: Meet at Cabin John Tennis and Nature Center parking lot, to the right off Democracy going west from 270. If you reach Seven Locks, you’ve gone too far.

When: 6:15 for warm-up; 6:30 to pick up late comers and do full run.

Bring lights. Let everyone know you’re coming. Have fun!!

Gretchen