September 19, Sunday

New Jersey’s  Legendary Holmdel Park Cross Country Course

As we approach final days of summer, the air has grown crisper and the temperatures have dropped. Today was marked by blue skies and bright sunshine as I set out for an Ernst Van Aaken style slow, long run. I decided to run the two miles of roads to Turkey Swamp Park, continue on the 2 mile dirt road circuit within the park, and finish the two miles back to home. Just as I started to run Rich Refi called me. So, I returned home to pick up my Bluetooth ear piece, and we chatted as I ran the first four miles. I was very relaxed as the miles passed quickly. I pushed the pace slightly for the last two miles and finished feeling quite strong. This was the longest non-stop run that I have completed in many months.

One week from today I will be running the first of my scheduled, six 5K races it’s six weeks. The first one is at Holmdel Park which I have never run. I find it hard to believe that, with all the time that I have spent at Holmdel Park in the last 45 years, I’ve never actually run the course.  I guess it’s time.   I plan to jog the course one time during this week so that Saturday is really not the first time I experience the course.  Even though my plan is to run these six, 5K races as six tempo workouts, I’m still a little intimidated by the whole situation.  I think it will be fun.

Stats are good.