Lakefront Loops 5k
Stop one on the Father’s Day Tough Tarmac Challenge brought me to Cass Park for an easy 5k. I slept poorly and started later than planned. Instead of starting with the Black Diamond Trail by headlamp I ran the Lakefront Loop first to make sure I’d be out of the way before the Peter De Mott Peace Trot organizers started setting up to host 500 people at their 5k. Cass was pleasantly breezy and cool at 5:30 and I had the whole Waterfront Trail to myself.
Black Diamond Cass to Gorge
A hop, skip, and a jump brought me from the Lakefront Loops over to the Children's Garden turtle for the Tough Tarmac’s natural progression. I ran the course as an out-and-back from Cass like I usually do. On the outbound uphill it was obvious I’m not totally recovered from the Cayuga Trails 50-mile two weeks ago. Good thing I had plenty of time — for Father’s Day I could run as long as I felt like with no set obligations for dad duty. Of course I wanted to spend time with the fam, so I started early in order to finish early. Trail traffic was picking up during the inbound portion, with runners, walkers, and bikers getting out to enjoy to morning air.
Town & Gown Up & Down
The T&G U&D remains my home course for the next two weeks, when we’ll finally be done moving all our stuff up to Lansing at the new house. I’m surprised more people aren’t running this one repeatedly, given the scenery and central location. I half ran, half walked the opening climb and then slow cruised through the rest, somewhat fatigued from the cumulative 17 miles this morning. I’m not used to seeing the Cornell University campus so quiet, even on a Sunday morning.
Sweet 1600
I love having the Cornell outdoor track open to the public in a convenient location. It’s barely out of the way on the drive from downtown Ithaca out to Ellis Hollow Creek Road to finish off the Tough Tarmac Challenge. Stopping at Schoellkopf for four laps was quick and easy — no locked gates, no one else on the track.
Triple Hump
I saved the toughest tarmac for last. Compared to a lot of the ultras I’ve been doing this morning’s challenge seemed to fly right by in no time. It wouldn’t be a long road run though without getting rained on, if even just a little. The first mile went smoothly enough and then the work started. I spent most of the titular hump mileage thinking about Kilian W’s aleph-two pun from this course a few weeks ago and possibly laughing out loud at its sheer nerdiness. The Ringwood Road downhill took awhile because my legs were sore and I wasn’t in any huge hurry. I scanned the fifth and final sign and immediately spotted a snake in the grass next to the signpost. I took this non-venomous snake shot to show my kids and am posting here because I forgot to take any other pictures en route to the Tough Tarmac finish. Results.
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