| Summary | Stanislav "Stas" Trufanov explores GBA's night-time landscape... by foot. |
| Owner | STANISLAV V. TRUFANOV |
| Creation Date | 2011-09-22 00:14:59 UTC-0400 |
| Description | Date: 9/21/2011; 17:53-22:55.
Location: Somerville, Everett, Malden, Saugus & Lynn, MA. Weather: High 60s/ Low 70s F, mildly humid, overcast. Activity: Distance running. Total distance: 27 miles. The midnight marathon happened whether Philip could make it or not. I waited long enough in the day that my first five miles would see the sun set & the return would linger past 20:00. My ambition was to run out to DCR Lynn Woods, make a modest loop on dirt roads & paths around the park as to complete a marathon distance & come back the same way. I started at 17:53, zig-zagging my way across Winter Hill & then crossing the Mystic to gain Rte 16. The Rtes 16/99 rotary(think MetroRock) came up quick & I continued- uninhibited- along Broadway in Everett, bearing right onto Lynn St after a brief D.D. pit stop. Sidewalks & crossings have been good so far, then a flat, mowed shoulder gave way to cement along the first part of Lynn St. The latter gave way to Lincoln Ave & that to Boston St until I hit my turn-off at Winnepurkit Ave. I considered turning around here since I was unsure how my body would handle a marathon a day after 17 miles of training & three days after a 50k race. I decided to give it a try- after all I was so close! One more turn onto O'Callahan I was on a direct path into Lynn Woods. I had an emergency headlamp clipped onto the band of my shorts; I was hoping it would provide enough light to see my footing on trails. It did. At parts I held the e-Lite in my hand- always on as not to lose it- pointing at the trail ahead. On all roads it remained clipped to my waist & pointed just below me not to obstruct my night vision. In Lynn Woods I continued on the dirt Pennybrook Rd, bore left(towards Walden Pond Rd) before the Penny bridge split & doubled back after hitting the North gate. Returning to Pennybrook I continued left towards Walden Pond & right onto Great Woods Road. This was the only section of Lynn I haven't run & I stopped at the East Gate to check a handout map for bearings. I doubled back & took the Cornel Path, followed by Jackson Path back to Pennybrook. The trails were manageable at night although I do not recommend running then as the park closes at dusk & late-night visits disturb local wildlife. Road run map: http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Pennybrook+Road,+Lynn,+MA&daddr=Medford+St+%26+Central+St,+Somerville,+MA+to:Magoun+Square,+Somerville,+MA&hl=en&sll=42.433086,-71.043777&sspn=0.240724,0.166855&geocode=FSseiAIdf9bE-yn9sqFKQm3jiTHPlQPxtvwiiA%3BFZfbhgIdVhfD-ykxkhl8LHfjiTEo6e7P3ygk6A%3BFRfuhgIdTwjD-ynTaageKXfjiTFE5ecpFNFmCg&vpsrc=0&dirflg=w&mra=ls&t=m&z=11 Lynn Woods map: www.flw.org/pdf_files/lwmap.pdf |