As you know in the Spring, every week I posted a "Lone Runner Challenge". Through March, April, May and June dozens of people met the challenges, ran the miles and posted their runs and photographs on Strava. But in July interest waned, people started meeting up in small pods, and so I have stopped posting the Challenges.  

In August UVRC had its first Saturday morning run in a thousand years (or so it seemed).  A quick Public Service Announcement about what is new and different;

  o We ask people to sign-up ahead of time and answer the 5 COVID question (your present health and recent travels/contacts)

  o We keep track of who is there in case someone needs to do some contact tracing later.

  o Sign-up on a Google-form at: https://forms.gle/zizKbVc8FfCJmzhm7

  o When we first meet, we wear masks.  But after we head out and spread out, we tuck our masks into our waistbands.

  o We are now starting the runs from various places which are outside crowded community centers.

On our first Saturday, we met at Omar & Bob's. There were a handful of us, and since it had been ages since we had seen each other, we re-introduced ourselves.  Once again I promised to write my name on my mask. I'm sure I'll actually get around to this about the time I get a vaccine. Once we started running we spread out and even Dr. Fauci, and my mother, would approve of our social distancing.  

By the time of the second Saturday run, Lebanon had enacted a downtown & rail trail mask requirement. Although mask requirements usually have an exception for "vigorous activity", we decided that we actually didn't have to start in the middle of town, and so we will be exploring the valley and starting our runs at various sparsely populated places. (Watch for the weekly announcements!)

I am reminded of the fact that during the plagues of the 1590's, Shakespeare's theaters, and all the other theaters in London, were closed and the troupe of actors traveled through the countryside performing. I see our Saturday Run as a bit of a Traveling Road Show.

So in the second week we met up in the parking lot of Huntley Meadows, in Norwich.  It is a long grind up Beaver Meadow Rd. But when we returned on Bragg hill, life was sunny and glorious.  This loop has earned the nick-name "The Sound of Music Run", and it is not too difficult to imagine Julie Andrews singing "The hills are alive . . ." in those high land pastures.

The third run was out of Lebanon High School, and I'll admit that I missed it.  

The next run was out of Union Village. Three intrepid souls braved rains (in truth, light summer showers) and followed the Ompompanoosuc to Thetford center. There Alex introduced us to some of the trails on the way back south, and while splashing we imagined it was already cross-country season.

Our next run (Sept. 5) will be from Mascoma Lakeside Park, in Enfield (near Shaker Bridge).  I hope to see you there!