April 21 Leatherman’s Loop

I look forward to seeing many of you at the Leatherman’s Loop this Sunday. I know we’re expecting a little rain later this week but that should just make the mud flats that much more fun. On the 28th, we’ll be meeting at Mountain Lakes Park for a new version of the course that Mark has set up for us. This time, we’ll be going to the highest point in the park—the highest point in the county, actually. Don’t miss this fun run. I’ll send an update and post the trail map before the event. Have a great race everyone. —Lee Willett

Important notes from the Leatherman’s Loop team

Race organizers Mike Paletta, Tony & Judy Godino, Rob Cummings and the dedicated Leatherman’s Loop volunteers have been working hard to set up this year’s event. All we need is YOU!

Below are some important instructions regarding the Loop. Registration is packed full. We will need your help to ensure that loop day goes smoothly.

Here are some tips that you can incorporate into your plan for the morning and the day:

1.) ARRIVE EARLY! Please plan to arrive at the park before 8:20. Car pool if you can. Traffic will back up considerably at the park entrance as race time approaches. Please be patient. The regular $10 parking fee is incorporated as part of the loop entry fee so entry will go more quickly. It is always wise to arrive earlier than you think you need to in order to make sure you are all set by race start time (9am). This is especially true if it is your first time running the Loop.

2.) DRIVE SLOWLY and CAREFULLY in the Park! Watch the volunteers who are directing the parking. PARK TIGHT! Plan ahead – Car Pool if you can!. For a helpful overview of the race location (parking, start, bib pickup), check the logistics page on the website.

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April 14, Meadow Parking Lot

1 Week to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

click for map page
click for map page

This Sunday, April 14 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Meadow Parking lot for the final course checks of the Leatherman’s Loop. If you’re running the race this year, this is your last chance to run the course with the group before race day so come out and see the trail for yourself. The water crossings are optional but not the Mud Flats so you might want to bring a second set of shoes to change into. I’m just sayin’.

Next week is the Leatherman’s Loop but in two weeks, we’ll meet at Mountain Lakes Park when we run the 5.7 mile loop and visit the highest point in Westchester.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Lee Willett

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April 7, Meadow Parking Lot

2 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

click for map page
click for map page

This Sunday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Meadow Parking lot for the first of two course checks of the Leatherman’s Loop. If you’re running the race this year, this will be the first of two course checks and a great chance to get out and test the terrain. The water crossings are optional but not the Mud Flats so you might want to bring a second set of shoes to change into. I’m just sayin’.

We’ll be back at the Meadow lot again next week for the final course check.

Hope to see you Sunday.

Lee Willett

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March 31 Meadow Parking Lot

3 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

view map page ››

This week, March 31 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Meadow Parking Lot when we run the Meadow Northern Loop. This is a 5.7 mile loop that follows some of the same trails as the Leatherman’s Loop run so it’s a perfect opportunity to see what the trail is like. Instead of the wall, we’ll be running up part of the fire tower hill so don’t worry, you’ll get some hill training in.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Lee Willett

 

March 24 Michigan Road

4 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

Michigan to Kimberly v2
Click for map page

This Sunday, March 24 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Michigan Road lot when we follow the Michigan Road to Kimberly Bridge route. To keep things interesting, we’re going to run this in a counter-clockwise direction which puts the hill from the Meadow at the end of the run. It also portions of the loop course including the finish line. Great training for the loop. PDF of the trail is available here ››

Next week we’ll be back at the Meadow Parking Lot when we run a variation of the Loop course.

Hope to see you out there.

—Lee Willett, info@sundayruns.org

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March 17 Leonard Park

5 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

Leonard_to_Butler
Click for map page ››

This Sunday, March 17 at 8:00, meet at a new location—the gazebo at Leonard Park in Mt. Kisco (see map) when we try a new run on some different trails. We’ll start in Leonard park, go through Marsh Sanctuary, Merestead, and Butler Sanctuary. the path to the Butler loop is 5 miles out and back and the Butler perimeter trail will add 3.5 to that for an 8.5 mile run. But Butler is well marked and there are plenty of options to do a shorter loop. Just bring a map ››

Since the weather is unpredictable, this run is subject to change. Next week we’ll be meeting the Michigan Road lot for the Michigan to Kimberly Bridge run.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Lee Willett

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March 10 Town Park

6 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

WPR_5.7_TownToTrailside
click for map page ››

With the arrival of more snow, our run from Leonard Park will be postponed again. We will aim for next week but may put it off further if necessary. This Sunday, March 10 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Lewisboro Town Park upper lot when we run the Town to Trailside Loop. This run will take us into the Reservation through the meadow lot for a brief stint on the road to the Trailside Museum then up part of the Fire Tower Hill before we go down to Kimberly Bridge and back via the DH trail. There are lots of good hills here so it’s good training for the Loop if that’s what you’re thinking.

Next week we’ll try the run from Leonard Park again if conditions permit.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Lee Willett

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March 3: Trailside Museum

7 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

Click for map page
Click for map page

This Sunday, March 3 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Reservation Trailside Museum when we run the Trailside to Raven Rocks 6 mile loop. This course will take us over the magic stairs—everybody’s favorite staring climb and a perfect way to tone those muscles you’ll need for the Wall—past Michigan Road to the scenic overlook of Raven Rocks. For those looking to do a smaller loop, follow the red and yellow trail and you can shorten your run significantly.

Next week we’re going to try Leonard Park again and some new trails, hopefully the trails have thawed out a bit.

Lee Willett

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Upcoming Races Spring 2013

Looking for a challenge this spring? Check out these local trail races.

Early May is Where the Wild Things Run 5k trail run in Wilton CT at the Woodcock Nature Center.

If you are up for a longer challenge, Todd Jennings is directing Rock The Ridge 50 mile endurance challenge at the spectacular Mohonk Preserve on May 4th, 2013. The challenge is open to relay teams, groups, or solo runners. All speeds welcome.

Last year one of our Sunday Run crew, Dave Vogel, started A Mild Sprain in Yonkers, NY to raise money for JDRF. On May 19th, 2013 he’s bringing this tough 4.25 mile trail run through the woods of Sprain Ridge County Park back for a second year.

For a great and constantly updated list of trail races in the tri-state area, look no further than this list from Chris Jaworski of the Essex Running Club. Chris is a die hard trail and ultra runner who has personally sampled many of the trail races he lists.

February 24 Meadow Parking Lot

8 Weeks to Go Before Leatherman’s Loop

A last-minute change of plan this week. Because of icy conditions at Butler Sanctuary, we’re going to postpone the Leonard Park run for two weeks to give the trails some time to thaw out. This week, February 24 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Meadow Parking Lot when we run the Meadow, Michigan, and Museum Loop. This is a 6.15 mile loop starts at the Meadow, goes south over Fox Hill to Michigan Road, then follows Yellow to the Trailside Museum. The second half of the run takes us through the pine forest and back through the meadow—the finish of the Leatherman’s Loop. With the storm on Saturday, I’m not sure what kind of conditions we’ll find but I’ll be there for anyone who wants to run. I checked the trail on Friday and there was a fair amount of ice but the course should avoid any serious water crossings even after a rain.

Next week, plan to meet at the Trailside museum. I’m not sure what trails will be our best bet but we’ll have fun.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

Lee Willett

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February 17 Michigan Road

click to view map page

On Sunday, February 17 at 8:00 am, meet at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation at the Michigan Road parking lot (see map) for a six-mile loop that is designed to take us on some trails we haven’t been on before. We’ll take in the view from the Overlook and follow a new trail the parks department has made over Dancing Rock without having to backtrack. You can view a map of the course here.

Next week, we’ll be starting from Leonard Park in Mount Kisco on the trails of Marsh Sanctuary, Merestead, Butler Sanctuary. It’s an interesting change of pace.

Hope to see you there.

Lee Willett, info@sundayruns.org

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February 10 Lewisboro Town Park

This Sunday, February 10 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Lewisboro Town Park upper parking lot (see map) when we try out a new and unusual course that tests to see how far south we can go from the Town Park lot. This course is designed to get us south of Michigan Road and back in a narrow, vertical loop of a map. On the way, we’ll pass the Trailside Museum, Michigan Road, and the Meadow lot before we return up the BR trail.

Since there is quite a bit of snow on the trails, we have options to shorten the run to 3 miles, 4.5 miles or 5.5 miles depending on how difficult the going is. And if you want to bring that pair of show shoes you’ve been wanting to try out, now might be a good day. Just sayin’.
See map page ›› | Download PDF ››

Hope to see you Sunday.

Lee Willett

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February 3, Looper Bowl Sunday

Click to view map page

This Sunday, February 3 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Meadow Parking Lot and rise to the challenge of the second annual Looper Bowl. Follow the loop course, water crossings, mud flats, sand hill and all. Relive the excitement of the Leatherman’s Loop but with the possibility of snow. For those wanting to keep their feet dry, there are optional detours to avoid all the water crossings but, sorry, not the mud flats. You’ll probably want to bring an extra pair of shoes to change into after the run—might be a little, er, muddy.

Next week we’ll be meeting at the Lewisboro Town Park for a the Town to Michigan run.

Hope to see you there this Sunday

Lee Willett

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January 27 Michigan Road

click for map page

This Sunday, January 27 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Michigan Road lot when we follow a new course from Michigan Road to Kimberly Bridge. This variation of the run cuts across the Meadow parking lot and into the woods at the first bridge. Michigan Road is our traditional starting point for runs in the southern portion of the reservation but this time we’ll run North from the lot to the Meadow, follow some of the Leatherman’s Loop course trail to Kimberly Bridge, then “up” the blue trail and return by way of yellow. There might be a little bit of an incline at mile one and another at mile four so don’t hate your run director—hate the hill. PDF of the trail is available here ››

Next week we’ll be back at the reservation Meadow Parking Lot when we run our second annual Looper Bowl. We’ll be following the Leatherman’s Loop trail in its entirety including the hills, rocks, wall, mud flats and, yes, water crossings (although there are options to go around those).

Hope to see you out there.

—Lee Willett, info@sundayruns.org

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January 20 Trailside Museum

Click for map page ››

On Sunday, January 20 at 8:00 a.m., meet at the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Trailside Museum when we run a new course—Trailside to Tower 6 mile loop. For those who did the Town to Tower on January 1, you’re recognize this as a slightly abbreviated version of that challenging run. This time, we meet at the Trailside Museum which puts the fire tower summit in the first third of the run. But don’t think it’s all downhill from there. The brown trail offers it’s own challenge with a climb up to the pine forest and back down again. It’s a great run.

Hope to see you out there.

Lee Willett

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January 13 Mountain Lakes Park

view map page ››

On Sunday, January 13 at 8:00 a.m., meet at a new location—Mountain Lakes Park—for a 5.7 mile run in some of the highest points in Westchester. We’ll have great views from Lookout Point within the first mile and for those who want to to add another half mile can take a detour between miles 4 and 5 to go to the top of Bailey Mountain, elevation 982 feet, the highest point in Westchester. The course has a couple crossovers but I’ve indicated the route on the map so it should be easy enough to follow. The main gate to the park will be open and there is some parking at the trail head where we’ll start. Additional parking should be available farther into the park at the dumpsters.

Tony has offered to take a slight diversion at mile one to Sarah Bishop’s Cave for a little bushwhacking and history lesson for anyone interested. Should be fun.

Hope to see you out there.

Lee Willett

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January 6 Michigan Road Lot

view map page ››

Start the new year off right with this classic run. In honor of his return on a regular basis, we’re going to run Rob’s Ruin Run—six miles of trails in the southern portion of the park that take us past the overlook, Bear Rock and Dancing Rock. Usually when we’ve gotten to Rob’s Ruin, we backtrack to intersection 39 but there is a trail that loops back to the RT trail that I’ve marked with a dotted line on the map. It’s more of a deer trail and gets pretty sketchy so only follow that portion if you feel you’re up for an off-trail challenge.

Next week, we’ll be meeting at a new venue—Mountain Lakes Park in Northern Westchester—for a a run on some brand-new trails. Hope to see you out there.

Lee Willett

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