Autumn Running

A monarch butterfly at Lake Willoughby was in torpor, she needed warmer temps to fly

A monarch butterfly at Lake Willoughby was in torpor, she needed warmer temps to fly

Laura and Nancy are fast friends and came to running camp for a shared holiday

Laura and Nancy are fast friends and came to running camp for a shared holiday

Long time pals, Leon and Sue returned to Craftsbury for the first time in 4 years. Sure was good to see them!

Long time pals, Leon and Sue returned to Craftsbury for the first time in 4 years. Sure was good to see them!

Sweaters and jackets were necessary for coaches Jennings and Larsen-Strecker on Pisgah

Sweaters and jackets were necessary for coaches Jennings and Larsen-Strecker on Pisgah

Smiling runners on Pisgah

Smiling runners on Pisgah

The protected sliver of a beach at the south end of Lake Willoughby was the perfect out of the wind spot for our lunch post-hike

The protected sliver of a beach at the south end of Lake Willoughby was the perfect out of the wind spot for our lunch post-hike

Leon composes a haiku while contemplating the red boat on Willoughby

Leon composes a haiku while contemplating the red boat on Willoughby

We had a gorgeous morning for the Ridge Run and Sarah and Anya charged to the finish line

We had a gorgeous morning for the Ridge Run and Sarah and Anya charged to the finish line

Bernd and Sean stop the Sunday morning traffic on Lost Nation Road after the Ridge Run while Towhee keeps an eye on them

Bernd and Sean stop the Sunday morning traffic on Lost Nation Road after the Ridge Run while Towhee keeps an eye on them

Sandy and Sue are glowing after the Ridge Run 10 miler

Sandy and Sue are glowing after the Ridge Run 10 miler

Marty and Coach Mike roll in after a sunny 10 miles

Marty and Coach Mike roll in after a sunny 10 miles

Our first autumn weekend running camp had a bunch of new faces, some old friends who returned and Dr. Bernd Heinrich who read to us from "Why We Run," his classic book on running and evolution.

We felt like primal creatures as we departed from Cedar Lounge in near darkness just a bit after 6:00am for our Ridge Run sojourn. To ascend the Ridge as the sun was rising, to run amidst the mists, to toil up King Farm hill with the sun glinting on our backs was an exercise in simplicity and devotion.  The water stop was self-service this morning - we all ran the loop and Hugo added on another 5 miles for a total of 15.

In classic autumn fashion, we needed tights, hats and mittens on Friday and Saturday and on Sunday morning we were in shorts and t-shirts.