Escarpment Trail Training Run (Part 2)

Windham High Peak as viewed from the start

The mighty Escarpment Trail

A new bridge after Hurricane Irene

I've always loved this section of the trail

The tri peaks.  Blackhead is on the left.

Looking north toward Albany

Down into valley and Big Hollow Road

Blackhead looming large!

Yesterday I scouted the last section of the Escarpment Trail, today I set out for the first 8.5 miles of trail.  This section of the trail is the easiest.

Now easiest is clearly a relative term.  Nothing on this run was easy.  It starts out with a nice 1700 foot climb of Windham High Peak.  The trail is mostly runnable here, but I stopped quite a bit since my legs were far from fresh.  There are some areas where you really had to watch where you placed your step.  In my imagination this run was more similar to Overlook, but in practice it's a bit more difficult.  Less elevation, but lots of rocks keep you on edge for much of the time.  

From the summit of Windham my expectation was to run the rest of the way to the base of Blackhead.  This was not to be and I knew it after just a short bit of running.  Although this bit of trail may be some of the easiest terrain the trail has to offer, it would be difficult for me the entire time.  After getting into a groove, I'd then be met with a bunch of rocks.  At other times I'd be met with a steep, rocky ascent.  Very tough to maintain any sort of consistent pace.  Welcome to extreme trail running!

After almost 3 hours, I finally made it to the base of Blackhead.  For much of the day the view points showed Blackhead looming large.  I'll save the ascent of Blackhead for another day.  I know it well and it's treacherous.  Hiking.  I cannot fathom trying to run up it.

From there I left the Escarpment and continued my run/walk down the trail to Big Hollow Road.  From here I could run normally to the end of Peck Road.  As sunset approached I walked the last 2 miles of trail back to the car fully exhausted.  I definitely have a lot to learn about trail running.  Although it's far more difficult and extremely frustrating, it's far easier on the body.  My quads tend to be far more appreciative after a trail run than when I'm able to maintain an 8 minute per mile pace on the roads or some other hard surface.