Autumn

Virginia Ten-Miler

| edwinridout

Run 2025-56, Sat Sep 27th, 8am, 51st Virginia 10-Miler, my 28th. 1:49:28, 10:57 pace, 1st of 3 M75-79, 89th of 163 M50+. Beat my 2024 pace by 11 sec. Rained the whole way, sometimes heavily. 68°F, 20°C, Humidity 96%, Wind NE 6mph, UV 0, AT 65°F, Activity Feel 65°F. Below, our team from Fredericksburg Area Running Club (Karen H, John A, me, Jeff H, Brian M, 8:23!), moments before the start, then later at the Waffle House. Winners: Athanas Kioko, 48:14, and Werkuha Getachewali, 54:53. Finishers: 563 women, 836 men. Results of the open team competition: TBA.

Reservoir Dried Up

| edwinridout

A government website says “The Youghiogheny River Reservoir is approximately …16 miles long with … an average depth of 54 ft and a maximum depth of 121 ft…”. It’s crossed by US Route 40, known at one time as the National Road, and always a convenient stop for a picnic on the journey between home and Dad’s. On holiday weekends in the summer it has powerboats and sometimes water skiiers. But thanks to this year’s drought, Elspeth and Tim’s family found it almost dry, and got to walk onto the old bridge built many years before the reservoir was there. The first picture shows the current road bridge, way up in the air above Cora.

Northern Lights?

| edwinridout

About 11pm, October 10th. Our largest northern exposure (through the trees) is from the bottom of the driveway, looking up the street. I had a vague idea I might be sensing some pinkness in the haze, but wasn’t sure I wasn’t imaging it. With the big camera on a tripod, in the dark I couldn’t remember how to do a time exposure of more than 15 seconds. Looked like all I got was black. But later in Lightroom, I maximized the exposure, then saved these three shots.

Virginia 10-Miler

| edwinridout

My status, mile 9 vs. mile 10:

This was the 50th Virginia Ten-Miler, and my 27th. Chip time 1:51:19, 11:08 pace per mile, 10th of 20 in M70-74. Did ok the first 9 miles, but then both calves kept saying they were ready to snap, so I had a hard time with slow jogging or even fast walking. Still my all-time favorite race!

John Ashburn and me at sunrise, before the race, then after, at brunch.