It won't be a PR but....

it is an incredible, challenging, diverse, scenic course...the Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon on June 22, 2008.

Nothing like a 13.1 mile training run on a new course in a new town. Isn't something new always exciting?

From the start in front of Jennings Beach, a pre-season community of summer homes and under-construction beach side McMansions the course is flat for about 2 miles. Next comes the aptly named streets with hills, some rolling, some more challenging. Sasco Hill Rd. up & then down to Harbor Rd. Harbor Road is a picture postcard of the sound and harbor with stately homes and docked sailboats. Coming onto Pequot Ave. into the historic town of Southport of antiques and the Horseshoe Tavern I knew from my map that I was running with the next challenge was just in front of me. Crossing over the intersection of Route 1 & I-95 bearing onto & up Mill Hill Road, again "hill". Running through first some residential neighborhoods the hill goes on & on & on up into the shaded and wooded Woodland Conservation Area. A short cutover on Morehouse Lane leads to Hulls Farm Road and into a row of horse farms dotting this country road. A long, almost 3 mile stretch leads you down (finally!) along the Mill River back into Southport across Rose Hill Road (yes again 'hill") to a return loop of the views of the sound on Harbor Road and the best downhill of Sasco Hill Road to the flats of the beach area. Of course I took this souvenir shot on the beach 2:20 after I started. Slow & steady... that was me....and strong.