Final Run Of 2008

I went out for a run Sunday through the seacoast of New Hampshire and it was my final run of 2008. I guess you could say that my year ended in such a way that it seems to be going as of late. Slow, unpredictable and sluggish at best. Regardless, here is the story of a 20 mile run that capped off what really did end up being a fantastic one.
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I knew I wanted to run today and I had ideas in my head of where I wanted to go. But in the end, I decided to just put my soles to the pavement and let life take me wherever it may. Recently, I've made many connections between running and life, and knew today would be a day to connect. Connect with myself, the world around me... and try to reconnect some of the portions of my brain that still seem fickle in their attempts to work. I stepped out my front door to the enjoyment of 55+ degree temps and a steady wind. The sidewalks are now mostly clear and lawns that were once buried by some 3 feet of snow is now covered by anywhere from nothing to what's left of 6" drifts. Maybe the trails will come back one more time... ha! This is New England... think again John...

I took off from my front door and ran South on Route 108, Dover Rd., to where it turns into Stark Rd. From here I continued straight and began my journey south down the coast. The first thing I notice, as I normally do, is the abundance of graveyards in the area. IN the first mile and a half of my run I pass 3 of them and all 3 are huge!

After stopping to take a quick photo with the new camera , which is WAY fast by the way, I knew exactly where I was going to run too. I was heading for Newington and Eastern Mountain Sports. I figured once I got to EMS I could grab a Cliff Bar for lunch, and then decide if I was going to continue on down the coast or head for home. And so became my plan..

I continued running through Dover down Spur Road which winds its way along the western banks of the Bellamy River and where it meets up with The Great Bay. Spur road is lined by HUGE Pine Trees. In the late 1600s and early 1700, many of the pine trees that once stood on roads such as this were cut down and shipped to England to be made into mast's for the King's Navy. Now these streets are once again lined with tall pines a testament to the resiliency of mother earth.


Spur Road is home to a monument I have passed many times in my training for races. Today I took a photo and am determined to learn more about its significance.

The monument reads, " This stone marks the site of the Deacon John Hall Spring. Nearby, was the hall home. Old Log meeting house, stocks, whipping post and hall slip - 1648. Erected By The Hall Heirs"

I continued my run which crossed US Route 4 and head down through Dover Point. I ran passed Newick's and the DMV. This section of road was part of the Run Across New Hampshire route, of which I am still getting melancholy and euphoric over. I ran down to the water to check things out up close, snapped a photo of the bridge and then made my way across and into the town of Newington.


I took to the busy streets of Newington which is nothing more than a commercial town bordering Portsmouth. I began to think about running to Rye today.. making for a 36 mile run., but my legs are starting to tire. I decided to just continue on to Eastern Mountain Sports where I can pick up a Cliff Bar for lunch. As I ran down the streets of Newington, drivers refused to give me any room to run, and I was pushed off the sides of the road and into, at times, knee deep snow banks. My feet are soaked and now filled with icy slush. My legs are tiring even faster from running through the snow. I ran into the EMS parking lot to see the place buys, as normal, and I stepped inside. While inside I purchased a Luna Nectar bar which was really good. "Fruit Smoothie" Flavor.

I said goodbye to my co workers and Roger exclaimed, "Hey... why don't you just run down the coast?!" Well, I know he was being half serious, but more so just being a wise ass. I looked at him, smiled and said, "I've all ready done that before." I stepped back out into the warmth of the day as the sun continued to try and peek out from behind the whispy gray overcast. I've yet to see my shadow today and was hoping the sun would make an appearance to warm my soul. And my shadow might appear so I'd have someone to run with. But alas.. it was not to be. I backtracked through the busy Newington roads, back over the bridge, passed Newicks and onto Route 4 where I started heading west for a short time. I made my way to the Scammel Bridge which is lined on both sides by deep snow drifts.

I make my way across the bridge, over the bay, again giving my legs a hefty workout by breaking trail through old snow drifts. I peer off into the water looking for any signs of Loon. Loon fly to the bay in the winter time as the water doesn't totally freeze over. They fly here because the lakes and ponds they frequent to the North are freshwater and frozen. But no loon today and I am sad because those birds are pretty rad. As I near the far end of the bridge, I jump the railing and take to the wide open Route 4 which has a very large and comfortable shoulder for me to run in. At the first light I take a right onto Back River Rd where I make my way up various winding and rolling hills, out of Madbury and back into Dover. On my way up the first hill as I pass through many picturesque farms, I spot a 9' monument made of marble. I stop and take a picture and on it it says; "In memory of the Leighton Household. Erected by Mrs. Mary A. Leighton Rollins - 1885."

I continue on my way, working back into Downtown Dover after fighting many rolling hills and much traffic. Regardless of how busy the world seemed to be today, I got in my final run of 2008. As is with much of life, we embark on long or shorter journeys and we encounter the unexpected. It is up to us how we will deal with the issues that arise and how we intend to deal with them. Every issue is a natural product of itself and requires its own level of attention. Just as in life, we must choose to run in the snow bank for awhile or fight traffic. We must decide where we are going and how we will get there.. how long might it takes us? And regardless of the route we take, the path we go down... regardless of how long it takes, we must stop to evaluate the journey for what it is.. We must evaluate what we learned.. We MUST reflect. Today's run was a bit sluggish. I was tired and late in the run my head started to get to me as I ran through the final rolling hills. I got to thinking as I always do while running, but I wish for my thoughts to be good thoughts now.. no longer paranoid ones. 2008 opened with a bang.. and ended with what feels like a Kaboom! But what is important is that everything that happened in 2008 I have been able to reflect on. The journey I am taking is up to me to control... I can't change the past, but I can always change the ending to come. My story is merely just beginning.. this run was just one more of many.. but what is important on this day is not how I felt physically.. but the fact that I stopped long enough on my route.. on my journey.. to look around. Won't You?