Minnewaska

Today's preseason destination was a perennial favorite: Minnewaska State Park Preserve west of New Paltz. Returning athletes love this trip. New runners learn to love it.

This year, we are planning a second Minnewaska adventure -- on Thursday morning. Any and all alumni and friends of the program are welcome to join us. We'll be there as soon as the park opens, at 9 a.m.

We'll do the usual 9- and 11-mile loops.

The weather today was absolutely perfect. It's always a few degrees cooler up at Minnewaska and this morning was no different. The team dipped into the lake afterwards.

The highlight/lowlight of that was when a pretty big and scary water snake slithered around unaware team members, until those of us out of the water pointed it out. Conor, being Conor, splashed menacingly at the snake, no doubt pissing it off -- and he pissed off the lifeguards, too! Ah, it's nice to have the guys back ...