Rich on Running: Lynn Woods runners show nerves of steel

When Steel Tower is on the Lynn Woods race menu, it?s always a unique challenge.That was the case on Wednesday, as runners on the short course had to climb all the way up 272-foot Mount Gilead, where the tower stands.Stone Tower 5K/15K race director Liam Brady of Danvers ran the short course Wednesday. Brady has been running the Woods for over 20 years. He noted that the climb to Steel Tower is in two parts, starting with the Goat Path.?The second half is a fire road,” he said. “It?s pretty chewed-up with the storms and the weather. All in all, it really is a great escape into the Woods. I power-walked both hills. I?m glad it was not humid.”Brady is recovering from tendinosis in both calves. This was his fifth time running since February. He praised his physical therapist at Spaulding North Shore, Jim Corrente.?I have to mainly walk the hills,” he said. “I?m still getting better. I?m still healing … I used to love to attack hills. (Now) I just get through, creep along. Participating with everybody is a gift.”I ran part of the downhill with Brady and we had a nice chat before he passed me.?I will say hi to anybody and everybody,” he said. “I genuinely like people. I want to encourage. If I don?t know you, it doesn?t mean I won?t talk to you. As far as I?m concerned, we?re the running clan.”Brady said that people could be doing a number of things, from sitting on the couch to going out to dinner, but a Wednesday-night runner “chooses to go to Lynn Woods and participate in cross country trail races. It?s a choice and a celebration.”Sometimes, the path to Steel Tower may not feel like a celebration. Once you?ve stepped over the water bars of the Goat Path, you must keep going up to the summit. On this latter climb, I broke just about every rule of uphill running technique there is, from slouching my shoulders to looking down.Yet it did feel good to see the tower, and start going downhill back to Great Woods Road and the finish line. And by the time I had a chocolate-chip cookie at the finish, and some post-race Mickey D?s, maybe it felt a bit more like a celebration.