One running route, on the rocks

Imagine a winding cobblestone road concealed deep within the Lynn Woods Reservation. Now, imagine that the stones are all unevenly-sized and half-submerged in the muddy earth, and that part of this “road” inclines upward.That?ll give you a sense of the Undercliff Trail.Undercliff was part of the long (4.5 miles) race at Lynn Woods Wednesday, won by Matt Veiga of Lynn.I remember running this course for the first time last year, and asking race director Bill Mullen what Undercliff was all about. He inquired if I was a “technical” runner … and after crossing the finish line, I had a better sense of just what constituted a “technical” trail.This year, I ran the course with running friends Kim and Kathy Mathews of Lynn. At one point my right foot slid on a rock and I had to stabilize myself quickly. Balance was a big lesson of this trail, not only on the rocks but also on the wooden bridges – including three in a row at one point.Fellow runners shared their impressions of Undercliff.?I thought it was tough,” Lynn Jets coach Joe Conlon said. “It was interesting. You kind of had to stay focused. You don?t want to lose your footing, and keep your head on a swivel. You don?t want to miss a turn.”Conlon ran with his brother Mike and friends Ryan Ferguson, Jon Thibault and Chris Paul.?It seemed like that trail had it all,” Conlon said. “It was enjoyable and they do a great job up there.”Pam Ferrari of North Reading said she loves “all the off the beaten path trails,” adding that she always wonders “who put all these little boardwalks, and bridges in here?”Ferrari has been running the Woods for seven years, crediting her cousin Lee Faessler as motivation.?I found the Undercliff path challenging/technical and I look forward to doing it again next year,” Joe Armstrong of Lynn said. “The scenery was beautiful. This path took us to parts of the woods I would?ve never seen.”I agree. There were a few red leaves, heralding the arrival of autumn … a breathtaking pond view … and glacial erratics.Kathy mentioned that she had once seen a baby red-tailed hawk in the Woods. And if there?s one thing the twists and turns of trail running might help with, it?s making your running vision more eagle-eyed … or hawk-eyed, if you will.