A Very Trail Run

Wahoo!! What a great run! I have Ian to thank for sending me a map of the trails behind USM in Gorham - not that it did a bit of good! The map just gave me the idea that I would know where I was and thus the courage to strike out.

It was another amazing day. When Sam and I drove (Sam actually, getting some hours in so he can go for his license when classes are over - Yay!!!) onto campus, there were groups of runners scattered about and kids strewn all over campus just enjoying the day.

Before heading out, I went to the gym to pee. I figured the chances of running into someone there who knew where to pick up the trail were better then at my usual place. As I was going in one of the runners I'd seen was heading in also. When I asked him if he knew where to find the trails, he was a little hesitant, but told me, so I also asked if he'd run them. Yeah, but not this season. He was sure it'd be too muddy. I smiled and thanked him. I wish I'd seen him after the run. Somehow I could have politely called him a weenie!

So the trails were easy to find, but, for lots of it very easy to lose - Think Bruiser course in late fall when the leaves are down. Plus add that the trails aren't as well kept to begin with and that you're not at all familiar with them. I did find one leg that was pretty obvious (of course the muddy one), but it was a little short. Trees were down lots of places too, debris from the winter I suspect. Where it wasn't muddy, the very dry oak leaves made the hills slippery. It was soooo much fun!

After I'd been out there about twenty minutes, I ran into another runner. I asked him about where I was on the map. He made a guess and told me if I headed that way it would lead to 114. I knew I hadn't done that part yet and headed out. He yelled after me that the trail is very hard to follow on that leg. He wasn't kidding. Anytime I picked up the pace at all, I'd find myself just running through the woods. Sometimes I could find where I went wrong and sometimes I just kept going till I came back on something that might be the trail. When I hit 114 I turned around and tried to retrace my path. Since I saw all new stuff (lean-tos the students most likely made), I know I wasn't successful. At least I ran into the other runner and followed him for a bit (he runs there a lot).

My five miles ended up taking 1:03:30. That's right about what I did my first seven miles in the day before. And I'll venture to say I worked much harder on the five. Wish I had a camera to document my legs - they were definitely Monster legs, blood and all. I know how I'll be spending my Thursdays thru May!