Thorncrag Two Ways

The fields held no appeal to me; the lack of shade, the need for the long soccer socks, and just lack of novelty had me trying to justify driving to Bradbury. If Ryan had wanted to come I think I could have rationalized it. Well, I did need a few groceries...Thorncrag it would be!

When I pulled into the parking lot, I realized I'd left the Garmin at home even though I made certain to have the wrist band to wear under it. So, I just had my cell phone to tell me my time. I decided to try the VFFs even though the trails are much rootier than much of Bradbury. It seemed easier to pick my footing, probably since my foot/shoe was now smaller. The only part that was not fun was where the ground was covered in loose rocks. I couldn't avoid landing on them.

Since I hadn't run more than two miles in them yet, I did one loop (approximately 2.5 m) and switched into my Inov8s. I decided to run the same loop, in reverse. My feet loved being back in their protected homes when I ran across the before painful rocky section. It was funny thinking the Roclites seemed cushioned.

After I ran the steepest climb at the Sanctuary, I was rewarded with a bird sighting!!! A pair of pileated woodpeckers swooped/flew (their weird pattern of flying) into the trees just ahead of me. I tried to get my cell out for a picture, but only managed to scare them off. I wish Linda had been with me; it's one of the birds she's never seen.

When I got back to the car, as near as I could tell, my loops took the same amount of time. I don't know if it's all the time I spend in the VFFs just wearing them or that I haven't run far in them, but I've yet to experience any tired/sore muscles from my runs in them. Oh! My IT band was fine on this run : )