Split Personality

Saturday I headed to Bradbury for my long run. The expectation was it would be a very wet run due to Earl. I hoped for good puddles and a nice rain to stay cool (a treat after this past week's heat and humidity).

A fairly large group of Monsters assembled: Jamie, Julia, Nathan, Ian, James, Jeremy, Jeff, Erik and his pup, Christine, Alan, Karen, Mary and myself (I hope I didn't forget anyone). Karen, Christine, and Mary were going to run the last half of the Bruiser. The rest of us headed out on the beginning. I was towards the back, knowing my pace would be slower than the rest. After getting rear-ended by Django, I dropped right to the back. Django seemed to stay ahead of Erik, so, if I was behind, no more dog run ins! It was really where I belonged. Normally I would stick with that group for a few miles, but, planning on 18, I wanted to be slower the entire run.

It was obvious from the first step that the humidity had not left. I think the dew point was 70 and the temperature about 74. Yuck! We did have puddles at least, but the weather was a big disappointment and would make the miles much harder.

Erik soon had dropped to my pace and I enjoyed his company for about 5 miles before he headed back. He skipped the Bat Cave loop so I did, too. I was going for miles, not the Bruiser course; I'd already planned on skipping the O. By not running the Bat Cave, it put us just ahead of the faster group. They caught us and stayed with us till the snowmobile trail where Erik peeled off to head back. The group was out of my sight pretty quickly. Now it was just me and the trail.

Not long after this point, I realized the elastic in my shorts had finally given out (my favorite shorts, they'd been with me through 3 Pinelands and most of the Bradbury races). I was witness to a battle of forces; they were totally drenched and,thus, clinging to me, but gravity was working on them and though seemily saturated, they were getting heavier. Something to keep me amused and focused on! I was very happy I'd packed an entire change of running clothes. I had figured that I'd be soaked from rain and would change around half way through my miles. My feet seemed to be getting heavier, too. Though I didn't side step any puddles, I think the sweat dripping into them was keeping them wet and heavy.

As I headed past the O trail I saw Ian and Jamie somewhere in its grasp. I happily went by its head. When I pulled into the parking lot, several Monsters were there. I'm not sure if some ran really fast or just skipped the O or if it was a mixture. At any rate, it was nice to have chatter as I refilled my Fuel Belt. Checking the Garmin, I found I'd gone almost exactly 9 miles! A change of clothes (Yay, yay YAY!!!!!) and I was back out.

After already running nine, sweltering miles, it might seem like it would be hard to go out, but it felt like a completely different day. The humidity had been waning in the last mile or so of my first leg. Now, it felt like a totally different day even though the temperature was rising. My clothes were dry and my shorts were staying up without help!

I decided not to do any crazy looping. I ran the Scuffle course backwards till I got to the Snowmobile trail from Fox East and then headed up, like I was finishing the Bruiser. By the time I got to the part where Fox West is close to the Snowmobile trail again, I was starting to have to concentrate to not walk. I think I should have had some more fuel. My big toe joints were both very angry with any down sections. But, I was close to my mile goal. When I got back to the parking lot, I was 1/2 mile short. No way! I went out on the Northern Loop trail till I was sure I would have my 18 miles for the day. Done!

Sunday was a day off, mainly because we were hosting a small cookout and I had prepping to do. My college roommate had come up Saturday evening.

Monday I hit the fields shortly before noon. I hope I don't end up with poison ivy; a lot was growing back after being mowed. I didn't realize I was in it till it was too late. Besides that, I ran an enjoyable 6 miles.