Two Great Days at Bradbury and Then Some

Saturday, Rick and I headed to Bradbury looking to run 10-12 miles, hoping that would get us some miles with other TMs. As I dressed, I knew full well that I'd be too warm before the run was over. It was a chilly start, but the temperature was to rise fairly fast.

Snowman and gIANt were out marking the course for the 2nd of the snowshoe race series when we pulled into the parking lot. Jamie, Jim, Stephen, Mindy, Rick and I almost headed out before Erik and Django pulled in to the lot just in time to catch us. Jamie, Jim, and Stephen were running the Beautiful Loop. Erik was running something short of that. Mindy wanted to get in eight. Rick and I decided to turn around at 4 miles, keep with Mindy, and then finish up on the mountain side.

WOW! The trail conditions were absolutely perfect. I don't think Mindy and I could count on both our hands how many times we commented on how much easier the run was compared to last week (maybe, we actually said how much harder it was last week). The trail was not only firmly packed, it was groomed wide enough to run two abreast easily.

Back at the parking lot, with eight miles done, we said bye to Mindy, then Rick and I headed up to the summit. Even with the great footing, with eight miles under our belts, we felt the climb. Heading down, we just let it fly! Rick was happy with the ten miles that gave him. I decided to go for my upper goal, but back on the East side. I headed back out the Link to the snowmobile trail, but, instead of heading left as usual, I took a right back down the snowmobile trail. Instead of turning down Knights Woods towards the Scuffle start, I kept going into the field (Rick thought I was being pulled by Edna and Lucy's when he saw the map of where I ran). When I turned back, I did head back down the Scuffle start. The snowmobiles turn off from the Scuffle path so I ended up on a snowshoe path for the last half mile. I think I needed to run at least some on a challenging surface. I post-holed and slipped-slided. It made me smile.

Back in the parking lot, Rick had changed clothes and was waiting for me. Ian was packing up, but not before he offered us the most yummy cookies - exactly what I needed.

Today, Rick and I headed back to Bradbury, but this time as volunteers for the White Out. We had a good time helping out. One of our duties was to direct the racers onto the Tote Road just before the summit. We headed up the Summit trail to get in place before the racers got there. The steep trail was pretty slippery. I wished for my screw shoes, but we made it up by sticking to the edges of the trail. On the way back down, I slid on my butt (purposely) almost the entire way. What fun! Ryan must be happy with such a successful 2nd race : )

Back home, I went out on the snowmobile trails to get in eight more miles and to recruit snowmobiles to go over out snowshoed path. I hadn't gone 3/4 of a mile before I flagged down two sleds. I could tell the guy wasn't really enthused about helping, but he did any way. I told him to just follow the snowshoe path and he'd come back out in the field we were in just on the far side. Then I ran to where they'd come out...Waiting, waiting, waiting...I headed back to the start of the path. I couldn't hear a machine at all. Back to the other side of the field. Finally I heard a sled. He stopped. Again, I'd say he wasn't all that happy that he'd been recruited. The snow was much deeper than he realized off-trail AND he hit a tree. Of course, I felt terrible and looked at the front of his sled... "No, it's fine." Well, either he nearly hit one or he hit one of the sapplings a bit. There was no damage. OK, thanks again. I had planned to ask any sled I saw, but that stopped me.

During my run, I came across Linda on her run and then, later, Rick on his. I finished up with 7.6 instead of eight. Close enough.

Really looking forward to running with the girls tomorrow at Bradbury. Probably the only way I'd not take my scheduled day off!