Fresh Meat

Er...new trails.  I wanted to get in a run before I went down to WPI (Sam wanted to come home to get forgotten stuff and decompress a bit after being subjected to so many people non-stop...It does sound like he'll like it there, though : )  Mindy was gonna meet me at the Brad for some miles, when I realized I was heading south; it would make sense to combine the WPI trip with finally checking out her Kennebunk trails.

It seemed somehow right that, right where I was starting to have to look at my google maps directions, Mindy appeared in my rear-view mirror.  So we got to the trail head together.  I instantly knew I was going to like the trails.  I also instantly felt unexpected heat and humidity (really happy I brought some Gatorade at the last minute).

The trails reminded me of a cross between the O Trail and the Connector...Lots of undulations and soft, cushy trail without being quite as twisty as the O or quite as steep as the Connector.   I'm glad I brought my camera.  I told Mindy I sort of laughed when I realized (when I saw other parents taking pics of their kid's first day at college) that I forgot my camera and joked to Rick, "Yeah, we don't document our kids' milestones in with pictures, but I try to get shots of all my runs : ( "

Beautiful.  I knew right from the start I'd like these trails : )

If you weren't looking down, you'd miss the trail

the last of the crop (see the blueberries)

As usual, we had wonderful conversation, covering everything from the judicial system and societal hierarchies to running nutritional/hydration issues.  Maybe the engrossing talk contributed, maybe it was paying close attention to the very slippery trail, maybe it was the semi-confusing map, or maybe it just takes some time on new trails...We got a little...turned around.  I don't think it added all that much mileage, but stopping and starting a lot does add to the time.  Oh, well...time well spent.

After a little over 8.6 miles we returned to the trail head.  Good run.  Next was a very good lunch.  Mindy and I each order fish tacos and sweet potato fries.  I couldn't even eat it all; that doesn't happen often.