Beautiful Beating

Saturday a pretty good-sized group of Trail Monsters assembled at the Brad.  However, there were lots of different runs going on.  Andy, Mike, Mindy, and I decided to try the Beautiful Loop.  We didn't know what to expect since the temps had gotten into the 40s during the week.  I held out some hope that the river might be frozen since the one in Scoutland was solid enough for the IRS to cross.

I started out in the lead with Mike.  I think it was his first run at the Brad and second TM run.  I learned he's gonna do his first ultra in two weeks, a 50k in Alabama.  I had fun getting acquainted.  A bit over two miles in, I required a pee break.  Mindy and I both seemed to know it was a good time to release the boys.  They pulled steadily away even though Mindy and I were running at a pretty good clip.  The conditions were just the best we'd had all year.  Around 6ish miles in there started being more ice.  We could see where Andy or Mike had skidded here and there.  It was a good heads up to the ice.

Instead of doing the traditional finish to the BL, we opted for the new-badasser finish that summits the Brad via Lunch Break Hill.  Back in the parking lot, we realized we were a tad bit shy of the 16 miles on our training plan.  No short changing it for us, we ran the three tenths or so on the east side.

Of course, we headed to E&L to refuel.  We split a turkey wrap and each had the sweet potato sausage soup.  I had my camera on the run, but nothing struck me as photo worthy (we were moving along well and the clouds had everything looking dreary), but I wished I brought it in E&Ls.  Our lunch looked as good as it tasted.  Fortunately, Mindy had her phone.  Feast your eyes: 

It was a great run.  We had great conditions.  Guess that's why I was surprised at how beat up I felt as the day went on.  Could it have been my "speedy" run at the Back Cove the day before?  I actually was relieved when Mindy emailed that the run had beaten her up.  How nice is that?!  It's just that then I didn't feel like a weeny or that something was wrong with me.  I was justified in feeling smacked down.