Reverser

Friday, I was in Bridgeton for work, the last real work for my old company.  That's Squirrel country now.  So I made plans to meet up with Mindy after work.  While I really want to see her local mountain run, there wasn't the time for it.  Instead we hit a little network of trails right in Bridgeton in Pondicherry Park.  I liked it immediately as we headed over a little covered bridge that reminded me of a boat; wish I had my camera with me.  It was mostly mostly gentle single-track, a good venue for relaxing after work.

Wednesday, I ran the Back Cove with Shauna.  I think it was a windy evening.  We chatted away our five miles.  I didn't have time for a full second loop.

Tuesday, I ran all Brad's mountain trails looking for any missed flags.  Just two days after the BBU, the conditions couldn't have been much different:  the trails were almost totally dry, the sky was blue, and there was lots of visibility from the summit.

The dry leaves made the trails a bit more slippery than they were race day, but I bet the racers would have taken that in order to have dry feet all day.  I ended up with 5.7 hilly miles.

Monday, I was at the Back Cove.  It was all I had time for.  5 miles.

Saturday, October 20th, the day of the inaugural Big Brad Ultras.  My alarm was set for 3am.  I woke at 2:35....next post...

Reverse Valerie

Nope.  It's not a new trail to report on.  I just thought since I was stuck, unable to catch up, I'd approach this post from the other end.  I'll write today's run and go back.  If I don't get them all, oh well.

So, today I ran at the Brad.  It just felt like where I should be (when doesn't it?).  There were just two other cars in the lot when I pulled in around 2pm.  Fine with me.  Since there is no hunting on the mountain side, that's where I ran.  It was oddly warm, almost 70.  Still, I wore my long-sleeved orange shirt.  My new motto is better hot than shot.

I knew in the first few steps, my feet were going to be very wet.  It felt great.  I was hot, but the cool water on my feet felt sweet.  There were lots of twigs and small branches down on the trails, but nothing too bad.  I decided to avoid the very back of the park along the Boundary cause it borders hunting land.  So I ran up the Northern Loop to Tote to the trail that connects to the Boundary till I got to the Reverse Mindy.  I took ydniM to the Boundary to the Summit.  There I thought that all the BBU runners would recognize the view; it was dark and misty.

From there I took Northern Loop down to Terrace back to the parking lot.  I made sure to stop in to the office to tell them about the big part of a huge pine that was down on the bit of the Boundary leading to the summit.

From there, I decided to run up South Ridge.  I think I've only ever done that once before.  I remembered it being a lot harder.  I think I might have been following faster TMs.  I enjoyed the different view of the trail.  I took the time to look off of South Ridge.  It was something I'd never noticed till the Squirrel and I did maintenance on that trail.  Nice.

Back at the summit, I weighed my down options with the time I had left.  I took the Tote to the trail that connects to the Boundary, down to the lot.  I played in some of the water.  Most was just over my Inov8s, but the deepest was just past 1/2 way up my calves.  One of the biggest surprises was the two flags I found on the Tote; I'd been on that a couple of times since the BBU as had others.  It amazed me we all had missed them.

Sunday, Rick and I headed to (where else?) the Brad.  He wanted to get in 10 miles on the east side as part of his taper.  The Squirrel and I were looking for 15ish.  After Saturday at Pineland, I was feeling a little creaky (damn Pineland).  Ian was there, too.  He introduced us to Seth.  I'm not sure if Seth just showed up to run at the Brad and ran into us or if he knew TMs ran there from the website.  Either way, he joined us.  Seth is from Boston, but was visiting his parents in Maine.  Ian described some new trails that were part of the Royal River Land Trust.  There were two separate areas to check out.  The plan was for Mindy and me to look for the one off of Chadsey/Dougherty Rd (the name depends on whether you're coming from Pownal or New Gloucester).  Ian and Seth were going to find the one off of Sweetser Rd.  After Rick headed out, the rest of us stayed together till the power lines.

Mindy and I enjoyed the power line portion of the run.  It was less sloppy than we expected.  We even were treated to horses!  Some one had put some electric fencing up for two chestnuts and two white horses.  I venture to guess they are at least part Arabian.  Only one was brave enough to come visit.  It was obvious he was only interested in any treats we might have.  I'm sure he would have enjoyed Mindy's Honey Stinger Waffle, but it wasn't offered.

We had a little confusion with Ian's directions (I do so much better with pictures), but we ended up on the dirt road across from the post office in Pownal.  We were wondering how long to continue on this road before deciding it wasn't the right one, when we spotted on older man beside a pond.  We'd ask him if he knew of the Pisgah trails.  Yes!  Just a mile, or maybe just 1/2 up the road on the right.  There'd be a stream crossing after a steep down, but it should be ok.  Oh, yeah, we were good with stream crossings :)

Maybe just 1/4 mile after we left the man, we both noticed a disturbance in a little stream off the road, a sort of roll of some aquatic mammal.  We ran over to try to get a better look.  Well, there were some bubbles, but that was it.  I thought maybe it was an otter?  A mink?

It was more than 1/2, but not a mile when we found the trail head.  It was clearly marked.  Excitedly, we headed out.  Unfortunately we couldn't go too far; we were already 7.5 miles in.  Rick was going to be waiting a while.  We did get to the stream.  Someone had put a temporary bridge.  I can't wait to explore more!

We ran back into the same guy who'd told us we were on the right path.  I asked him about what we saw.  He said we probably saw one of the young beavers.  There was a family; the parents and three young.  Awww.  He was a very cool guy.

Mindy and I both realized we were starved.  Fortunately, she'd packed a Honey Stinger Waffle and was willing to share :)  Good Squirrel :)  A couple of miles later, I felt the hunger pangs even stronger. Ahhhh!!!! Hunger!!!!!  As we approached Elmwood, we recognized Ian's Element.  He had doughnuts!  Homemade doughnuts!!!  We talked about our trail searches, the BBU, and ate doughnuts. Oh, yeah, we need to get back.  Rick had been at E&Ls for quite a while, but he'd expected that.

Saturday, I drove into the Y parking lot at Pineland.  When I got out, Ian said something about not expecting me there.  Yeah, I have made a point about how much I dislike Pineland.  I guess that's not entirely accurate.  I dislike running at Pineland.  I find it an enchanting, beautiful place.  And really, it's my body that dislikes running at Pineland.  It always complains.   Ian, David, Julia, Nathan, Mindy and I set out in the reverse direction to the normal.  Yes, we dared go backwards to the race course.  It was good.  However, we set off at a pace that is faster than what I have been doing.  It was fine, but hard.  When I had to pee, I knew there was no way I'd be able to reel them back in.  Fortunately for me, the Squirrel waited.  We took the pace down slightly.  I felt my knee complaining early in the run.  Was it psychosomatic?  I don't think so.  By the end of the run, my butt was even more sore.  Pineland.  Errrr!!!!

Ok, that's it for tonight.  I have to check my SportTracks log to see what's next.  Um, before?

Big Brad Medicine

Rick planned on doing his last long run Saturday.  The Jedi's secretary added that to the Jedi's calendar.  I was glad Rick would have George's company on the 20 miles.  The Squirrel and I wanted to run the BBU loop, maybe more; we had problems to solve.  When we pulled into the parking lot, Jedi was in his car,  Xar was walking over from hers, and the Squirrel pulled in seconds later.  We spent time just chatting, till the men realized they should get those miles underway.  It wasn't all that much longer when the women folk decided to take their talk on the trails.  Unstrung playing it all by ear since her achilles/legs didn't allow for sheet music.  We had her company for a couple of miles till she urged us to go at our own pace.

Brad worked his magic.  I think about 5 or 6 miles in, we were on to TV shows and world/others' issues, ours all resolved or at least resolved enough.  Here and there, we thought about the race or ran into a cool puppy, but mostly it was just stream of consciousness chatter.  Heading back on the connector, hunger pangs began to set in.  Edna and Lucy's was an enticing thought.

Soon enough we were heading down Lunch Break.  Xar!  She was taking our pics as we ran down :)  Even though she was already half way up, she followed us down.  It seemed right to finish the run with her.  I think the laughter level went a notch higher.

Back in the parking lot, we left Jedi a message on his windshield to please deliver Rick to E&Ls.  Rick came in looking pretty good, but glad to be done with long runs before Stone Cat. 

Sunday, I met back up with the Squirrel.  Neither of us have a training plan right now, but seemed to want the same thing for a run.  We started out with Jennifer, someone who's run with the TMs a couple of times.  She'd only done the Scuffle so was eager to try the mountain side.  She quickly realized it was different from the east side.  We enjoyed her company till she ran in to some cramping issues and decided to head back towards the parking lot.  Mindy and I continued out the connector, to the power lines, and then onto Elmwood.  There we decided the return would net us the mileage we wanted for the day. 

Back at E&Ls we counted ourselves lucky to have had the nice weather; it was supposed to have rained a fair amount.  Instead, we had relatively warm temps with clouds, but no rain.  We discussed the BBU over warm bowls of split pea and bacon soup.

PS.  Five Squirrels doesn't go up the blog list when new posts are posted, so make sure to check in.

Almost a Week of Runs

Saturday, I dropped Rick at Brad while I headed to help out with registration at the Craig Cup.  As soon as the registration was over, I headed back to Brad.  I was meeting the Squirrel to get in some miles and, hopefully, join Rick on some of his 20 miles.  Rick breezed through the parking lot soon after I got there.  The Squirrel and I weren't quite ready, but thought we'd catch up quickly enough since Rick had already been running a long time.  However, there was a new trail runner asking about the TMs that held us up a little longer so we didn't catch up till just after Porcupine Poop Rock on Ginn East.  Rick heard us coming, of course; you might have guessed we were chatting away.  Mindy and I got in just shy of 10.  Rick finished his 2nd 20 in as many Saturdays.

Sunday, the Squirrel and I hit the Brad again.  We ran some miles, nailing down the little loop of the 50 Mile BBU course, before doing trail maintenance (running between clips and sawings).

Monday, the three from 3 Ironclad and I went north to do Tumbledown.  We thought we were meeting Xar in the parking lot, but we were later than we meant to be.  People wondered if she came and left.  I was certain she would climb whether we showed or not so assumed she just had something else come up.  I ran up 1 mile, then ran back to where the hikers were, ran back to the same place I'd turned around before, back to the hikers, then joined the hike.  It was a wonderous day.  The weather gave us a little of everything.  We ate lunch at the end of the Brook Trail, near the pond after we'd visited Chris's stone.  The we decided to go up to the top of the next peak.  As we were going up, I heard my name called out?!?  Xar!  She'd come from the Loop Trail (a much steeper climb up the chimneys).  Yay!!!  She went back up to the peak with us and then down Parker Ridge to the Brook Trail head.  Just a wonderful, wonderful day on a beautiful mountain :D

Wednesday, I met up with Shauna to run the Back Cove.  It was a cool, misty (rainy?) day, but the run was needed.  I rarely get to run with Shauna; it was really a treat to catch up.  Until I get a new job, I hope we can make the BC a Wednesday ritual.

Today, I met up with Emma and Linda R to do some trail maintenance on the BBU course.  We had a lot of fun accomplishing our task.  Emma had already gotten her run in pre-work.  Linda and I got in some miles after.  I introduced her to Lunch Break.  After the build up, she didn't find it all that intimidating :)  Of course, we were warmed up by the time we ran it.

Thorncrag Thursday, Brad Friday

Thursday I met up with Unstrung for a bit over four miles at Thorncrag.  We talked and puffed up the hilly terrain.  It was good seeing her able to run and very good to have some company.  I would have run more, but had to get home and into interview clothes.

Today, I ran the east side of the BBU.  I was surprised at how hot it was.  The Brad was muddier than I'd seen him in a while.  I used the spicket to get the big pieces off before heading out. 

Catch Up Since Virgil

Monday, after Virgil, was a planned day off.  Tuesday I felt good, but still some soreness in the outer, upper quads, mostly on the right side.  Wednesday I planned to run, but ran out of time.  Thursday, I headed to Brad.  I ran the east-side part of the BBU.  I felt good.  When I was getting ready to leave, Xar pulled in.  She was going to be biking (rehab).  We went for a walk/run for a short distance mostly just to catch up.

Saturday, Rick was doing a long run.  The Squirrel and I were going to join him for the first 8ish miles then head to E&Ls for a BBU meeting with gIANt.  Just before we were ready to head out, Rick realized he'd left his Nathan Pack, filled with Nuun and pockets stuffed with GUs.  Crap.  He said he'd just do 10 and then go home and finish up, but I thought we could figure out a way to keep him supplied.  I poured 1/2 of three .5-liter bottles of water and replaced the water with nuun from my pack.  I didn't really need it for the distance I was doing on a not hot day.  I'd just brought it since I was going to use the pack for pockets anyway.  Mindy and I started out with him, but then I realized we could probably find some food for Rick at the gas station by E&Ls.  So, the Squirrel and I ran back, headed to the gas station, bought all kinds of food (including blue gummy sharks), drove back, then went in search of Rick on the trails.  I kept thinking I knew where he should be.  By the time we caught up, Rick was ready for the jelly beans.  We ran the rest of his loop with him.  He came in, got another water/nuun bottle and a lara bar.  Mindy and I grabbed the last bottle and a pack of fig newtons and ran them to the Fox East sign and stashed them for Rick to get later.  By the time we ran back in, we'd gotten 9.6 miles.  Ian was in the lot.  We all met up at E&Ls to plan and put reflective tape on the marking flags.

This week, I ran at Thorncrag for 5 miles and 5 at the Back Cove tonight.

I had been sleeping really well in the first few days home.  Now it's back to the normal sleep issues.  Oh well.

The Virgil Crest 50 Mile Fun Run

Running Virgil was definitely a different experience than Peaks.  Mindy and I had carefully trained for Peaks.  We'd done every step that was on our schedule.  It was a big, big event.  During it, even in the hard parts, we were having...well maybe not fun, but the ultra equivalent.  When it was over, it was all we wanted to talk about.  It was epic.  We had evil, fun mantras, conquered the unknown miles, and ran it in strong having defeated the trials of the trail.

We went into Virgil calling it a fun run.  I'd not let my mileage totally drop since Peaks, but I wasn't training for anything.  I think most of my Saturday runs were 15ish.  When the Jedi worked his mind tricks and Mindy and I were on board for the 50 mile fun run, I got in another 18 and then Xar's fatass 50K.  Good enough.

Virgil taught me a lot, but left me with more questions.  I know what I want to put in drop bags now (pretty much everything).  I learned from the equipped Husky that gIANt brought and shared. I know I need to figure out why I can't eat after 35 miles.  It sucks to feel like your going to hurl if you even look at food.  My Happy Tot baby food seemed to go down well, but I didn't pack enough.  I think I'll experiment with putting some extra chia seeds in it just to get more calories in.

After the first time around the Alpine Loop, 14+miles in, Mindy and I were trying not to be too smug but, we definitely had an "that was it?!" feeling going on.  We ran pretty strong going out 25.  Coming back, the trail was more slippery with the rain that fell.  The downed trees were a pain in the ass to step over.  We'd talked to many cool runners on the way out.  Heading back we ran with Scott for a while.  He's the one I took a goose for at the start (you'll have to catch me in person for the entire story).  He was doing the 100 and decided he better turn on the gas; he was worried about where he'd be when the darkness fell.  It was so cool to see how he could just go.

I like when we get to 35+ as far as miles go (but not how my stomach goes).  I know we'll crank it out.  I also like the really late miles cause Scout and Squirrel have some interesting communication skills.  It seems like she can always make sense out of whatever compilation of words that comes out of my mouth.  I know before that I've said that when we start to have to focus hard on the trail and the conversation ends, I'll be thinking our conversation.  What's weird is when I actually start voicing some of the conversation, invariably the Squirrel will say that she'd just been thinking about that.

I know I could run a 50 by myself, but I don't think I'd want to.  I've been spoiled.  S&S have ups and downs, but it seems like mostly when one's not feeling it, the other one is and can pull both through.  In the really hard stretches I want to use the old cliche that misery loves company, but it's more like with the right company the shared misery isn't.

Still, the darkness slowed us even more.   We were getting it done, but slowly.  I wanna be there already.  The light lights!!!  The mean run around the lake was just that...but then there was Rick to run us in the last few hundred yards.  Done.  We wanted to hang out to see the Jedi come in, but were so cold.  Ann said we should go get showers.  OK.  When George finished up he and Ann came to the Love Nest.  George showered and Ann brought out goodies.  Before the only thing I could get down after the race was a beer, but Ann's Spinach Balls were exactly, exactly what I wanted.  Yummmm!  The fun run was done.

Before the Virgil Crest Fun Run

OK, there's nothing for it; just write....

The packing for VC was way different than for Peaks.  I didn't have the lists that were carefully thought out.  I hadn't thought and thought about what I'd need.  When Rick asked what I was bringing, I said the fan.  I wanted to be able to sleep the night before.

The Squirrel rode with us.  We stopped in the Berkshires for lunch and to show Mindy my home town.  I hadn't been back in at least four years.  Lots had changed in that amount of time, but it was really still the same.  It is quite beautiful.

That little side trip added almost two hours to an already long journey.  When we pulled in to the Love Nest, we were all very happy to get out of the car.  Ian had told us he had the room keys and just to head on up to 517.  George and Ann had been in touch, too.  We were gonna drop our stuff then head to the race packet pickup.  From there, we'd head to dinner with them.

In 517, James, Joe, and Ian were already cooking.  They were eating in.  Being the old, I mean only, married couple, Rick and I got the room with the queen-sized bed.  Nice!  Actually, everything about the place was really nice.  There was a cool spiral staircase leading up to a room with 2 bunk beds.  I confess to never going higher than the 3rd step, but the Squirrel swears the bunks provided a very cozy nest.  There was also a jacuzzi and bathroom up there.

The race packet pickup was fun.  It had that buzz of people gonna do something.  We met up with the Jedi and his Annie :)  We picked up our numbers, dropped our drop bags (thanks to Ann, the fun run team had matching bags!), had our race pics taken.

We also ran into NJ Dave, his Mindy, and Jordan.  They checked out the pasta dinner before deciding to follow the fun run team to Hairy Tony's. 

Grilled Stone-fruit Salad

Yikes!

Back at the Love Nest, James and Joe were already bunked down.  Ian was looking to go out for a walk.  He wanted to figure out how long it took to get to the start;  I love R Ian!  The Squirrel decided to head up to make a nest in a bunk.  Mindy and Dave were still working on race day plans and Jordan was still up when Rick and I went to our room to turn on the TV, turn on the fan, and turn in.  I think I was asleep by 10:30.  It's the best I've ever slept before a big run.

The next morning, I woke up a bit before my alarm.  The Love Nest was already a hub of activity.  People were cooking food and figuring out their day.

Joe resting his feet on our bear friend

The breakfast table

 gIANt organized the TMs in the Love Nest going ultra that day for a pre-race photo.  When he posted it on FB someone wanted to see the post-race group.  I love what he posted.

pre-race

post-race