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?