Screw Shoes Not Required

Yesterday, I was sure that it would be treacherous footing at the Brad for today's run.  It was so wet and the temps dipped pretty low at night.  I never expected that the ground could absorb so much at this time of year.  Still, it's probably a good thing that I now have a pair of screw shoes at the ready.

Rick and I were the first in the lot...or so I thought.  NJ Dave and Jordon ran in to lot seconds later.  I waved, but had no intention of opening the door yet...It was cold out there and I wanted to keep whatever heat was in the car in the car.  Then I could hear them saying something like Merry Christmas or happy holidays.  Oh!  They were leaving.  I would have opened the door if I thought they weren't gonna be joining us on the run.  Oops.

Somewhere in there Xar pulled in, as did her friends Bob and Paul.  We were doing the intros when Joshu (Joeshoe?  That's how the name is pronounced, at leasts) came over.  He had seen something about the TMs on Brad's website.  Turns out he'd grown up very close by and was back for the holidays.  Should we head out?  I thought Emma was coming, but she and/or gIANt are usually one of the first in the park.  Hmmm...maybe something came up.  Fortunately, waiting for Gnarls gave Yana time to show up!!!  Two weeks in a row!  More introductions.

Thinking, still, that it was going to be icy, I led us across to the east side, the least hazardous in ice.  Yana and I were up front so I had the pleasure of yaking with her the majority of the run.  We started out on the Bruiser course.  Talking Doctor Who with Yana, we unintentionally picked up the pace.  We tried to rein it in.  Then, on the Bat Cave Loop, Rick and Yana picked the pace up even more talking about the troubles of the world.  We realized Xar, Paul, and Bob were no longer with us.  We decided  to head back to bring the group back together.  We made it all the way to the beginning.  Oh, they must have gone straight on Fox East.  Heading back across the street, I saw Xar and co. starting out the Northern Loop.  HEY!  We met back up.  They swore they took the Bat Cave Loop.  I think they must have taken one of the crossing paths along the way.  Or.  Maybe they got really tiny.  Any way, they continued up the mountain.  Of course they should have; it was a beautifully clear day.  Paul and Bob needed to see the view from the summit.

Yana, Rick and I were good with our 7.7 miles.  We went to Edna and Lucy's to enjoy the last of E&Ls till 2013.  Rick and I were treated to the best special ever.  Yana had a breakfast sandwich and took one of the pear and goat cheese sandwiches home for later.  Wow.  Pretty good two days in a row with Brad and friends *u*