Choices

I have some sort of lower GI issue going on.  Friday night I fell asleep at 8pm and more or less slept till 6am.  That proves something's wrong.  When I woke up I raced to the bathroom with Spot trying her best to follow (her legs move pretty slowly upon waking); she said that she gets to have breakfast before anything else happens.  I wish I could have complied.

Well, I obviously wasn't better.  I'd also developed a dull headache.  OK, S&S had plans for 20 miles.  What were my chances?  I decided that I'd try.  I semi-jokingly thought it would kill me or cure me.  I also know there are lots of bail spots on the BL.  Perhaps I'd know in the fist 1/2 mile if it were a poor choice.  I let the Squirrel know my condition, of course she had the perfect reply.

When I pulled into Brad's lot, there were a good group there already.  Xar, Blaine, Joe, and Ryan's group of snowshoe race course-marking volunteers: Ryan, Andy, Zak, and Oops (forgot everyone there).  Soon, Mindy pulled in.  She'd brought the shirts for the race.  When she announced it with a little accent, I thought she said, "I got the shits."  \o/

I lead the runners across to the east side.  Blaine and Joe planned to turn around at the 5 mile point.  Xar thought she might stay with us a bit then drop back and do various stuff perhaps ending going out the BL backwards to meet up with S&S for the finish.  Blaine said something to me.  I replied I just don't feel like talking.  I tried to focus on running.  I felt not great.  It reminded me of the stretches in our 50s where the Squirrel and I are quiet, just working on the miles.  The funny thing was that the rest of the group followed suit.  There really was no talking for the first 4 miles.  Then I think Blaine and Mindy had a little chat.

Before we popped out onto the power lines, I pulled off and waved the others on.  I made sure to get far off the trail.  When I caught back up (they were waiting on the power lines), it was time for Joe to head back.  Blaine decided to head the other way on the power lines till the road to get the exact mileage he wanted.  So it was Scout and Squirrel on the BL.  I felt better after my pit stop.  A few steps into the solo S&S portion, I noticed my headache was gone.  Soon our normal conversation started up.  It's funny how long it seems between our long runs.  And all we have to discuss backs this up.

The going was decent.  Hi chairs!  We didn't stop at the recliners this time, but did acknowledge them.  We were pretty about moving forward.  We came to the river.  Last time the ice held us.  Hmmm....it looked pretty thin in the middle.  We looked for something to throw at it.  Nothing.  I stepped tentatively onto the edge.  Crack, splash!  Nope. We'd have to go around.  It's a short detour with a little bushwacking involved, but this time was much easier than our first; the snow wasn't thigh high.

After we crossed Alan Road, just after the sub-station, I needed another pit stop.  This frequency wasn't too bad.  In fact, I usually have to pee that often any way.  Mindy went ahead and used the time to down a waffle.  I tried a blueberry, apple, and purple carrot Happy Tot.  Blue and applesauce are on the list of 10 best things to east when you have diarrhea.  Seemed close.  I was also trying to take in a lot of fluid.

When we got to our stretch of power line (off of Sweetser Rd), Mindy noticed that it looked like there had been no snomo traffic.  Not a one.  Going got much slower.  There was ice under the snow in random places.  We didn't get snomo tracks till we turned off the power lines heading towards Leighton Rd.  Then it was the more sugary stuff.  Oh BL, we love you any way.

On one of the longer ups, on the way to the school, I got a bit light headed.  A slight pause to un-dizzy gave Mindy the time to stretch her hip flexors.  Crossing Elmwood, the conditions seemed to improve a bit.  I held a little hope for Lunch Break.  Man!  Again, no traffic.  I told Mindy I wasn't up for repeats.  She took it well.  We'd get mileage elsewhere.

At least our decision allowed us to meet Summit, a golden retriever/lab cross.  As we ran down the Northern Loop, this bounding bundle of energy and teeth came flying at us.  With each bound her gums flew back revealing a toothy smile.  It took a second to realize one of her front legs was a little stump.  Soon her person followed.  Summit stayed still for some love but still leap and ran around as we talked.  She was born with the little piece of a leg.  I mentioned that a lab up the street from me had that, but the leg was longer and they cut it to that length feeling that with the original length she would try to use it and mess up the rest of her body.  This woman was a little sad to learn it.  She said that Summit's leg was too short.  Had it been longer she could have been fitted for a prosthetic.  She made prosthetics, both animal and human, for a living.  What a boost meeting them!

From there it was across to the east side for more miles.  We ended with 17.9, but I was done.  So.  My run did neither.  I wasn't cured or dead.  I still have the same yucky GI issues, but I got my miles and feel no worse.