New Year's Day and A Couple Nights Later

Mindy had invited the TMs to a New Year's run at the Brad, a perfect way to start 2013.  A pretty big group of TMs thought the same thing.  I'm not even going to try to name everyone.  I'll stick to the group that headed out on the BL; I have a better chance of not leaving any one out then.

Ian and Jamie soon were out of sight.  Alan, Bobs Porrier and Dunfey, Nathan, Sean, Yana, Mindy and I followed.  In the parking lot, Mindy had said she wasn't running the entire loop.  She wanted some NY day left to spend with Pete; based on our last BL experience, it would take a large chunk of the day.  She didn't even bring water so she couldn't be tempted.  I assumed most of the others were BLing.

BUT!  The conditions turned out to be way better than just two days before.  Wow, I didn't think the snow mobiles could do much with such dry snow, but it was pretty decent footing.  Mindy and I kept marveling how little time it took to get the miles done.

Alan was a bit beat; he'd been running since sometime before 6 am.  I brought him some water and Nuun tablets to replenish. 

Brad looked his best in the snow and brilliant blue sky.  We all marveled fairly frequently at each new scene.  Have I said it too often?  I love Brad.

Five miles out, the Squirrel said she really better turn around.  She was definitely tempted to go on.  Smart girl to not bring hydration.  Turns out the rest of the crew wanted to head back for various reasons:  Alan still had to run home after, the Bobs were doing 50K on Sunday, Yana was just getting her snow legs, and Nathan?, well I can't remember.  So, I had to decide: BL alone or have company back and call 10 good?  I sadly chose the return, but it turned out to be a wise decision.  I was still more tired from two days ago than I realized.  The rest of the day, I would nap on and off.

The footing going back was decidedly worse.  All our feet had chewed up the trail into sugar.  Not as bad as it can be, but notably harder than on the way out.  Happy New Year!!!

Thursday night, S&S registered for the Haliburton 100.  I'd been debating making myself go out in the dark and cold for a run.  The excitement of the confirmation letter made it a bit easier.  It was a beautiful run.  The packed snomo trails around here also made me excited for Saturday's BL.  Brad's trails are always better than here.  So I got my 4 miles in at 9:15 at night in the barely above zero temps and enjoyed every step.