The 2nd UXBA of the Year, Then a Recovery Run?

Scout and Squirrel had big miles on the schedule.  Squirrel needed to get her UXBA done.  Guess we both knew that would be the run for Saturday.  I was surprised when John decided to join, only cause I knew he had a probably broken toe.  The roots of the East side are unrelenting.  He was good to go.

The Scuffle passed uneventfully.  The Breaker went smoothly, with some sweet pup pauses.  We had a brief refuel stop before the Bruiser.  Mindy Hydropelled her feet while I dumped huge quantities of trail from my shoes.  The Bruiser was going pretty well, too, but John started to catch some of the roots, of course, with his hurt foot.  Youch!  I'd twisted my left ankle pretty good on my 12 miler after TARC.  The weird thing was it only started hurting Friday.  Well, I was feeling it on the uneven terrain.  Very weird.

I held hope that the O trail was leaf blown.  Most of the trails were done last Sunday and Piper and I could hear them working on more while we were there.  At least then we wouldn't be standing in place deciding where to go like two weeks ago with the Jedi.  Did I actually think the O was going to be easy, easier, not so bad? 

Well, after 25 miles, the O was the O.  Even though, with the freshly blown path, there was no way to get lost, we wondered if we were lost.  John started to catch more roots.  My body said it was getting sick of all the fucking twists, turns, undulations and roots.  What the hell, body?  HtFU.

We finally saw a few of our known landmarks.  Almost done.  Done.  At home, my ankles and feet complained.  A lot.

In the morning, I found lots of little jobs to delay my run.  I never don't want to run.  I think I was just a little worried about the parts.  Piper's excitement when she saw me starting to pack up certainly helped me get out.  Back to Brad, but we'd stay off the really twisty stuff.  We headed out the Connector.  She was a little bit of trouble with other dogs.  I did let her off leash for some play when we got to the second bridge.  She was so full of joy, I couldn't help but feel some too.  The parts were doing pretty well.  Running, it's even good for running problems :)

Oh!  I almost forgot about meeting a nice couple running the other way.  The guy leads off with something about seeing me pee at Thorncrag.  Oh, that was him!  The last time S&S had run at Thorncrag, we both peeled off to pee and, all of a sudden, there came a runner down the hill.  Oh, well...  Never expected I'd run in to the person again - and to be recognized.  We went on to have a very nice conversation about running and ultras.  He's thinking of the Big Brad for his first 50 miler.  I told him the other person peeing at the Crag was co-race director for the Brads with me :D

Heading back in, I twisted the ankle again.  I let loose with a very loud stream of bad words.  It hurt both on the outer and inner ankle.  Still, I had to get back and would still have a couple of miles to get in once back at the parking lot.  Running seems to be the best thing for most sprains.  We finished up.  I iced well while I napped with Piper as my blanket.  A broken hallelujah came to mind.  It was a very needed run and still broken.