Lost Scout and Other Odd Things

Tuesday I had appointments in the afternoon, but wasn't worried about it; I was only going to do 6 to 8 miles at Riverlands.  Sigh, I wanted to start a little earlier than I did, but I still left myself plenty of time to run, drive home, and shower before the water treatment guy showed up at 2pm.

Clark and Jason's cars were in the parking lot.  I left them a heart between their cars in case I didn't run into them, but I smiled at the possibility!

I prefer the single track but will do the ATV trail if necessary.  Tues, stepping onto Homestead, I was pleased to find I could start on the single track.  Always a nice choice, but definitely preferable to the immediate up on the ATV trail.

When I reached the river, it was clear that I wasn't going to be doing an island hopping; the ice had melted along the edges.  I bet if I could clear the water, the ice would hold me further out, but I wasn't going to test that hypothesis.

So all the way out Homestead to the ATV trail.  From there, I decided to see if Fox Run would support me.  Yes!  I just needed to avoid the previous post holes and think light thoughts ;)  Though there had been even less traffic on Deer Path, it seemed like it was going to mostly support my weight too.  I had to pay attention to the blazes in many stretches, because it really hadn't seen much use.  I bet Jason was one of the very few to have been on it this winter.

The temperature was warming and the sun getting strong.  Going was much slower now since post holing meant going pretty deep down.  That really sucks when you're trying to push off to go up.  Still I was okay time wise.  Then I came to where Deer Path would keep going to connect to Bradford Loop, but I wanted to follow the "Deer Path Extension" that Riverlands 100 will take.  The park does not have blazes, but Jason had tied blue ribbons on trees to mark.  Since, with the snow cover, you can't see the trail, these ribbons were key.

Soon, actual deer trails were making it hard.  They looked like real trails.  A few times I had to back track to my last blue ribbon, then look hard to pick up the next so I would know where to go.  Needless to say, I was now going very slowly.  Then I couldn't find another ribbon.  I had a general idea where I thought the trail would head.  I decided to strike out in that direction to see if I could spot any ribbons.  After what seemed like 1/2 hour of wandering, it seemed like I better retrace my steps (I was counting on this, since I should be able to pick up my microspike prints) back to the last blue ribbon.  The glare on the snow made this difficult.  Again, very slow going.

Finally!!  The last blue ribbon.  I didn't think I could find the way forward, but going back the way I came was going to make me very late.  My choice was to head back to Deer Path to take it out to Bradford Loop.  Even though it had very little traffic, there were blazes.  Once on the Bradford Loop, I should be able to pick up the pace on the ATV trail.  Still, I called the water guy.  Left a voicemail that said I would not be there for 2, but could probably make 2:30 (of course, I had a dentist appointment at 3...).

Yay!!  I popped out onto Bradford in no time.  Sigh of relief.  I start running at a good clip, only to come to a clearing.  Shit, shit, shit!  How could I have turned the wrong direction from Deer Path.  I know where I should head, but this clearing is pretty far down Bradford loop.  I turned around and picked up my pace even more.  Somehow I missed Deer Path.  If I'd have seen it, I would have known that I really had gone the correct direction to begin with, from which side of the trail it was on.  Sigh.  I just didn't realize how far down Bradford Hill it was to Deer Path.  I thought it was much closer.  I ran a good chunk till I came to a clearing that I knew was leading in the wrong direction.  Dumbass!!!  Turn around again.  As I was running, I was pretty certain I was now headed in the right direction, but took out my phone to bring up google maps.  I saw my little triangle heading towards the river.  Confirmation!!  I looked at my Garmin.  I was going to end up with nearly 12 miles.  I was also going to be pushing getting home by 2:30.  Definitely had some motivation to keep up the pace.

Clark and Jason were gone when I got back to the lot.  They left me a stone heart, but in my rush, I didn't even see it :(  Even though I was rushing to get home, I had to stop and snap a pic.  I saw a nanny goat with a kid nursing on the side of the road.  By the time I stopped and got out my camera, they stopped what they were doing to see what I was up to.  I certainly hope they stayed out the road the rest of the day and the rest of their lives, for that matter!!!

I made it home by 2:27.  The guy was already looking at the exhaust stack for our radon.  Everything was fine.  No time for a shower before the dentist or to eat lunch.  I had grabbed a coffee and a crappy slice of pizza at the Cumberland Farms when it looked like I was ok for 2:30 meeting.

Wednesday was slated for my long run again.  Xar was going to join.  I was hoping to start by 9am to have the trail be firm for more of the run.  Somehow I didn't get to the lot till 9:15.  What is wrong with me?  Must be my membership to the WRRS, sigh.  Though fellow member, Xar, was already there and just heading up the hill to warm up, but saw me drive in.  There was one other vehicle in the lot, a red pickup with a dude sitting in it.  While I stripped off  my hoodie, put on my spikes, waited for my garmin to capture, Xar and I chatted.  When we headed out, pickup dude was still sitting in his truck.

We had lots to catch up on and there was my story of getting lost to tell.  We decided to start on Homestead, but, once back to the ATV trail, to stick with it.  The ATV trail was fabulous.  Lucky spring time runners!!!  When we got to around Bradford Loop, Xar thought she should start back; she wasn't going to do 20.  After adding many miles to my yesterday run, I wasn't going to do all 20 either, but I was thinking 16 - 18.  When I asked if she wanted to see what made me think I went the wrong way on Bradford, she agreed to add that distance and then we added a little more anyway.  It's usually not to hard to convince Xar to add miles :)

As we headed back in, the trail was getting mushy.  My newly coined snow coney term applied.  It made some of the ups way more effort than they should be, but that's spring running.  I decided to run her all the way back to the cars.  I'd forgotten my phone and, since I was losing her, wanted to have it with me.

Well, when we reached the parking lot, I was semi-disturbed to see that same dude sitting in the red pickup.  It didn't seem right.  He was going to be the only other car after Xar left.  I decided to go home to finish my miles.  Not ideal, but I wouldn't be worrying or creeped out the rest of my run.  Besides, I was going to have to walk Piper anyway.  It just made the run that much harder by adding the drive between the miles.  I ended with 17.04.  Fine.  Here are some pics Xar took along our run.  So very lost not having my phone with me.

Nice vertebrae on the trail

New beaver work. This wasn't here the day before

Add caption

with Xar with me, I did go on the river a bit

Xar

Thursday was a day off.  Saw the acupuncturist 💓 Definitely helped a twinge that developed at Riverlands.  Friday, some Pineland Farm roads with Squirrel before a RD's meeting.  Then rail to trail group run in Augusta today, led by Xar.

Well Shit

I'm not going to look back at my last post, but I'm pretty sure I didn't write that I hadn't gone to Linda's before my 18 miles at Riverlands cause she told me she was coming down with something and I might not want to expose myself to it.  She was right.  Unfortunately, we'd ridden in my car together the day before to Brunswick and back.  I hoped that I hadn't picked up any germs.  I have had my share this winter, starting with the flu at Christmas.

So Wednesday was a great run (you'd know if you read the last post).  I had acupuncture Thursday morning so wasn't going to get out till the afternoon.  It needed to be from home since Piper didn't get much of an outing on Wednesday.  I was starting to feel a little off, but decided the run would help.

The first 2.5 with Piper were hard.  I decided that was because she didn't really like sticking to the roads, but there wasn't much choice; by waiting till the afternoon, the trails were mush.  I dropped her back home and continued on.  All I could make myself do was 6, even though I had 8 on my schedule.  Usually, I would say, "I can always do two", and make myself do it.  It just sucked.

Back home, I couldn't get warm.  I went down hill from there.  Friday I woke with a fever and chills.  Ugh.  I pretty much vegged with Piper on my lap.  Rick brought home Chinese take out for supper.  It did not hit the spot.  Saturday, I still had a low grade fever.  I had wanted to do Tammy's group run in Portland, but there was no way I could make it.  By afternoon, I needed to move.  All my parts were getting stiff and grumpy.  I took Piper out for a walk.  It helped.  Towards supper, my fever broke.  I still didn't feel great, but not that trippy fever feel.

In the morning, I was still fever free.  Ok, OSGR was doable.  My goal was to get to Brad early enough to get in my 2 mile warm up and to scout the trails to see if they were runnable.  Sigh.  I have trouble getting out early.  I did get in 3/4 of a mile before it was time for OSGR and did learn that we'd be running trails!  I felt kinda shitty on those .75 miles, but I was still standing.  Don D said he'd been sick too and wondering about his lasting the run.  Well we both stood up :) I really started to feel better about 4 miles in.  Then I realized that, if you've been recently running a fever, you probably bring fluids even on a shortish run.

But!  The trails were firm and so runnable ❤ The group was large and fun.  No one cared if my pace was a little slow, though I might have picked it up on the last mile 😎 I wanted to go back out with the people adding miles, but I was thirsty and a little wise.  I'd gotten 6.8 with the group, so, with my warm up, I had 7.5 for the day.  After some fluids and coughing, I think I felt better for the run.

Wednesday Is the New Long

Last week, I looked over the weather forecast really hard to decide when to run long.  Spring running, sigh.  Wednesday turned out to be the best day.  Interestingly, it was the same this week.  I was pretty sure, if I was able to get out early enough, the trails at Riverlands would hold up.  Now, I know myself well enough not to think I was going to be on the trail by 8am, but I thought I could do 9.  Heavy sigh.  Is it bad I was impressed I was running by 9:30?  Although, if I had been able to get out by 8, I'd have had dressing issues.  It was pretty cold at 8am, but pretty warm just a few hours later.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I recognized the one vehicle as the same one that had been there last Wednesday.  I wondered if I'd see the fat biker.  I always marvel at the parking lot.  In just 7.5 weeks, it'll be transformed.  As soon as we say go, and the runners take off, the Start/Finish area has such a life, a life of its own.

OK, back to my run.  I started up the ATV trail and looked left at the first single track, Homestead Trail.  It looked runnable.  It was!  Very.

Homestead sweetness

I always prefer single track, but it's also easier as a warm up here cause Homestead mostly goes down to start, whereas the ATV track just climbs.  My stupid back issue takes a while to warm up before I don't know there's an issue, but an up start really impacts it.  So it was a win win to be able to start on Homestead.

When I reached the picnic area, just after the outhouse, I couldn't resist running out onto the river.  I am pretty sure I knew the ice was plenty thick, but I had some concern.  Running 18 miles, no one would be worried if I wasn't around for a long time.  No one would know if I broke through.  So back to the trail.

Homestead was a little harder for the stretch till it meets back up with the ATV trail.  It didn't have nearly as much snowshoe traffic to pack it down, but it was much better than much of this year's winter running.

Outhouse at picnic area

Not long before Homestead would meet back up with the ATV trail, it comes very close to the river again.  I popped out onto the river and ran along the edge for a bit.  I saw an island I never noticed before.  I wanted to check it out, but I saw some new ice.  It made me think water was running between me and the island.  I headed back to where I popped onto the river.  Looking back over the river, I decided I was not being rational.  I saw evidence that the ice was still thick.  There were cracks that I could see went deeper than 4 inches.  I really wanted to bag another island.  OK, I ran back, but avoided the new-looking ice.

The new island was fun.  I named it Long Island.  It really isn't long, but it's so narrow, it's long proportionally.  I was proud of myself for making me go back.  I love adventuring on a long run.

Fresh ice that made me nervous

Long Island picnic table

This shows the skinniness of the island

South side of the island is bare

Once I joined back with the ATV trail, I turned right to head back to Fox.  I wanted to see if it had enough traffic that I could run it.  Nope.  I could tell there had been someone on it at some point, but it didn't look like it would hold up to microspike traffic, probably would want snowshoes (and I never want that!).  So back to heading out the ATV trail, like the relay teams would do.

Another mile in, I was to the "Sensitive Habitat".  I hope it's not too sensitive, cause the snomos went right through.  I ran down to the river again and a tiny bit more river running, before heading back up to the ATV trail.  When I reached the location that Middle Earth was moved to the first year of Riverlands, I headed down the path to the river again, looking to add some miles.  Again, when I came to the river, I ran onto it.  I saw another island pretty far out.  I ran towards it.  Maybe 1/4 mile or more before I reached it, I started feeling pretty vulnerable to far out.  I couldn't convince myself it was safe.  If someone else had been with me, I am sure I'd have done it.  As I headed back, I thought of a great Saturday group run for next winter: Island Bagging!

OK, back to the Riverlands course.  I think it's the first time this year that I made it to Message Rock.  Clark's and Jason's heart message was still there, just a little disheveled.  I decided to make a snowman for them.  I doubt he'll survive for them to see in person, but I took pics :)

Heart message

This snowman's for you, Clark and Jason!

I turned around at the place where you need to make a sharp left if you want to head to Conant.  When I hit the start of the Bradford loop, I calculated I would be 1.7 miles short when I got back to the parking lot, if I ran straight there.  I decided to head out the Bradford loop to pick up the miles.  Not long before I was going to turn around, I heard my text alert (could also be my email alert).  I can't help looking; it could be about Riverlands.  I saw it was something that could wait.  Don't roll your eyes at me; I know that nothing about Riverlands can't wait a couple of hours, but I can't help myself.  I did notice a FB message.  Jason had messaged a while ago.  He saw my car in the parking lot when he started.  I messaged back.  He was on Bradford Hill Trail.  I told him I was on Bradford Loop headed back.  He asked north or south end.  Of course, I told him the wrong one.  I never think of it that way; it's Start/Finish and Conant.  Don't roll your eyes.  It took a few messages to get it straightened out, but we did.  I had no doubt that Jason would catch up: one, he's faster, and, two, I was tired.

I think he picked me up just around when I had 4ish miles left.  He was running fast with snowshoes in hand :D I know it might not have seemed it to him, but he really did pick me up.  I ran it in much faster than I would have without him.  Thank you, Jason!  I hope our paths cross again before the race!

Snowshoes in hand

Owl face on Loggy McLog Face

17.96 miles in the books.  I am totally fine not making my garmin say 18.  It doesn't know within anywhere that degree of accuracy.

So, a tiny explanation on Loggy McLog Face.  It's a named landmark on the trail.  Ask Jason and/or Clark, but I noticed the owl face.  Then I realized it's sort of conjoined twin owls that share and eye.  Gah!

Tuesday Afternoon

I wanted to get out by 1pm.  I had acupuncture in the morning.  I meant to come home, eat lunch, and get out there.  Well, I let myself get distracted by several projects, some as trivial as the NYtimes crossword puzzle.  It was 2:30 by the time Piper and I headed down the driveway.  I was prepared for mushy trails.

Again, the day was so sunny and bright, it was hard to care about what the conditions were going to be (now tomorrow, when I've got 18 on the docket, well, that's another story).  It was kind of crazy.  I want to say the conditions were mash potatoey, but I think snow coney better fits.  Snow cone is better cause the ice crystals don't stick to microspikes!  Still, it would be the sloppy snow cone texture for 30 feet and then firm and runnable for 25.  It's amazing how many times it changed.  It was all dependent on where the sun hit, for how long.

Piper loved all of it and made many, many snow angels.  She saw the two deer before I did.  She was off leash.  I saw her reaction, then saw them.  As she was gathering for the chase, I said no.  She took a leap.  I said, "Piper, here!"  She came!!  I was so proud of her.  She got two treats :)  Heading back to the house, we saw an eagle!  It's always a good idea to choose to run.

I dropped her off at just over 3 miles and headed out for another two.  Good Tuesday.

Weekend of TMR Group Runs

I was looking forward to running new trails Saturday.  Blaine was the TM leading the group run.  He'd picked local-to-him trails in Brunswick.  Unfortunately, Spring had other ideas.  We had a warm up and rain that made the trails a post holing mess.  Fortunately, the Neptune Woods Trails were adjacent to the Brunswick Naval Air Station, so there were road/paved trails right from the designated parking.

A smallish, but quality, group of Trail Monsters headed out on the maze-like roads.  Blaine knew the area so we didn't need to worry.  I was psyched that Amy R joined!  I hadn't seen her in some time.  I hope she can make more runs.  She had a great, semi-sad goat story for me.

My bothersome back made me a burden for the first two miles, but no one seemed to care.  They all put up with my need to stretch or walk.  After two miles, it's like I don't have a problem.  We all called it good after five road miles.  I hope we get back to try out the trails and to try out Flight Deck Brewing.  I was surprised the trail head was less than 30 minutes from my house - totally doable any time.

Right to left: Tami, Amy, Peter, Me

Peter trying for a keg

Our host, Blaine

Sunday was OSGR time, of course.  I held out hope for Brad's trails firming up over night; it was supposed to get below freezing fairly early.  Tami said Sam was starting early to get more miles, so could probably let us know if the trails were runnable.  Otherwise, we'd have to do the Animal Loop.  Now, for roads, I do like the Animal Loop, but many of the animals aren't there any more.  I'll point to a place and say, that's where the goats were, or that's where they had horses, goats, and a llama.  Sam agreed to let me know so I could put it out there.  Not everyone would want to drive just to run roads.

I was so happy to get the message from Sam just after 7am.  Wear traction, but trails were good!!!  I was aiming to get to Brad early enough to do two miles for a warm up.  Somehow, I didn't get out the door in time for that.  I did get about .75 miles.  I'd hoped that was enough to not effect the group run.

We had a good turn out.  Peter and Tami (both from Saturday's run), Sam, Karen, Don, Tom, Jocelyn, Steve, John, Nicole,  Anne (new to us), Susan and Rachael (although they couldn't start with us cause one of them had locked the key in their car and they were waiting on AAA.  Fortunately, we were going to do an out and back so we could pick them up at some point) were ready for OSGR.  If I'd checked my phone, I would have seen that our newest TMs were almost there.  We would have waited for them, of course.  Luckily, Sam was on top of things and messaged Craig where we were headed. 

Anne joined at the lead of the group.  I tried to rein in her pace, but she seemed to just have one speed.  It wasn't super fast, but it wasn't OSGRish.  Not to worry, I just had us stop for some photo ops now and again.  I was happy that my little warm up had tamed my back.  I wouldn't have wanted Anne's first run with the group to be disappointing for her.  While we ran together, I did try to emphasize the idea of OSGR.

The day was beautiful, the trails were pretty sweet.  I think everyone was pleasantly surprised and relieved.  Spring can be really rotten...there's great weather that renders the trails useless.  It's such a tease.

I pulled off the trail to pee (I do that more than most).  I was just rejoining the trail when Craig caught up!  Yay!!!  I didn't know yet that he was coming.  I teased that it was my peeing that allowed him to catch up.  I asked if he'd seen Susan and Rachael.  Nope.  I wondered if they would join after all.

So OSGR is billed as an all-paces welcomed, six to eight mile run.  We turned around at the cornfield, at about 3.5 miles.  We hadn't gone too far back in when we ran into Susan and Rachael.  Instead of turning around to head back, they asked where we'd turned around.  They were doing the full run ❤
Then we picked up Karen Ela!!  Had I asked Craig if she had joined.  No.  But she'd done a bunch of the single track before we'd joined up with her.  So cool that we met up.

Once we got back onto park property, we took Ginn West, to Regan, to Lanzo, back to the parking lot.  It gave us about 7.5 miles.  Now Tami, the one who said how tired her legs were before the run, coerced (too hard of a term...wooed, no...asked?) people to do two more miles.  Just a mile out, a mile back.  I'd barely wanted 6 for the day, but there was not a fiber of me not wanting to join.  Once we did the mile out, we opted for a different, slightly longer route back.  I love trail runners :)

Once I got home, though I wanted to call it a day, Piper needed her time outside.  I didn't run it, but did take her out for another couple of miles.  It was a good two days of outdoors.

Spring Running

I know many people look forward to Spring.  There's maybe a couple of weeks of it that I might actually enjoy, but mostly I hate it.  The trails can go from firmly packed and enjoyable to post-holing torture overnight.  Even if you are willing to take the torture, you don't want to risk messing up the trails, in case they can firm up again.

I opened my weather app way more than usual to figure out the way to arrange my running for the week.  Even though I'd done my longer runs on the weekend, I decided to put them on Wed and Thur this week.  I was pretty sure Riverlands would be pretty sweet on Wed.

I was right!  I didn't get started until 10am, so was a bit concerned that I'd be building up huge snow packs on my microspikes on the second half of my run.  I was pleasantly surprised that, while the trail did get tacky, it seemed to pack under my feet instead of sticking.  It was even better running!

I wonder if the squirrel survived

My first island

Second island

 The single track wasn't packed; I stuck with the ATV trails, except for my excursions to the islands.  There were enough recent snowmobile tracks to make me feel confident the ice would hold.  I went out the first, probably largest of them.  It has a picnic table that looks like it gets a good deal of use, snowmobilers in winter, boaters in summer.  The second island was one I'd never been on before.  I did have to bushwhack (snow plod?) to get down to the river, but, as almost always, the adventure was worth it.

The Turner ATV club hosts a Halloween ride at the park every year.  I have run a great deal since the last one.  So the skeleton in the woods took me by surprise!  15 runners had just run past is on Saturday's group run, but none saw 😂 I'm sure a Riverlands 100 runner could get startled; it does seem to be glow in the dark.  I'll try to remember to take it down.

This will scare a 100 miler at night!

So I got in my 16 miles pretty much having the park to myself.  I did see one fat biker leaving and 3 snowmobiles.  Oh!  And I heard an owl.  If the snow wasn't so deep, I'd have gone into the woods to see if I could get a pic.  As it was, I was content to hear it.  Guess it was on the day shift.

Thursday, I was lucky enough to have Anne and Keri for company.  We ran about 4.5 miles on the single track of the east side, then ran up Northern Loop to admire the summit.  Coming down we ran the Switch Back.  Both Anne and Keri had the 6 miles they were looking for.  I headed back across the street to get my 8.

Friday, I took my day off.  Today I met up with TMR for Blaine's Saturday group run.  The trails were just the type of Spring conditions to be avoided, so Blaine led us around the AF base.  They are the type of roads/paved trails that are good for a group.  For much of it we could pretty much own the road.  But I am hoping that the temps will dip down below freezing early enough that our OSGR will be on trails.  I do like the Animal Loop, but...