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!