Two weeks and still going

Although it has been over two weeks since I have written anything it is not because I have been a lazy ass and done nothing, but rather the opposite. These past three weeks have been filled with too many things.

I celebrated my birthday a little too much on the night of the 10th to actually get out an run, but I did start that week off with a pretty kick ass soccer game, followed by a freaky night of swimming during the Nor'Easter.

Sunday the 18th's run was a bit of a hysterical one. We headed out from Bradley Palmer to Willowdale for a 2 hour and 20 minute run that resulted in many "whoa's!" and "help me's!" and me starting the first ever running escort service!

The Nor'Easter resulted in everything being covered in very think layers of ice and if you didn't have Yaks on during this run you were left fending for yourself...that is everyone but my mom and Vicki. My mom was holding onto my left arm and Vicki was hanging onto my right arm for a majority of the run and I couldn't help but to think how we must have looked like The Three Stooges or Lavern & Shirley + One or even Dorothy, The Tin Man and The Cowardly Lion charging down the Yellow Brick Road. It was a rather funny site, but we all survived.

I headed down to Nike Town on the 14th for a bit of a surprise run. Since the typical route as a bit too dangerous to run they decided to change it to The Boston Common. No biggie...I can swing that. My legs were a bit tired from all the hills on Sunday's run, but I can swing it. Shane said that once you reach the common going to the right was the easier route. Wait did I hear that correctly? I hadn't because when you go to the right 75% of the run is one entire incline until you reach the State House where the real hill begins. "O'well" I said to myself "Only 2 more times around once you finish this loop". Yes, I was a bit of a nut because instead of turning around for the last two loops and going to the left (the true easier way) I decided to grin and bear the choice I had made to the bitter end. Call me crazy, but I just wanted to see if I could push myself to do it. I was tired and felt like crap, but I knew once it was over I would have that great feeling of accomplishment rather than the "I am an ass and should have just done it" feeling. So I did it! Yeah!

The 25th's run was a different day and although I brought the Yaks it wasn't until I hit the trails that I realized I never put them on! I was told don't worry about it. You won't need them today and look no one else has them on and so you'll be just fine. Never again will I make the mistake of not listening to my gut instinct! The trails had a nice fresh layer of snow on them and I think that was to play a joke on everyone who wasn't wearing their Yaks because what was beneath the nice pretty fresh snow was that gosh darn thick layering of ICE. I have to say I was doing pretty good for a while there.

Maybe I should help set the scene in your mind. Picture it like this: everything is pretty white winter wonderland from the fresh layer of snow that had just fallen the night before. The weather was a crisp 20 something degrees, but with the sun it felt maybe high 20's - low 30's (which is rather warm around here these days). We hit the trails running and it didn't take long to realize that today was going to be a blistering day, for the feet that is. The trails I am guessing had at least 6 inches of solid snow and ice in most areas, but the recent weather had softened certain areas where previous runners/hikers had left ginormous craters in the trails that had once again frozen over. So foot placement was a bit of an issue...do you run where the craters were or do you risk running on the outer edges of the untouched trail? My theory for a while was to risk the untouched part of the trail...then I and many others found out that wasn't such a hot idea because there were certain parts of the trail exposed to the sun and as you are probably guessing I went through. I have no way of really describing what this was like except to say have you ever run in quick sand? I really hope you answered no that question, but that is the only simile that I can come up with.

The conditions definitely added a little bit of an extra workout during this run and as usual I have no idea what the distance was but the goal was to run for 2 hour and 30 minutes. We ran just over for 2 hours and 33 minutes. Oh and this run was out of Boxford Center...I believe it was all part of the Bay Circuit, but not sure if we hit a few different trails before heading onto Bay Circuit or if it was all Bay Circuit....either way it was a great day and even though there were some not so great parts I loved every minute of it. I love it when I can say "pain feels good!".

One of these days I will bring my camera to liven these posts up with a few good shots too!

My first snowy Sunday of the season

Even though I was still struggling to kick this cold that just wants to linger on I bundled up and went heading to the woods yesterday morning. It was freakin' cold as all hell, but I managed just the same.

For those that know the Topsfield area we stepped outside the back door of Gil's Grocery and headed for the tracks...railroad tracks that is. It was snow and ice covered, but I tested out a pair of "Yaktrax" ("Yaks" for short) and they rock! We ran on the tracks for a bit and then hit the trails through Topfield and into Ipswich to the Willowdale trails.

I have to say the first quarter of a mile was pure ice and I was a bit skiddish about putting all my trust in them so early on in the run, but after time I don't think I would run without them in the snow or ice again.

I was having a tough time throughout various parts of the run. Breathing with a cold while running was not the easiest, but I am so glad I made it out there. It was a GORGEOUS run! I only wish I had my camera. The sun was shining so brightly and the trees were freshly covered in snow and yah more ice, but it was like it was the first snowfall and I was Alice in Wonderland...only it was a winter wonderland. With the light the way it fell on the trails the pics could have been even more gorgeous than the real thing. Alas no camera so no pics...sorry!

There was about a half hour of the run left and my body just wasn't having it...so as everyone entered the last trail on the return to the store I opted for the Haverhill/Bear Hill Road route. Rather than dealing with hiking of any more of the trails and falling behind a bit more, this was the first time I was thankful for flat surfaces and took the easy route home.