Saturday, January 20, 2007

Slow slow fun fun

Today's planned long run of 15 was a step back from last week's 20. I'm winging it here, but the general plan is to schedule a 20+ mile run every other week. Its been a while since we've been to the far end of Wildwood so we had initially intended to park at the Germantown Rd trail head. But I was worried there might be icy spots on that steep, windy road, so we went back to the Leif Erickson/Thurman Rd trail head instead.

Last Saturday it was bitter cold, but with just a little ice on Leif. This week was warmer, but due to our recent snows there was a lot of icy slush and snow on the trail. Leif is usually very runnable (this first section is basically gravel and packed dirt), but picking our way through the ice really slowed us down.

After 6+ miles we headed up Saltzman Rd (a closed gravel road), and then turned back on Wildwood. This is where it got really interesting. We ran into every trail condition possible....snow, slush, ice, frozen mud, slippery mud, shoe sucking mud, puddles, and a few blessed, pine-needle, covered, dry dirt sections. Did I miss anything? Sharon improvised a new song called "50 Ways to Break Your Ankle." At one point she commented that the conditions were making it a really tough run. Me: But it's more fun than a road run, isn't it? Sharon: Hell yeah, it's more fun! Right on!

We turned back down the Wild Cherry trail (yes, there really is a trail with this name!) and back down the quarter mile of Leif to our car. Our run turned out to be excruciatingly slow, but full of fun.

11 comments:

Joe said...

OK, let me try a couple...

"You step in the hole, Moe,
Catch a new crack, Mack,
Slip on the ice, Brice,
Just crack the ankle.

Ignore all the pain, Jane,
No need to explain pain!!
Just pull on the shoe, Lu,
and crack your ankle."

Dunno...it is late here. And aplogies to Simon and Garfunkle :-)

Backofpack said...

Oh, you must have been on the same run I was on. I forgot to mention the shoe-sucking mud in my post. Love Joe's version of the song!

Darrell said...

What what fun fun!

Rick Gaston said...

A couple of all terrain gals. Well it's a good thing that you run with a buddy just in case something did happen. But what fun, picking your way through obstacles, balancing yourself on all the icy stuff. Sounds like you had a great workout.

Olga said...

It sure was interesting:) And I rather take picking my feet on WW than slippin' on Leif. Next week - Germantown to Zoo. WIll I finally bump into you guys?

Unknown said...

I would much rather be on the trails in those conditions than on any perfectly dry road. Great run!

Journey to a Centum said...

Makes you wonder how you can run 15 miles on this modge podge of geologic offerings and survive when you can turn your ankle stepping off a curb on a road run.

Keep up the great training routine. Sounds like you and Olga should schedule a run together and not leave a meeting on the trails to chance.

PS - The ice bath was the worst torture of the day yesterday but my legs really feel good today!

Cheers!

Eric

Ginger Breadman said...

nothing like a true trail run.

Ryan said...

Fun on the run that's what it's all about…

"Today was a good day, I didn't have to use my road shoes" just a fun little tweak in Ice Cube's rap lyrics. After reading Olga's post and then yours I'm surprised you didn't bump into each other out there.

Anonymous said...

hell yeah more fun! woo hoo!

Stephanie said...

15 miles through the ice and cold...hope you got to have some hot tea after!