The Return to Pineland Farms

XC ski season is over, which means the trails at Pineland Farms are open to running and today the Trail Monster clan did our first run of the season there. It felt great. I love running there. However, the trails still have a bit to go before they're ice free. I'd estimated it was roughly 70% ice, 30% mud.. and a lot of that ice was pretty slick (Mindy can probably speak to this best, hee hee). Screw shoes would have definitely been helpful but alas, I just had my regular trail shoes. Still runnable though, just had to slow down at times or take a detour off the path.

Quite a few of us out there today, including Ian, Emma, Ryan, Chuck, Jeff, Mindy, James, Jim D., Carter, Don and... and.... I think that's everyone? Fun time. I ran with various people, but probably most of it was with James.

I felt great today. Very energetic, but I've been keeping it light this week so I guess that's to be expected. Still, I guess it shows recovery is going great from that tough 50k run last weekend. The pace today was actually pretty quick (for me) given all the ice still coating the trails. I'm on track with my training, and everything continues to move along nicely. Looking forward to incorporating more long runs into the regiment in the weeks and months ahead.

After the run, James and I soaked our legs in a pond. That icy water felt great.

Ran 12.3 miles @ 10:07/mile pace.
AHR/MHR - 143/164
Trails, 70% ice/30% mud & dirt.
Very hilly.
Lower 40s to upper 40s, overcast and foggy.
Shorts, short sleeved shirt, Moeben sleeves.