Beautiful Loop + Hill Repeats = Brutal Fun

Ian said it best: In trail conditions like today's, running alone would have really sucked. But with a group of good friends, it was an absolute blast. Ian, Jeremy, Zak and I ran the Beautiful Loop and tacked on four repeats up and down Bradbury Mountain via the Lunchbreak route to get in a brutal, but very fun long run. Mindy and Val were just behind us also did the same route. Jim and Andy also ran with us for a good bit before calling it a day early. 

Most of the trails in the first stretch were actually in very good shape for running. Packed snow and easy to move on. Not many slushy spots to dodge. However, that would soon change. The power line trails were sketchy, complete with hidden pitfalls that would plunge feet into icy puddles, several water crossings, and detours needed to get around open rivers and sections of trails that were coated in slushy ice water.

It was a blast.

Then we reached Lunchbreak Hill, which begins at a school and goes all the way to the summit of Bradbury Mountain. The plan was four repeats (each round trip about 1.5 miles) and we all agreed to go at our respective paces. Jeremy crushed it, of course, and Ian and I did them together with Zak not far behind, but on the fourth one he blew past us and easily cruised to the top.

After that fourth one, we rejoiced on the summit and enjoyed the downhill back to our cars where we regrouped at Edna and Lucy's for a feast. Great day! My legs will feel this one tomorrow.

Here are some pictures I stole from Ian:

Elevation

Powerline trails portion

Came up a little short on the this jump

Breaking through the ice isn't very good for the shins

Ran 20.9 miles @ 10:45/mile pace.

Trails, packed snow, slush, ice, puddles, rivers, streams. 

Extremely hilly. 

Lower to upper 30s, sunny to mostly cloudy. 

Adidas Adizero XT, shorts, short sleeved shirt, long sleeved shirt, beanie (off and on), gloves, Salomon 45 waterbelt.