Another Beautiful Day!

Sunny skies and well packed snow on the trails made it easy to forget the cold during our run (mid teens) at Bradbury Mountain State Park today. Trail conditions were significantly better than last week. In fact, you couldn't have asked for better for running on snow covered trails. The snow was very well packed down by the snowmobiles and the cold helped make sure the snow didn't loosen up. It was perfect.

I joined Ian, Emma, James, Erik, Blaine and his friend Josh at 8am. My plan was just to go 10 miles. I was definitely burning all the hay in the barn during my long runs the past three weekends, when I should have been letting it build up. Though tempted to do more since I felt great today, I stuck with my plan. I also have a hike planned for tomorrow in the White Mountains and want to have some legs left for the climbing.

I had a freak moment a few miles in, when all of a sudden my right ankle felt sprained. I didn't roll it or even come close. The discomfort just came on for no apparent reason and within about 20 seconds it was hurting pretty bad and I was running with a limp. I slowed to a walk and let the others go ahead, scratching my head as to what in the heck happened. I stretched it around and a few minutes later I was fine, and as I ran on it again the pain/discomfort disappeared completely pretty quickly. Very strange. I'm musing it was just a funky cramp or something.

Other than that, the run went very well. Cruised along effortlessly and when we reached the power lines, Erik and I turned around and headed back together (Blaine and his speedy friend had already turned around and flew back). Ian, Emma and James went on, as they were planning on 18 for the day.

I put the pedal down for the last handful of miles, cruising the long uphill with little effort and feeling good. Far cry from how I felt during the same stretch of trail last week. Reached the parking lot and Erik showed up shortly there after.

Ran 10.2 miles @ 9:01/mile pace.
AHR/MHR - N/A (ordering a new strap today!)
Trails with packed snow.
Very hilly.
Mid teens, sunny.
Long pants, fleece jacket, long sleeved shirt, short sleeved shirt, beanie, gloves.



Afterwards, I headed to LL Bean to pick up a new pair of sunglasses. They had some folks doing snow sculptures in the courtyard out front. Really neat what they came up with. I snapped a few pics with my camera phone... here are my two favorites: