Tuesday Trails -- Tue. May 11

My day for a long run this week, and nice opportunity for a trail run. Cool, but not hat weather; Boston shirt and Kanada shoes, water bottle and two quarters of a PBJ as bonk-proofing (not that I planned to race, but planning 12-13 before real breakfast. Out at 9:15, enter trails right at undiscovered country and wake up pretty quickly there; dry, firm, and a bit overgrown in places--I'd forgotten how tricky the rocks are on this trail, so it's a workout along the top trail then down the slope and out onto Hamilton, briefly, then continue across and out onto Bay. Head uphill, out onto 9, then down past Tilton and back onto trail after crossing tracks, giong past town beach and starting along dike; beavers have patched a bit of it, but still too deeply puddled to cross, so go back to rail tracks and follow along till I'm past the lake, then up and rejoin trail; follow through and out on to 9 at bottom of Holland Glen. Already at 4+ miles, and not feeling very sharp, so start slowly up the stream-side, and at the top switch to the subsequent trail, up towards the belvedere, even more slowly. Then trip and go sprawling, cutting right knee; not too bad, so go on after brief clock stop. Long haul up that trail (discover one section has been clear cut, news to me) and then try to find way to Gulf road, but end up at a massive beaver dam--stop a bit there, just so awesome! Then back and out onto Gulf, down the hill, past the pond and down the next stretch, out to 9 (going easy pace, but with the hill inevitably clocking one sub-7:00). Cross to Federal, and along to rejoin railtrail again, just as far as Cheryl, then back out to Federal and road all the way home. Feeling strong despite the hill, so chug up nicely and at the Roadhouse open up a bit, clocking another sub-7:00 as I head to the supermarket. Final stats:

Time: 1:50:32
Distance: 13.17 miles
Pace: 8:24s

Comment: a mainly trail half marathon--awesome! Felt mainly very good after, given the overall slow pace, though as well as two sub-7:00s there were a couple of other quick ones, to make up for the *very* slow ones going uphill. Progress, maybe, in the trail training.