Swifties run -- Sun. Feb. 13

Sore early from yesterday, but to DnD just in time to catch Nick and Ken--all agree on a ten miler, aiming for a Barrett (but maybe starting along Jabish canal route). Pleasant milder morning, and first part of trail seems good, well tracked and pretty firm. As we cross the road at the underpass, then take the right turn across the tracks the snowmobile trail disappears: suddenly we're plunging through icy crust and knee deep snow. The trail is *visible* but hasn't been driven on for ages. Worse on the other side of the tracks, and I (in the lead) get a bit scraped up enfin. Fortunately, it's only 50 yards in all before we hit the road again, and then the track is reestablished as we turn in onto the canal trail. Not perfect: you have to run lightly, floatingly, to avoid going through even in the visible tracks, but it's okay for me (less so for Ken!). Slog on, and when we get to the overflow, a much better defined track appears: evidently most traffic had been on the other side of the canal! Proceed to the turnoff into the woods, then out on to NoWash, enjoying the feel of dry tarmac underfoot. Down to Bardwell, then left as far as NoLib, and after a bit of a dither, back up NoLib all the way to town (going through the dangerous underpass this time)--at the middle school, through to OldSpfld, to BHS, and then back to DnD as usual. Data thus:

Time: 1:31:29
Distance: 10.21 miles
Pace: 8:58s

Comment: this was a refreshing recuperative stretch after yesterday (complete with ice/snow bath!). Good start to the week in good company.