Sun and Ice

After last weeks solo run it was nice to have the company of Emma, Stephen, Alan, Chuck, Jim, Lily and Echo for this Saturday's run. The plan, based on Emma's 50 mile training schedule, was to do a 14 mile run from Bradbury to Pineland on the powerline/snowmobile trails. After the past week's warm weather and rain, then freezing temps the snowmobile trails were firm and great for running on. Icy, but manageable with screw shoes.

This was the first time trying out this route so I wasn't sure exactly how the distance would work out, but it turned out to be just right.


I was a little worried that the two rivers we would have to cross wouldn't be frozen enough, but we all made it safely across. I was glad though that we weren't returning on this route. We had all worked out various ways to get back from Pineland after the run there. Chuck and Alan each ran back home, taking different routes, Emma, Stephen and I stayed to watch Jeff's ski race. Jim, who only ran out with us for 25 minutes at the beginning of the run had driven to Pineland to participate in the race, gave Emma and I a ride back to Bradbury but not before meeting up with Mindy and Pete for breakfast at Stone's. Unfortunately they don't serve breakfast after 11:00 so we had to settle for lunch.

We managed to keep up a good pace for the run, although there were several short stops along the way. The last mile or so of the run was on paved road, mostly uphill to Pineland but we managed to churn out the fastest split of the run at 8:29.

time: 2:11:41
distance: 14.14 miles
pace: 9:18

weather: upper 20's, clear and sunny

conditions: crusty hard packed and icy snow

gear: Inov-8 Roclite 315 with screws, wools socks, tights, 2x long sleeve tops, gloves, buff, Camelbak Magic