Crewing Ryan at Wapack & Back

Friday afternoon we headed south to Ryan's parent's house for the night. Saturday dawned really early and really dark, with the alarm going off at 2:15 am. Even for an early bird like me, that is early ;) The trip over to Ashburnham to the start of the Wapack & Back race was uneventful and after a quick check-in, Ryan took off with the rest of the 43 and 50 milers into the woods as the sky lightened, just after 5:00 am, with little fanfare and a Yeti howl.

Sunrise

Ryan was doing the bulk of the work for the day, for sure, as I knew from running the one-way version back in 2015, that this range, while beautiful, is no joke, but I knew I was in for a long day too. Crewing is tough work ;) Thankfully, Ryan put together a great direction and crew stop sheet for me, which made it much easier!

I had a bit of time to kill before meeting up with Ryan at the mile 9 aid station, so I went into Petersborough and got gas for the car and coffee and a donut for myself. Then it was off to classic crew routine of hurry up and wait ;) I got out and chatted with the aid station team, cheered on runners as they went through and right on time, at a few minutes before 7:00 am, Ryan came through, looking nice and relaxed. After a quick swap of trash for new gels and a few words about the course, he was off.

With that I made my way to the turn-around point at mile 21.5, which is the starting point for the one-way race. As it was around 7:30 am, the lot was empty and I quickly changed into my running gear and took off up the trail. I had done a bit of online searching and it looked like I could get in a nice loop up over North Pack and down with a short return via the road. I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't get back in time to meet Ryan - he had predicted a 10:00 am check-in at this spot but he was moving so well at mile 9 and I wanted to get back in plenty of time in case he arrived early. In any event, it was a 1.5 mile stiff climb up to the top of North Pack via the Wapack Trail, portions of which I remembered from 2015, through the woods and up steep rocky ledges to the large cairn at the summit, of which I have no recollection at all!

Wapack

Follow the yellow triangles

View climbing up 

North Pack summit

Summit view, a bit clouded over

From there I headed out on the Cliff Trail for a short ways before taking the turn onto Carolyn's Trail. From what I found online, Carolyn's trail was a good one to descend back to the road and after the initial section of steep ledges, the rest of the trail wound through the woods very nicely, the trail pine needle covered, cushiony goodness. The woods were quiet and it was quite lovely. I really enjoyed it!

Cliff Trail

View from the higher ledges along Carolyn's Trail

Red eft spotted down in a marshy section of trail

Goldthread

Painted Trillium

The final 1.5 mile leg of the loop was back up Mountain Road, which was really darn steep! Ended up with a nice 5.3 mile loop, and enjoyed getting out into the hills! Lots of fun and glad to get a short run in between crewing duties! Aside from the red eft, no wildlife was seen, but the forest floor was awash with false lily of the valley, goldthread, wild oats, indian cucumber, hobblebush, some blue bead lilies emerging and a few trillium down below.

The run

I ended up getting back in time to chat for a few minutes with Brian and Adam before the 21 miler started, and then was able to change and chat with the aid station volunteers while standing around in the cold, damp morning before Ryan came in, right as predicted at 10:00 am :) He was looking strong and was all smiles.

Coming into mile 21

All smiles

From there, I headed over to Miller State Park and took a short walk on the trail while I waited. It was cold just hanging around, so a bit of movement was nice. Lots of blooming hobblebush and wild oats here!

Hobblebush

Indian wild cucumber

Ryan came through mile 27 at 11:35 after a hard stretch of trail up and over North Pack and Pack. Feeling a bit rougher but still moving well.

I decided this was the time to head back into Petersborough and get some lunch, so I retraced my steps and stopped and had a Subway sandwich, Facetimed with Sam for a bit and then headed back to Windblown for the mile 34 stop.

Ryan came in at 1:09, having made up some time in the last 7 miles and moved ahead of his fastest predicted arrival for this spot. Although he said he wasn't feel great, he was still moving well.

My Facebook status from this check-in went like this:

34 miles in and feeling it a bit.

I say, hey, you're doing great, still ahead of your fastest projected time to here.

He says, so there's still time for the shit to hit the fan.

See what I have to deal with here?!? 😂😂

Mile 34

From there, it was back to the finish. Crewing is a whole lot of waiting around and I was getting a little antsy ;) I paced back and forth on the trail quite a few times, looking at the wildflowers and chatting with other runners and the volunteers. Ryan came through for mile 43 at 3:40 and although he said he was trashed, he went right over to Jesse and asked if he could head back out for the final 7 mile out and back stretch to get the full 50. Crazy ultrarunner for sure! ;)

Coming in to mile 43

As Ryan took off for his final miles, more walking and chatting ensued for me, along with yet another snack :)

Wild oat

And then, 12 hours and 21 minutes later, he finished :) With enough energy for a jump at the finishing gate! :)

Finish line jump

Yah running!

50 mile finisher

After the inevitable clothes changing struggle after a long race, we headed out, stopped for some pizza and arrived back at Irene and Dana's at 8:00 pm. It had been a long day. 

Many thanks to Irene and Dana for hanging out with Sam for the day, especially since she was up at 6:30 am! We are lucky to have such good parents/grandparents to help us out as we go off and do these crazy things!

Very proud of Ryan for running a strong 50 on a really tough, technical course. The Wapack range is no joke, although it is certainly a beautiful area. Cheers to an excellent effort and a good stepping stone in the VT 100 journey! 

Long Run

First 20 miler of 2017. Good grief, it's taken a while ;)

Headed out this morning onto the powerlines and out around the dump before hitting the Cathance trails out to Head of Tides. It was a rather damp, humid, heavy morning and I actually stopped and took my inhaler around mile 8 as somehow the combination of the heavy air and the spring allergies was just making me feel ragged breathing-wise.

The trails were fairly quiet, both people and wildlife-wise but out in the Cathance the river is roaring and the wildflowers are very slowly making their appearance known. Rue anemone, goldthread, trailing arbutus, much larger skunk cabbage, ferns unfurling, bluets, and violets are all coming to life.

I was flagging a bit in the final miles but overall it was a good long run and I'm happy to have gotten the miles in! It is such a pretty time of year to be out in the woods - always good to be out there!

Sending happy running thoughts to all my friends running at Riverlands this weekend! I am sad we are missing out on the fun of the first 100 miler in Maine put on by our own running club, as so many people we know will be there running, volunteering and making it all happen, but I am excited to head to Wapack to crew for Ryan in preparation for VT!

Shadbush blooming along the powerlines

Ferns unfurling

Roaring river

Goldthread!

Skunk cabbage

Green moss, flowing river

Tiny red eft!

Midweek Catch-up

After the brief few hours of sunshine on Sunday during our hike, it was back to drearinesss and rain. Monday it rained all day and XC practice was cancelled. Tuesday dawned cold - 36 degrees! - and a little less dreary, but certainly not warm spring weather! I hit the cart paths for a wet 6 miles in some new shoes.

Still trying to find the right replacement for the Inov-8 Ultra 290, of which they are no longer making my size :( The North Face Ultra Endurance is certainly decent but I am not sure it is quite the one. This time around trying out the Nike Wildhorse 3, which Ryan loves. After two runs in them this week, I like them but I'm not quite sure they have enough room in the toe box for me to be able to wear them for long runs, unless they break in a bit more... anyway, they felt light and cushiony at least!

Good 6 miles, with five goldfinch, one towhee, two deer, violets, bluets and trailing arbutus seen.

While I was at work, Ryan sent me this photo... Gigi was in a tizzy all day and the little squirrel kept coming back to the window. It's as if it was saying, can we be friends? Or maybe, let me in! 😝

Wednesday morning was overcast and still damp and chilly. I headed out into the Cathance for a run along the river. Nice to be out in the woods as things green up, although spring seems to be coming slowly this year with all the cold, damp weather. The river is still roaring like crazy. 5.7 miles for the morning.

After work/school, it was up to Wiscasset for the second XC meet of the season! Another chilly, overcast afternoon for a meet but the kids don't seem to care :) Sam did a great job - she has definitely gotten stronger since the fall and had a nice finishing kick again this week!

Weekend Fun

I was up early enough to run before Ryan headed over to Pineland yesterday morning, but it was nice to feel like I didn't need to rush out the door, so I didn't :) Instead, I had a mellow morning at home with Sam and then headed out into the misty, rainy afternoon for a short 5 mile run down to the river and back after lunch. Afternoon runs are not my favorite and my stomach wasn't very happy with me for some reason, but ah well, it was still good to get out. Managed to get in my run in between major downpours so that was a plus! Things were quite soggy out there and the river was roaring mightily. Definitely more things coming up in the woods - many more patches of blooming trailing arbutus and noticed some starflower leaves emerging amidst all the false lily of the valley leaves, plus some shadbush and hobblebush blooming too!

To finish up this dreary Saturday, we headed to Sam's friend Anne's house for a fun dinner and some game time.

This morning dawned overcast, misty and awfully muggy. I headed out onto the cart paths and then did an extra loop back around the Heath for a nice soggy 8 miles. Saw my first two red efts of the season! Yah! I love these little guys and am always so happy to see them out on the trail :)

After I finished running, the sun came out so we suited up for a hike. Gotta enjoy the sun while it lasts! We did a nice little 1.3 mile loop out in the Cathance complete with roaring river, bullfrog and lots of egg sack sightings, two snake sightings, and a little bit of trail running to finish up the loop :) Always good to get out with Sam and Ryan in the woods!

Looking forward to dinner with Nate, Shannon and the kids to wrap up a good at-home weekend!

Happy Place

A constant whirling in my mind

Despite my protests, fear, doubt, guilt, sadness, they seep in

Out on the trail, these feelings are both heightened and lessened

Heightened because, well, they are real, no doubt, and have much power

And yet, and yet, lessened, as the miles go on, as the legs churn, as a rhythm develops

The mind whirls

Processing

Pondering

There is beauty to be sought

There is pride in the power of the legs

There is thankfulness 

There is joy to be found in the miles on these trails that I've traveled for 20+ years

As thoughts turn outward, to the here and now

To the call of the pileated woodpecker

To the expanse of trout lilies growing along the singletrack

To the lone purple trillium, just where I knew I'd find it

To the ocean ahead, two Egrets out in the marsh grasses

To the Great Blue Heron spreading its wings, flying out of its hiding place along the edge of the pond

To my ever-present excitement and awe at nature's beauty and tenacity and the return of life and color and light in the spring

As the flourish of daffodils at the edge of the pond brings a smile to my face

As thoughts turn less anxious

As the mind quiets

It is possible out here, on the trail, out in nature, amidst the trees and along the ocean

To find peace

Happiness

Tranquility

And that, my friends, is why I run.

[10 miles out through the Commons and Coleman Farm today. It was just what I needed.]

Midweek

Got out in the rain and mist on a dreary Tuesday morning for a quick spin around the block, ie. 5 miles around Highland Green. Lots of worms out.

Thursday morning thankfully dawned brighter and sunnier, but cold. Brrr! Got in 6 on the cart paths. Kept it nice and easy, and was greeted by these two pretty gals when I arrived on hole #8. They were not more than 10 feet from me and seemed in no hurry to go anywhere. We stopped and talked to each other for a while before they wandered off into the woods ;)

Teeth & Running

Someone has a big toothless grin these days ;) After hanging on crookedly for the past few weeks, Sam's other top front tooth finally came out. Isn't she just adorable?! :)

And girls do indeed run faster... ;)

Love her look of concentration and his look as she blows past him in the final stretch :) Way to go, Sam! Great first meet of the season!

Short, Long and Some Hiking In Between

Got out a little after 6:30 am yesterday morning for a quick spin around the block (ie Highland Green via the powerlines) before Ryan headed out for his long run. Not much of note, except a whole lot of birdsong and one Great Blue Heron fly-over, the first of the season sighting. A good fairly snappy 5 miles.

A little later in the morning, Sam and I headed over to the Brad, and met up with John and Emma and kiddos. It was a nice morning and the park was very busy! We hit the playground for some playtime and then Sam and I hiked up the Summit Trail to the summit, where we stopped for a bit to watch some raptors soaring up high on the air waves. We took Northern Loop all the way down for a nice 1.5 mile loop, and I swear she did not stop talking the whole way ;) She is getting to be such a big kid with lots of her own ideas and many questions about how the world works, and she still likes to hold my hand, about which I will never complain. I love spending time out in the woods with her.

Checking out the hawk watch

Windy selfie on the summit

This morning, I got up and headed out into the decidedly colder and windier morning - only 40 degrees when I left the house at 6:45 am with a feel like temp of 36. What happened to yesterday's warm temps?! I ran holes 3-9 on the cart paths as it was much too early and too cold for anyone to be out golfing, and then looped back on hole #5 and onto the Heath trail. From there, I ran down along the river and out across the bridge to Head of Tides. Tried not to get too distracted and stop to take too many photos but boy, is it pretty out there right now with the river still roaring and the forest floor greening.

Returned via the same trails along the river to make it a bit of a longer run and then took the back dirt road and looped back and up and over Mt. A. to get to 16 miles on the nose ;) I felt decent throughout although my legs were feeling a bit tired on the more technical, rooty stuff. I guess it makes sense since this was my longest trail run since the Fells! :) Happy to have gotten in the miles and to hit another 40+ mile week.

Saw two deer, several phoebes, three cormorants out at Head of Tides, one Mallard plus a whole lot of skunk cabbage coming up along the river and in the swampy/marshy areas and numerous patches of trailing arbutus.

Roaring river

Unfurling

Spring colors at Head of Tides

Back to Reality

Back to school and work this week. XC started up on Monday for Sam, and next week we add in swim club. It's going to be a busy spring!

Got out on Tuesday morning for a nice run out in the Cathance. Six miles, with a roaring river and mist rising, a probably coyote sighting as s/he loped across the 3rd hole into the woods, two mallards seen in the swamp grasses and the first wildflower sighting of spring - patch of trailing arbutus at the edge of the trail to the Heath! Love this time of year with the woods greening and the wildflowers beginning to show.

Mist rising

Morning along the river

Trailing arbutus

Wednesday, it rained all day and honestly, I just wasn't motivated to get up and out early in the rainy gloominess, so it was a rest day :)

Thursday, it was misting slightly when I headed out around 6:00 am but it was warm enough to wear shorts so I'll take it! I ran up over Mt. A. and hit the cart paths for a rather soggy 6 miles. Tons of worms out on the paths and pavement. Was hoping I might see some red efts or other salamanders out and about too, but alas, just the worms :) Felt good.

This morning was yet another misty, overcast morning. Ran out into the Cathance with a vague mileage plan, but mostly just a plan to run easy and happy and to enjoy it. It was really wet and squishy and slippery and muddy out on the trails, and the river is running seriously high right now, much higher than it was on Tuesday, with some flooding over the banks in spots. Of course, this made for some incredible, roaring rapids too, which is always fun! I ran out across the metal bridge onto the extended Cathance trails and did the Blueberry loop before heading back. Along the back dirt road I saw a deer crossing, and a phoebe flitting on a branch. Also some pileated woodpeckers calling, but otherwise quiet. A few more patches of trailing arbutus to be found but not much else. We need a bit more warmth and sunshine before things really begin to pop. A good 10 miles for the morning.

Rapids

So much water

The roaring Cathance

One lone patch of ice hiding out underneath an overhanging rock along the river

Home Sweet Home

Vacation is always fun, and we had a great week in North Carolina, but it is always nice to be back home. Got in a nice run *on dirt!* this morning out in the Cathance. Great to be back on the trails! No snow and really not even much mud - it was mostly just slick out there from yesterday's rain. Things are greening up out there but nothing blooming yet. The river was roaring and the sun was shining. A good 7 miles to finish up a 41 mile week. Now if I can just keep it up...