A Little of This, A Little of That

Oh March, you are a fickle month! Weather is variable, we're gaining light but with daylight savings I'm back to a headlamp in the mornings, it rains, it snows, it melts, it freezes. Certainly keeping me on my toes anyway!

Tuesday morning I headed out in my screwshoes into the darkness. After Sunday's rain/snow and warmer temps, things are melting in the warmer hours and freezing up overnight. It was pretty icy out and I was glad to have the screwshoes for a little added stability! Ran over to Highland Green Road and took the back road first. Wanted to get in a little bit more than just the 5 mile loop, so ran down to the river and back and then continued on back home. Back to darkness after daylight savings so it was a headlamp run until almost the end, with a pretty light in the sky on the return trip along the powerlines! (6.0 miles)

Now that swim season is over and the days are longer, my plan is for Sam and I to get out on a walk or run a few days a week. Tuesday we did three loops around the neighborhood, walking the first two and running the last loop. (0.88 miles walked) There is a late spring/early summer swim program that will start up after April vacation, but in the meantime, it's a good practice to get out and move with Sam, plus it's always fun chatting with her as we walk along 💕

I never made it out of bed on Wednesday morning but willed myself out the door on Thursday, even though I really did not feel like it. In fact, I was supposed to meet up with Amy Goode, who recently moved to Topsham with her hubby, but I bailed. We had gotten about an inch of snow overnight, I wasn't feeling great, and I really didn't want to be dodging plows on the main roads and running on nasty sidewalks in the dark. I felt badly, but I know we'll have other chances to meet up! I told her I was going to stick closer to home and run a bit shorter, so I headed across the street and ran laps up and down and along the high school and middle school roads. Once again, I wore my screwshoes and was happy to have them. I did end up dodging a few plows in the school areas, but otherwise the side roads were quiet. (6.0 miles)

After I picked Sam up in the afternoon, we headed out for walk #2 for the week. It was a bit raw out, with lots of puddles to dodge and jump, but we got in a nice walk up and down our street and around the neighborhood. (1.1 miles walked)

Mom, stop taking my picture!

But she's so cute, I can't resist! 😍

I knew it was supposed to rain today, so I had already planned to run shorter today and long tomorrow. Dreary morning but not raining when I headed out. I knew I’d be doing my long run on the roads tomorrow so I thought I’d see how the trails were today. Snowmobile trails a bit soft and once I hit a huge puddle off that swallowed up the trail down near Tedford Crossing, I aborted to the back dirt road which was pretty sloppy.

As I ran up Highland Green Road, I couldn’t resist heading down to check out the Cathance trails and was happy to find them pretty solid! I went out and back along the river, which was flowing nicely. Still a lot of snow in the woods, with some stretches of ice and only one small bare spot to be found.

The rain started with about a 1/2 mile to go on the trails and then it was solidly pouring rain for the final 2+ miles back home on the pavement and snowmobile trail. Soaked! (8.5 miles)

0.8

Saturday morning, I headed out across the street for my long run. Things were a bit softer than they had been on Friday morning but were still decent. Plus, it was about 20 degrees warmer and it was a bright sunshiney morning, so I can't complain too much!

I ran out and looped a few times on the mountain bike trails around the dump pond before making my way back toward home. But alas, I still needed more miles so I headed up Mt. Ararat. The road had been plowed so it was a decent surface but once I hit the top, the trail hadn't had enough traffic and was way too soft, so I turned around and headed back out to Highland Green Road. Ran up the road and then made my way along the far side of the Heath. There had been some traffic on the trail but not enough to make it enjoyable, so I popped back out on the road and headed back that way. Once again, a run with multiple spikes on/spikes off transitions 😂😁 Temperatures had warmed up significantly while I was out there, so it was pretty soft on the final powerline stretch and I didn't even bother to put on my spikes.  (20.0 miles)

After lunch, Sam and I headed up to meet up with Keri, Tyler, the girls and their friends Liv and Mark at Odd Alewives Brewery. Sadly, Ryan did not join us, as he was feeling rather under the weather from some sort of cold. I felt badly leaving him, but he encourages us to go and have fun, and Sam really did no want to miss out on the opportunity for a sleepover with the girls, so off we went. In the end, it was probably nice for him to have some quiet time to just veg and rest up!! Sorry to not have him with us for the fun, but we had a nice evening with the girls playing, some beer tasting and delicious pizza. Thanks for hosting, Keri and Tyler!

Of course, we got to bed way too late, especially considering the time change and how early we had to get up to get ready and out the door to HVNC for the annual Bad Idea Fat Ass. As we were drinking our coffee, the sun was rising and putting on a fabulous color display off their back deck. Glorious!

We managed to get to HVNC on time, but others trickled in slowly and we didn't get started until just before 9:30. Guess everyone was dragging on their way to this bad idea 😆😉 Some of us went out in microspikes while others stuck to their snowshoes. I haven't put on my snowshoes all season so really didn't want to start today! Ha!

The loop was a mix of rather soft groomed stuff and some well-packed trail. It was doable in either/or, I'd say so I was fine with my choice. We started off bunched up but spread out fairly quickly and I enjoyed running the first two loops with Anne N., chatting away as we ran along. Felt fairly solid, especially considering yesterday's miles and the variable conditions. Still a whole lot of snow up there in the woods, that's for sure!!

After the second loop, I stopped for the outhouse and then went back inside to barn to eat a few donut holes too 😋🍩 before Anne and I headed back up, this time with Keri and Emily in tow. The third loop seemed laughably much more difficult, with conditions rapidly deteriorating into a loose sugary mess. I was definitely feeling the time on my feet and the extra work required due to conditions in the final lap as we slipped and slid around, laughing and groaning, but no matter, we got it done! I added on a short extra bit at the end to get my watch to read 10.0 and then happily made my way inside to eat all.the.things! Nothing like multiple crock pots full of warm food goodness at the end of a run with friends! What a bad, fun idea 😊 (10.0 miles)

In the end, it appears I should have run an extra 0.8 miles somewhere this week so I could have gotten a nice round 50 miles this week, but ah well, I guess 49.2 will just have to do! 😂😀

Short Week at School and Work

Snow started overnight on Sunday and continued until around noon on Monday, which meant a snowday for Sam. It was already going to be a short week at work for me as Thursday was a half day due to teacher development, so I worked the morning at home and then threw in the towel after lunch when Anne, Thistle and Phil came over for some sledding! Fun! I'd say we got about 6" of wet compacted snow out of the storm.

Tuesday I headed out for an early morning run, and was thankful to find it windless and beautiful. Gorgeous light! It was a morning of many stops to put on/take off the spikes 😂 The snowmobile trail was a bit too soft, so I took off my spikes and ran the Highland Green loop, putting the spikes back on for the back dirt/ice road portion and then taking them off again for the short stretch until I got back to the powerlines, put the spikes back on, then took them back off at the end and ran Canam to finish up the run. Ha! (6.0 miles)

Start of the run

Looking back around mile 4.5

Wednesday, I simply did not get up in time for my planned workout, but instead of scrapping it entirely, I headed out (without a headlamp! 🙌) around 5:45 and ran a few loops through the neighborhood, adding in 10x 60 on/90 off after a mile warm-up. The "ons" varied in intensity depending on if I hit any ice, or if there were any cars coming my way, or if I hit a turn-around midway through 😂😉 But hey, even a little bit of speed is better than none! (5.0 miles)

No running Thursday, as I went into work early to get in 4+ hours before heading back out at 11:45 am to pick up Sam at school at early dismissal. We had sushi for lunch with Anne, Thistle and Kristen and then joined them for an early afternoon screening of Legos 2. Yummy lunch, good company, wacky movie 😆 Then it was off to Target and the grocery store before heading home. 

Knowing I didn't have to be back super early this morning since I didn't need to get Sam ready for school, yes, another professional development day, I headed out right as the sun was rising at 6:05 am for my run. I will also admit to procrastinating as long as I could because, well, it was -2 degrees. I mean, WTF, March?! Seriously.... 

Brrr...

Despite the cold, it was a great run. Conditions were pretty sweet with the trails nicely packed and I ran some of the meandering mountain bike trails out near the dump pond, which were really nice running! Watched the sun rise as I ran out along the powerlines and then enjoyed the quiet woods. Finished covered in frost but very happy! Always good to get in a good snow run! (8.1 miles)

Thank you fat bikers!

I had a few more chores to get done, so Sam helped a bit with cleaning and then we hit the dump to drop off the recycling and the library for a few more books. I baked up a loaf of banana bread and Sam helped me make some vanilla cupcakes before I whipped up my more typical crazy cake chocolate cupcakes to bring up to HVNC for Sunday's fat ass run. Sam's friend Mazie came over after lunch for a nice playdate including playing school upstairs and frosting and decorating cupcakes 😀

And just because she is such a goof, here's Gigi, sitting very nicely with one paw in my croc 😂 She's a funny one!

Catching Up

Monday was a planned zero day but Tuesday ended up being an off day too, because "heck no if I want to run outside when the wind is whipping like crazy, it's dark and the temperature is feels like negative something and can this ice just go away?!" 👿 Yup, I'd say that pretty much sums it up! 😂😁

Of course that meant I was out running in the cold windy icy darkness on a feels like -12 degree morning on Wednesday morning because, well, just because we want to throw a hissy fit doesn't mean sh*t still doesn't have to get done! So I layered up in a million-and-one layers and did a few loops around the neighborhood. On the upside, we are gaining light quickly at this time of year, which is nice! (5.0 miles)

I was still having a hissy fit over the weather on Thursday so instead of running on what was yet another cold dark windy icy morning, I snuck in a few miles in the late afternoon between work and swim practice. Hit up the bike path for a quick out-and-back. It wasn't completely ice-free and there was still a bit of wind, but at least the sun was shining brightly! (5.0 miles)

Back in the day, we used to run over that bridge... silly kids! #bbxc 

Friday morning, I stuck close to home and headed out into the Cathance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that conditions were pretty solid and the trails were nicely packed throughout most of the trail system. I headed farther out in the hopes that I'd find similar conditions along the Ravine Trail but there hadn't been enough traffic out there, so I turned around and retraced my steps along the river. Always a lovely view! (10.0 miles)

Followed up the run with a massage, which I always enjoy because it certainly seems my legs need the loosening these days and because it's fun to catch up with Lauren during the hour that I'm in her office!

Saturday morning, I headed out just as it was getting light out and ran an out-and-back on Highland Green Road followed up by a loop through the Highlands and back up Maine. Kept it nice and easy. Sidewalks are riddled with icy slicks from the melting snow but it was quiet enough that I could run in the streets most of the way. Quiet, overcast, windless morning. (7.0 miles)

Then it was off to Orono for Sam's end of the season Y States meet.

Time spent driving: 3 1/2 hours
Time spent sitting in the stands: 3 1/2 hours
Time spent actually watching Sam swim her three events: Less than 3 minutes 😂

#swimlife

Cheering on her teammates

She swam a really good 50 free, getting a PR for the distance, but honestly the thing I love best about watching her and her friends at these meets is how they cheer for each other and support each other. LRSC is a great program and we're so glad Sam has found this team to be a part of and found something she enjoys so much! If she swims well too, it's just icing on the cake 😊🏊

A nice coating of snow fell overnight and it was a beautiful morning, as we made our way over to Bradbury for the last snowshoe race of the series today. Sam found Anna and Elise and headed right out to play in the snow as soon as we arrived, and I settled in to chat and help and cheer. The sun was shining, it was fairly warm and it was just a nice day to be outside. The course was on the mountain side, so it was a tough one but everyone seemed to have a great time! A good way to wrap up the series!

Once Ryan got home, I headed happily out into the sunshine for my run. I followed the fat bike trails along the snowmobile trail and was pleased to find that I felt decent, given that it was 3pm and I had stood around at the race milling about, chatting and helping at the finish line for 3 1/2 hours. A good way to finish up a rest week! (5.1 miles)

Follow the fat bike tracks!

And just for fun...

On Thursday, I dropped Sam off for chorus practice and went into school to check out her artwork on the walls. Her art teacher does some really neat units with the kids, and the two most recent art lessons/pieces have been inspired by Maine artists. I love this! I was also extra excited by this particular unit as when I was working at the gallery, Keith had a number of William Thon ink drawings and several watercolors, and I remember just loving the simplicity and elegance of his works. And I love Sam's interpretation with the bright cheery yellow sails 😍

Snowy Sunday

Got out just as the snow was starting to fall this morning. I wasn't feeling like running roads so I decided to risk it and head over to the Cathance and see how conditions were. Getting there was rather unpleasant over Mt. A and along hole #3. Even along the Heath wasn't the best, as although there had been some traffic, things weren't super packed. But once I crossed the road and hit the Cathance proper, the trails were pretty sweet! There had been a lot of traffic and things were packed out nicely. It was really nice running!

I meandered along, enjoying the trails, the flowing river and the gently falling snow.

I did a few loops and then headed back via Highland Green Road to avoid the aforementioned terribleness that was Mt. A and the gold course. Snow was falling a bit more heavily now, and the sidewalks were picking up snow but although I ran cautiously, I didn't come across any ice until literally two steps before I was going to stop and put on my spikes to hit the powerlines. It was a slow motion fall, but still ouch! After picking myself up gingerly, I continued on my way and willed myself to finish up with a few laps around the neighborhood to get the 10 I was intending!

Despite the fall, it really was a nice run and it was great to get out in the Cathance and find some good conditions!! (10.0 miles)

Wrapped up the week with 48.6 miles, and happy to have felt pretty good overall, but still, looking forward to a down week next week 😀

Vacation Week Running, Swimming and Camp Fun

Sam had a great vacation week at Riverview doing all sorts of cool stuff like sledding, snowshoeing, going snow tubing at Seacoast Adventure Park, making fruit and veggie maki rolls, doing chinese-inspired bamboo paintings and creating a scroll with chinese characters and a spirit animal (hers was mountain lion).🐯 Such fun! She also did her swim team aquathon on Tuesday night, swimming 75 lengths in a hour 😀🏊💪, and today she had a swim meet! I'd say we've kept busy! 😂

On the running front, I got out on Wednesday morning for a few water tower hills. The sidewalks were icy and the roads were a bit sketchy without a lot of open shoulder but the sunrise was glorious and even if it wasn't the fastest, at least I got in a few hills! (6.4 miles)

#hillwithaview

Friday, I headed over to Brad for my long run. It was a gorgeous morning as I headed up to take in the view from the summit. The snowmobilers had definitely been out on the Northern Loop and the trail was a bit soft and churned up, with most of the side trails not touched much at all by people on foot, so I crossed the street and found the singletrack trails on the east side nicely rolled for the fat bikes. Despite the nicely groomed surface, things were still a bit soft but overall, not bad. I meandered around until 8:30 and then looped back to the lot to meet up with Anne.

We ran an out and back on the snowmobile trail, chatting away as we ran along. It was nice to have company for a few miles midway through my run - thanks Anne!! 😀 Always good to catch up!

Once I dropped Anne back off near the lot, I still had 7 miles go get to 20. The pace definitely slowed a bit in the final 1/3 of the run, but I just put in my ear buds and ran along. Listened to the Morning Shakeout interview with Mike Wardian - he is one crazy talented dude! A few bikers had been out on the singletrack since I had first run them and with their tracks, things were a bit more packed and runnable. I meandered around on the east side for a few miles and then finished up with a final trip to the summit. Temps had been steadily rising during my run, and in the final few miles, the snow was definitely getting that tacky feeling beneath my Hillsounds, but all in all, a good morning and glad to have gotten in my miles! (20.0 miles)

This morning, after dropping Sam off for her warm-ups at the swim meet, I headed out for a quick road run before her first event, which of course was event #1 for the meet, so time was at a premium! Another gorgeous morning, complete with three bald eagles soaring above and a nice view looking out onto the Whiskeag. (6.0 miles)

I'll wrap up the week with the 10 miles I was supposed to do today 😉 and hopefully get it in before the rain/snow starts!

Snow Running Fun

Finally a few days in a row where the snow running has been at least fairly decent. Hurray!

Saturday we headed over to Val and Linda's for their annual Mockingbird Lane birthday get-together and run. Ryan was planning to run long and I was hoping to get in a lap plus a little time out on the trails with Sam. In the end, it all worked out pretty well - Ryan got his miles in, I got a late morning lap in and Sam and I had a nice little walk on the trails together in the morning, well, after a slight meltdown over not wanting to wear her snowshoes anyway 😂😁

We started out right after the runners and both of us ended up abandoning our showshoes, as they were not needed with the nice firm surface. We saw everyone heading back up from the river, enjoyed a bit of downhill running and saw lots of turkey tracks! (1.4 miles walked)

Wheee!

Turkey tracks

Down at the river

Around 11:00, enough people had finished up their runs that I felt comfortable heading out for a lap on my own while Sam hung out inside. The sun was shining brightly and conditions were pretty decent. The wind was cold but otherwise, it really was a lovely morning to be out, and I was glad to be able to at least get out for a lap before heading back inside to eat all the yummy things people had brought! (5.5 miles)

Sunday morning dawned cold and bright. I headed out a little before 7:00 am for my long run. I had originally planned a road run but thought I'd try the powerlines first, thinking they might be nice and firm (finally) after another cold night. The powerlines themselves were a mixed bag with some good running, a lot of ice and a lot of death cookies, ie. big chunks of snow and ice churned up by the snowmobiles, but it was decent enough that I kept going. I ran out on the Lovers Lane loop near the dump and found some nicely rolled winding trails that meandered through the woods out on either side of the dump pond. The trails made for some really nice running! A bit later, I ran into a group of mountain bikers who said they'd been maintaining and rolling these trails for riding, so I thanked them for creating such a nice surface for me to run on! The deer also apparently appreciated the trails as there were tons of prints along the way 😀 It was fun to wind around in the woods on nice flattened snow (and bit of ice) and I did several "loops" before making my way back out to the main powerline trail.

Morning frost

Fun trails!

I added on a loop on the roads around the high school to round things out, and was very happy to have gotten in my miles! (20.1 miles)

Today, I have the day off from work but Ryan is working and Sam is at camp, so I am free for the day! I reached out to Val to see if she was up for a run, thinking she is someone who is almost always up for a run 😂 She invited me to join her up at her place, so we ran the fatass route again with a little bit extra to bring Piper back to the house midway through the run. A light snow was falling and there as a bit of wind, but the trails were in good condition and it was fun to catch up as we ran along! Thanks for the run, Val! It was just what I wanted and needed for today!! 😀 (6.2 miles)