Squish, Slip, Squish

I was up and out again early this morning. I really was intending to get in my long run, but it just didn't happen. My mind just wasn't in the game. During weeks like this, when it is dark and rainy and dreary for days on end, I really feel like I have some sort of seasonal affective disorder. I really am so much happier when it is sunny out. Oh yes, overcast days have their own subtle beauty, and sometimes a run in the rain is just plain lovely, but that simply was not the case today. Luckily, I have an awesome husband who understands the way my head works and who was unphased when I came in the door after 7.5 miles and sighed. He knew I was stopping and was willing to go along with a bit of flexible reworking of tomorrow's schedule so that both of us can get in our long runs without too much issue.

So, back to the run. I headed out at 6:20 am. It was dark and windy and just plain damp out. Luckily, there was a break in the rain so I had that going for me. I ran up the Snowplug Loop hill, slipping and sliding in the dark on the wet leaves. I sloshed through the puddles and carefully walked on the bog bridges around the Heath. The sky was finally getting a bit light by the time I headed down the old dirt road to the river, but it was still dark enough in the woods that I turned my headlamp back on every so often to navigate. The river was roaring and was flowing right up to the edge of its banks. All the incoming streams were high, and the singletrack in most places was more puddle than trail.

Once out on the Ravine Loop, I finally felt like I got into a bit of a rhythm, as the trail was dry and not quite as leaf covered. I scared up a deer, its white tail raised as it leapt across the trail, and a raptor, perhaps an owl?, flew out form the trees, gliding for a few strokes above the trail in front of me. Otherwise, all was quiet. Well, except for my head, which was simply just not happy with the thought of more miles in this weather and on these trails. I wish I could say I worked through it, but not today. Instead, I came in, took a quick shower, got to hug my husband before he headed out the door to work and was able to get a big hug from Sam before taking her to school. I think it was a fair trade. And tomorrow, my mind will be in a better place.

Speaking of the mind, read this. I will definitely be working on repeating/applying/remembering many of these things while running and racing in the future.