Loop 20 Clockwise

Loop Map & More Info

Well it was good to get back to running. It was very cold at 31 degrees but the sky was clear and the wind was still. It was so good to be back in fact that I got to the North Trailhead about 5 minutes before Richard did. I had my ear muffs, gloves and jacket all on and ready to go when he drove up. I did a little stretching and some jumping up and down like I had ants in my pants while he was getting ready. Then we were off on the White Trail in the early morning like two turkey hunters running late and hurrying to get to their setup spot before the boss gobbler flew down.

I very quickly saw that the previous rains had done some serious washing. There was sand washed down to the lower elevations in large quantities and piled up against debris like Granny's mashed potatoes piled up next to your black-eyed peas. As we started up the first, and possibly only, large hill on the White Trail, the destructive nature of lots of swiftly running water was very evident in the exposed roots and channel down the middle of the trail.

The first trail got my heart rate up and then we broke into a run as the trail leveled out into an optimum grade for running. Richard was doing much better and was setting a very good pace. We chatted about work, running and other things as we passed along the White Trail and took the Cabin trail to the right. I almost immediately proceeded to stub my big right toe on a small stump sticking up in the middle of the trail. The only funny thing about that was that I had threatened to come in there with my axe and cut that stump out last year. Now I wish I had as a year away from the trails caused me to get forgetful and careless.

So I hobbled along with Richard to the cabins. We ran through the parking lot and on down to the side of Tranquility lake. The reason for it's name was very apparent this morning. The water was as still as a sleeping baby and the top was as slick as glass. I saw two fish strikes and the ripples seemed to go on forever as there wasn't anything to interupt them. At this point we took a quick break to strip off our jackets, muffs and gloves. Our core body temperature was cranking up and making itself evident on the outside.

We then went on past the dam and was made aware of the recent rain again as there was a fair amount of water flowing over the spill way. The six wood ducks in front of the dam didn't seem concerned that they might go the way of the water over the spill way. Richard and I went on our way to the water treatment plant, past the BMX track and by the field where I had camped with the Scouts during the fishing tournament.

We took a break at the gate to John Findley drive in order for Richard to remove a rock from his shoe. I later told Holly that I had kicked it into his shoe so I could take a break. He thought that was rather humorous. With both shoes on and almost breathing regular again, we hit the main road for the final push back to the vehicles that I could now hear calling my name.

My strength and breathing had been fine during the whole run but now my being off for so long was beginning to tell in my endurance. My body was beginning to tell my brain that enough was enough. However since my brain has this thing about being in charge it wasn't listening to my body and kept the nerve impulses firing to drive it on down the road one pounding foot step after another.

We started down the final hill and Richard kicked up the pace a little. I don't know if it was because we were going downhill or because we were almost to the vehicles and he was as anxious to get there as I was. We hit the bottom of the hill moving all out and to me it was like having cold water thrown on me. There were the vehicles but they were way down at the end of the straight stretch.

Coming down the hill on a bicyle at 30 mph it doesn't take long to get to the North Trailhead. At our running pace this morning it seemed to take forever to reach the cross walk and for Richard to press the stop button on his stop watch to indicate that this loop run was over and final. CLICK! The button was pushed and another run could be written up in my blog.