Notes
This morning I plotted out my training programs for a spring 50 miler. Unfortunately, I realized I'm already too far behind for one that doesn't overlap soccer season. I plotted some 50k programs as well & think I can pull one off - if I can find one. I looked at where I should be for one right before the season & saw a 14 miler today. That probably would have been pushing it, although now, afterwards, I'm sure I could have done it. (But would have been soaked & glad I did not!)
In debating routes, I figured a Back Creek out & back, all the way down, at 11 miles would be pretty good. The rain broke, so I headed out in nice conditions. I had on a short sleeve, thick half zip & my running vest, plus hat & gloves. I think that was a bit much, but it's tough to tell when I haven't run in these temps in ages. I ended up shedding the vest into my hip pack (awesome to have the carrying capability) & eventually took the gloves off/lifted the hat above my ears.
About 2.5 miles in, on Back Creek, I saw a State Trooper parked sideways across the road. I figured it couldn't be good & was probably flooded out. There was in fact a flooded section of road, but they'd just done some work on it & it looked crossable. I asked the Trooper & it was 8 inches deep a bit prior, but I could go - just to expect to get wet. In this weather, it didn't phase me a bit. It was deeper than it looked, but not horrible. My feet were definitely soaked by the time I got through it though, but on I pushed.
I stopped my watch to talk to the Trooper though & forgot to restart it - I chopped out ~1.25 miles of the run. Opps... I've added it back in & it's not a complete accurate representation of the time, but I counted it as the average pace.
I normally do a little bit more on Mill Street to get 11 miles total, but it was flooded too & I didn't want to cross the water & get wet again.
I took it easy throughout this run since it was farther than I've been in ages & the longest since Can Lake. I walked a couple uphills, but overall it felt great & the last couple miles actually felt really darn good. I still got this...
I got in just in time - 5 minutes after returning, the rain started coming down hard & the wind picked up quite a bit.