The month went well. I got in 128 miles. That gets the year started off with almost exactly with the miles I need each month to get up to 1,500 for the year. Not as many miles as I was doing back in the fall, but better than the January totals for previous years. Here is how the miles look for January going back a few years.
2013 128
2012 115
2011 90
Nice steady progression. Now I just need to keep it up for the rest of the year.
The main event this month was the Little River Trail Runs. There are two races at Little River, a 7K and a 10 miler. There was a great poster this year, which they used for the front of the long sleeve tech shirts that came with registration. I think that shirt will be a keeper that gets lots of wear.
I was scheduled to run the 10 miler last year, but a fall from a broken ladder had me dropping down to the 7K. So, I had some incentive to make a return trip and actually run the full 10 miles.
Race day was not quite as cool as last year, but it was close. It was in the mid 20's when I arrived for bib pickup, with a promise of getting up to the 40's. Pretty much great weather for a January run. Of course, there was some ice and snow the day before, which prompted the race officials to include the following in the last minute race instructions.
- Every wooden bridge and walkway will be slick. Slow down. Walk if necessary. We want everyone to return safely and without injury, a goal that is largely under your control.
- The river flooded with the recent rains, washing silt onto the trail along the river. The trail along the river is extremely slick and there is standing water in some places. Slow down, watch your footing, allow space between you and the runner in front of you, and heed the advice of the course monitors.
- For 10 milers: The trail along the river beginning at marker 38 is especially difficult. The trail runs very close to the river. We've placed traffic cones and additional course monitors in the area to remind you of the danger.
- Stay alert for last minute deviations from the trail. We will tour the course in the morning before the race and may make final adjustments based on conditions.
There was also the following advice and photo posted on Facebook.
Might want to bring a change of shoes...Bobcat and Gumbi marking the course.
Well, it was a good thing that I had a new pair of trail shoes to try out, ones with actual tread. I had thought that I would try to keep a good pace and see if I could finish in under 2 hours, but with the warnings about the trail conditions, I revised my goal to just finishing without falling, which I was successful at.
Here is what the start looked like. A bit of snow still on the ground, and promise of mud to come.
Finished at a very leisurely 2:16. I wound up doing a lot more walking than I thought. I did walk all the bridges and boardwalks. Especially the long boardwalk that was guarded by a volunteer wearing what looked like a full body Godzilla costume, who waved at all the runners and called out, "do not run on these boards, you will fall". I also lost a lot of time in miles 7 and 8. Lots of nice switch backs there, with big dips at the bottom. I would carefully step my way through the muck at the bottom, then totally lose my focus and forget to start running again. I found myself doing that several times. Here is the start of the switch back section. You can't really see the dips from here, and by the time I got to the bottom section, I was too worried about not falling to take photos.
And the section we were warned about with the traffic cones? Well, it was a good 100 yards or so of ankle deep shoe sucking mud. Not really able to get much speed there. I heard after the race that the entire section along the river was underwater the day before. I guess shoe sucking mud is a bit better than having to swim.
I also had to slow down a lot around mile 5. Not because of the trail conditions, but because I wanted to hear the bagpiper better. You could hear him from a good ways off. What a great break at the half way point. Here is a photo that was posted on the Little River Trail Run Facebook page. If I wasn't so into just listening to the music, I would have taken shots myself.
I will return next year. The same group that puts on this race also puts on another trail race, the Philosopher's Way Trail Runs, 7K and 15K. That will be May 4. Have to put that one down on my calendar.
Next month I will be at IronDog. My wife June and our puppy Anna will do the 1 mile fun walk, and I will do the 5K run. NC State Iron Dog is a charity that raises money for animals whose owners can't afford medical care. We used the services of the NC State Vet hospital more than once when our last dog Luci was getting diagnosed and then treated for her heart conditions. I have a lot of respect for the good work they do, and am glad I will be able to do this run.
I may also do the Groundhog Gallop next month. Not sure yet I'm up to a full HM on the trails, but if the legs feel up to it and my schedule allows, I will try to make that one.
Till then, see you on the trails.
