Notes
Sunny cold morning, 13 degrees at the start. We are dogsitting this weekend so the plan was to do a long run from Conant road and then go pick up Luka. Got to the trailhead and ready to go at 8am. It was pretty cold, the parking area was all ice from the warm weather and rain Friday. Everything was frozen though and there was still good snow to run on except for a few icy spots. I was able to keep the pace under 13 minutes. I had to be done in no more than 3 hours in order to go get Luka and then go to church to Lector. Felt good starting out, thought I might be too hot in the coldgear UA shirt, but later when the wind was out of the South on the way back I was glad I had it on. Not hot at all really. The stream crossing was frozen on both sides so it was easy to hop across without getting my feet wet. Ran all of the hills on the way out. After an hour I was starting to get low on energy. I stopped at the Mower landing and got out a GU to warm up in my hand before eating it. Turned around at Middle earth which was just over 6 miles. Coming back the hills seemed longer and steeper. Hikes a couple of the longer and steepest ones. I was doing good for time so I decided to do a half mile out and back on the Pine Loop trail which was groomed. Feeling low on energy again so I had another GU. Got back to the Pine Loop trail head and it was 1.5 miles back. Felt pretty good the rest of the way but the wind was getting cold and my legs were tired. My left hip and outside of my left leg were sore from time to time like IT band pain but it never got bad. Finished at half marathon distance. Really good run at a good pace. Good training for the race. Changed into dry clothes next to my car then headed for Topsham.
Gear: Nike tights, UA coldgear shirt, jacket, warm head band, gloves (on and off), spikes, water pack