Lattice Bridge Loop

Mon-AM: 1:03, 1316’ ~ Lattice Bridge Loop

(1,191’)

            After a night of tossing and turning, I was abruptly woken by the repetitive buzz of my alarm.  Austin and I began our run on Route 19 to a bright pink sky.  The sunrise was at our front while we scorched out 6:00 miles.  We crossed Lattice Bridge and watched the beaver swim up river in the direction that we were headed.  Around the 4 mile mark was a spring where we cooled off and drank.  The water was cool and quenched our thirst.  We were ready for the next 5 miles.  We attempted a few different paces but decided that we felt as good as we could feel around a 6:40 pace until the last two miles where we tested our turnover and ran all out to the Welcome to Houghton sign.  As we entered the college we noticed a sprinkler and without any communication, we ran through it.  Austin impressively knocked out a 5:00 last mile.  Breakfast tasted wonderful. 

Sunny Hill Down And Back

Mon-PM: 2:06, 1611’ ~ Sunny Hill Down And Back

(2,228’)

           

            After stepping out the door at 1:00 I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into, which was probably a good thing.  The route was a down and back, with 1,893’ of climbing.  I was quite familiar with the first 4.5 miles but the next 2.5 miles were foreign to me as I had never before ran them.  The climb up Messer Hill, or better-known Sunny Hill wasn’t as difficult as I imagined it would be.  Whether this is due to my experience with the Rockies or just a surprise in my fitness.  With the hardest part of the run over, I caught my breath at the campgrounds, downed a gel and a bottle of water, said my so-longs to a friend and was on my way back to the cabin in the woods where I belonged.  Near mile 11 I began to feel some chaffing around my inner thigh, which wasn’t surprising by any means.  I had my mind set on not stopping until I was in my driveway or I was belly-up in a ditch with the crows soaring above me.  Luckily it was the former and I trudged down the driveway and into the frigid cabin.  Overall I felt the run to be a success and the 14.5 miles that came with it were forgiving in their nature.  Now I just pray that the God’s will be easy on me tomorrow.