Trail Run long 2:30:05 [1] 8.0 mi (18:46 / mi) +1202m 12:47 / mi
Finally did an afternoon on the ridge. Left Boston at 2:10, after looking for my microspikes which it turned out a) were already in my car and b) I didn't need. So I hit traffic, because 2:00 is rush hour now, although I perfectly timed getting to the breakdown lane when it opened at 3 so I-93 moved at least.
Didn't make the parking lot until 4:45, but luckily it's light until damn near 9:00 these days. Lincoln and Jess joined, and we took off running. In the parking lot we'd seen a pair of other runners head out before us; we passed them at the big waterfall. I struggled to keep up on the hill a bit, legs remembering yesterday, but we made it to Haystack in a bit over an hour and then took off across the ridge, running some, taking pictures, on an absolutely perfect day. A few lenticular clouds in an otherwise cerulean (sp?) sky. Trail wasn't empty, but we saw many a dozen other people. Not bad for a weekday afternoon.
Down to the hut, where I went and did some of my daily pull up regimen on the pull up bar there (confusing the caretaker by knowing where it was until I said that yes, I had lived there) and then running down in the late sunlight, which was perfect. Finished in well under 3 hours, my fastest time around the Loop, right at 8:00, so I was home by 10:30.
Perfect. Missed the park-O but I think it was worth it. I need to do this kind of escape more often.
(I know how to spell cerulean. This is an inside joke that probably no one reading this will get.)