First Look at Tecumseh

 Today was my first time out on the actual course of the Tecumseh marathon which will be my second marathon of my life. I had been a little nervous because I had not been on the trail much at all. Before my first trail marathon I had already been out to that trail on at least two occasions: for a nighttime half-marathon and a 15K trail race with DINO--do indiana off road.

 So we were able to meet the ITR group (which stand for Indiana Trail Runners) which are a GREAT group of people and we got to piggyback on their training run. I am so glad I went too because we got lost twice so I now know a couple of tricky places to look out for. Of course during the race it will be clearly marked--DINO is good about that. I got to meet a new friend from the run who is a member of ITR and I invited her to attend one of the BARA group runs. Hopefully she will show up. She was very nice.

 The woods were lovely! Although it was cold it was sunny and that is a very nice thing for a long run out in the woods. KC and I ran together for most of the run. I had lost everyone else when we got lost the first time. So this is how we got lost the first time: We were distracted by our first hunter spotting that we totally missed the turn and kept going down this big long stretch of leaf covered path. We noticed after a bit NO WHITE RECTANGLES so we stopped, looked at the map and turned around.

 Soooo.....getting back to the hunters:
It turns out this was the first day that deer hunters were allowed to have firearms so they were out there in force. That was a very bizarre thing to me. I had no experience with hunting. I had been a city girl most of my life whether Kansas City or Chicago and I did not understand hunting at all. I knew people did it and it involved things like camouflage and big rifles but other than that I was clueless. So I was told to wear orange and everyone at BARA said WEAR ORANGE so that is what I did. Oh thank you thank you thank you good friends for making sure i did not look like a deer because being in those woods today with guys with rifles and BOOM BOOM all around me was a new experience. And mostly not a pleasant one. It doesn't mean I will not do trails at that time again but, like everything, I have learned about it now and will definitely respect the rules! And probably go out and get some very bright orange shirt from the running store.

 These white rectangles were the blazes that I followed while I ran through the woods. I never knew the meaning of a "trail-blazer" for real but now I know. It is someone who goes ahead and marks the trail. I guess that is why they say that when someone leads some venture in a new direction they are a trail blazer. Ahhh....learn something new every day!

 I loved coming upon this little bridge. It was so pretty and unexpected in the middle of the woods. I could imagine it to be very lovely with some frost on it. Today with the sunshine on it I just had to take a picture even though I was running behind on time.




I realized about halfway through the run though that I better not do this kind of thing after a 30+ mile week of running. So from now until the actual marathon I am going to do one more long run and then try to truly taper. Rest, rest, rest. And probably a bit of cross-training while I do it.

Sailing in Leaves
A wonder watching the trees like masts 
of wooden ships sailing through
these vast golden oceans of leaves.
They plot the course; move with the stars; guide the way through sweet smelling-leaf smelling-cold blooming flowers of red,yellow, tan, golden waves.
The last gasp of the woods 
before all is white, grey, cold like marble
and the ground sleeps and dreams of spring.

H.Rose 

 Here was a little bridge of what looked like railroad ties.

Here was this weird little bridge that went straight DOWN and UP. All I could think of that if it is a bit slippery I am going to go down on the leaves because that will be a slippy slide to injury land.  So this adventure in the woods was good for me. It helped me see the trail in a more realistic way. I got to see the great Indian Hill. WOW!!!! and..at the end of it all we got beer, ham sandwiches, brownies, peanut brittle.....YUM!  As I told my friends around mile 12 or 13 of a long trail run all I can think of is food..and coffee...and food...and coffee and my couch.







Successful day! Beautiful day! Go go Adventure!!!
Ready to take the day!

 And so now here comes the big question. How to add a little mark to my 26.2 tattoo to show I have done more than ONE marathon?? I am thinking little trees.......




or little birds............HERE WE GO TECUMSEH!!!!!!!