20 mile Saturday run including Lake Griffy rave run

 Today I decided to go on a nice, long run. I got up early, wished my friends well who were running in a big race today and then took off. It was about 8:30 when I left home. It was cold too. I had on my warm purple running jacket covered by a long sleeved shirt, long pants and my gloves. I decided against bringing a water bottle as I would be in town a lot so I could stop for drinks. Less weight to carry.

 I had downloaded 4 "episodes" of the Trail Runner Nation podcast to listen to as I ran. One of the episodes was really funny. It was called "You know you're an ultrarunner when....."

1. You know you're an ultrarunner when....you look around for a bush when there's a long line at a public restroom. 2. You know you're an ultrarunner when...you rotate your running shoes more often than your tires. Etc....kept me laughing.

I ran through town first....stopped at the memorial union to go to the bathroom and get a drink then ran to Atwater and up Union to 17th street caught the Jordan extension and then hit Fee lane and on up to Lake Griffy. Usually at Griffy I can't find the really "cool" trails but this time the trail gods were smiling on me as I just happened to get on a very nice trail I hadn't been on before and found all KINDS Of cool stuff!!

    It was a beautiful morning even though it was cold. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the woodpeckers were "tat-a-tat'ing" and all was magical! I had my phone and was receiving text messages from the Carmel race when my friends crossed the 10K, half, 20 mile mark, etc...so that was exciting. I started listening to a podcast about the Maffatone training that many of my friends are doing and that I have started as well even though I kind of suck at sticking to the diet sometimes.

I found these pretty little stairs not far down the trail. I loved how the sun was shining and I think the picture turned out nicely and pretty much captured the magic of the moment. Already my 12 mile run was looking to be longer....although I had not as yet 20 miles in mind. 

  
    
 

  I was all alone on this day and finding things around Griffy I had never seen before. Not only the stairs but meadows of May Apples and lovely tall trees under unreal blue skies. Unreal because it has been so rainy and grey the last few days seeing blue sky was making me giddy. In my mind now 13 miles was turning into 15.

I ran listening to Trail Runner Nation. I saw one lady out there besides me and she had two "kinda" unfriendly dogs but she put them on a leash when I ran by. Besides her it was just me and the woods.  I heard some geese overhead, heard the gurgle of the stream. Sometimes I had to do water crossings and there was just no way around just wading through the streams. That's okay I am trail runner tough! Wet feet! Posh no big deal!

 I had not seen any of this on my previous Griffy runs. The trail just went on and on and got more beautiful the longer I was on it. New and more glorious things awaited me although I didn't know it yet.

Lake Griffy glimpsed through the trees...pretty.

 I came to a dam and there was the biggest surprise yet! A waterfall! It was cascading down the dam which was covered in green moss. It reminded me of  a hidden Mayan temple the way the steps went down. I just stared at it and thanked the trail gods for bringing me here.

 I ran a little ways more and finally passed some more trail runners who were kind of lost. I told them about the trails I knew but said the one I was just on was a new one for me but had some really pretty scenery on it. Then I kept going. This was about hour 3 when I saw the deer. They had kind of surprised me when I came around the bend. I guess I had surprised them too!

But they were still basically tame Bloomington deer so they just hung out posing for pictures like little deer divas.

 deer: "Make sure you get my best side.  Is this for a magazine because I expect 10%."  Okay I was a bit silly at this point. Now my 15 miler had, in my mind, become an 18 miler. I was having a bit of pain on the bottom of my left heel...a bit of plantar fasciitis I believe. But I am a tough trail runner so I kept on. 

I finished running through Griffy and headed down the road to kirkwood...saw a bunch of people already hunkering down for Little 500 parties....and the streets were getting crowded. I ran over by the courthouse, gave a little wave to Indiana Running Company and then up to 11th street where I went past the 7-11 and down Adams a bit. I saw a friend on the way I had not seen in awhile. I told her I had run 16 miles already and she just kind of shook her head. I ran down by the farmer's market and ran into some more friends which was nice. I showed them some of my pictures and told them about Griffy and the deer and waterfall. This was a great run!

And just for proof. Garmin...distance 20.02. 3 1/2 hours of running. Home for coffee!!!