Connected

MapMyRun
(clickable link to a map of the run, elevation available)

Routine almost got me, going over to the Nat out of habit because the bustle of the early day had faded (10 yr old basketball traveling team tryouts, and also her 11th birthday party)
and I now found the time I had yearned for to workout. I thought twice
though of diving inside when I realized the temps were still above
freezing out, and would most definitely not be tomorrow (high of 14 forecast.) I can do the gym tomorrow!

Sexy
tights on, multipurpose shoes, a few light shirts, and a shell jacket.
My ZZ top hat, and gloves and out I go! Right off my back step I am
running and it feels good...not the usual first few miles to get warmed
up, I feel like I am running good right out of the gate. A loose plan
exists to do Baab Run and the Overlook Trail and then decide from
there.

Down into the depths of Baab Run I run and the fun is
upon me. I am shedding the ubiquitous worry of the week and just
exulting in the world around me. Past the spot on the trail where one
week prior, the girls and I saw water rivulets dancing under a sheet of
ice and they looked like worms or snakes slithering down the hill.
Today the spot was ice free, but wet on the asphalt; worms and snakes
melted into nothingness.

The Cuyahoga river along the trail at
the bottom was raging, a sure sign that I should never be able to
connect from this trail over to The Gorge as Tony
has assured me can be done in dry weather. I run the trail to it's
terminus and the sensation of running "upstream" with the wildly visual
current in my near peripherals is recharging. I had the visual
sensation of going twice as fast because of the rushing river.

I
stop briefly, contemplating my U turn, and I see it is not necessary.
There is a way along the side slope and I CAN connect these two parks.
I navigate the somewhat slippery hill and soon I have passed under the
Main Street bridge and am climbing up and onto the Gorge trail. I
choose left so I can pass through my favorite section of the Gorge
trail (the "hallways" as I call them, Tony
will know the spot.) I climb all the stairs on a run, and as I turn
back up into the "difficult" section (KIM) that leads to the "hallways"
I see them.

I thought I was huffing and puffing, but must have
been in somewhat ninja mode, because I have crept upon two young deer
walking along. They don't see me and I am maybe only 40 feet away. Time
for a break. No watch on my wrist to stop, but plenty of desire to stop
to watch. After a minute or so, one has spotted me and prances up a
little higher on the slope. He even looks at his partner (sibling?) as
if to say, "HEEEY, human down there...."
I start my walk and then run to the left, and number two catches my
movement, but just watches as I am now receding away from them. I
rejoice in my moment with them, and regret my choice to be camera free,
but figure that I should double back and see them again soon.

Up
into the hallways and I am focused and free at the same time. Moving
swiftly on light feet, I am also cautious to watch my foot plants. Sure
enough, one is slightly off on a leaf covered rock and I roll the ankle
a bit, but I am unphased. The years of basketball has allowed me the
ability to roll an ankle some and just forget about it.

I come
down the stairs (there ARE rock stairs) out of the halls, and as I am
passing a fallen damp log, there he is. Mr. Raccoon, as startled by me
as I was by him. He was no more than 5 feet from me when I passed the
log. I tell him "You are not Rocky, because I KNOW for a fact Rocky
Raccoon was just down in Texas and I had several very close and dear
friends there with him. So there is NO WAY you could be Rocky Raccoon
and up here in Ohio so soon. Sorry buddy, I am a pilot and I know we
don't fly Raccoons, no offense intended." I don't know if he was
offended or not, but he just didn't seem to care about what I was
saying because he scampered up the slope and then into a crack in the
rock face. I chased for a moment, wondering how deep in there he could
be, and then retreated as I figured that was his business. My business
lie back on the trail. "Wow" I thought, "What else am I going to
stumble upon out here?"

I go back into autopilot now, the trail
is less technical and flatter. I am cruising along past the spot where
my daughters and I took out three bags of rubbish last year (and it was
filthy days later) and then over by Mary Campbells Cave, I stumble into
my best find of the day! It was the closest encounter of them all, and
one I intend on making happen as often as possible. I rounded the bend
in the trail and there he was....Me. I just had my few moments today
while under tree, where I wasn't anywhere else, no one needed me, and I
wasn't trying to work on something or figure something out, I just was.
Right there. Right then. This is the reason I return to the woods. Was
I perfectly comfortable, not quite. I had underwear riding up and
rubbing, and it was starting to chill down...but I would not have been
anywhere else just then.

I passed out of the Gorge and was again
fantasizing a Burning River finish as I entered Glen's Trail and then
popped out onto Front Street with less than a mile to the BR finish
line, but today I was actively deciding whether to turn home from
there, or add an addition 4 mile loop onto my day. My body is starting
to remember the feelings I had while running when I was 18-20 and even
after 4 and 5 miles, I just want to physically keep going. I have days
where I could just stretch a planned 5 mile run into 15-20 if I listen
to my legs and heart. Tonight I compromised and after a brief restroom
stop at the Nat (see I did
make it into the Nat, if only to pee) I intercepted the last few miles
of my regular 5.33 mile loop and took it on home, finishing with 7.44
miles.

I love the runs on which I decide where I going and how
far after I am already afoot. Tonight was really only going to be 3-4
miles when I left the house, and I am glad I let me feet lead me where
my heart was pointing. Today was "running" and tomorrow, indoors will
be "training."