New Dirt Roads

I found some "new" dirt roads to run down..and up.  I plotted out a new route using gmap-pedometer.com. This was about twenty miles.

I got out on my run, first two or three miles on pavement until I cross over to the dirt roads. I wasn't feeling the love. It was thirty degrees, it was windy, and my legs felt fat and heavy. My water bottle was leaking on my gloved hand. It was windy out. Yes, I was whining to myself a bunch.

It got better when I got off the ridgeline and started running downhill

on nice soft muddy dirt roads. I was pleased with this new route I have found. Lots of the road will be in the shade and all new dogs that came out (five new ones) were all friendly. That's the only issue with running new roads, what kind of dogs are out there.

Around mile 8 I had a decision to make. Take a right hand turn, run another township road loop, which would be 4 miles or so. I chose to decline, and make the turn which would take me toward home in 4 miles or so.

That was the correct decision. The downhills were fine to run, but when I would hit the flats and uphills, or when the wind would turn and hit me, I just felt..not peppy. Not fatigued, but not full of energy.

Down on the Salt Fork Road (this was close to one end of Salt Fork State Park) I came across this interesting foundation:

 Very cool. You betcha I will be running by here and checking out this place for daffodils in the spring!

I still got in 13 miles. I again put two 20 oz bottles in my vest, and carried both one 20 oz water bottle, and another bottle with malto dextrin in 20 oz of water. I need to figure out what calories I will need to carry for next weekend run. 4 aid stations in 71 miles makes you plan out your own needs carefully.