21.55@14:04
Long run number 1, Friday night starting at 7:26 pm at Croom preserve. Drove up after work and got there just after 7:00. Fortuntaely they were waiting for a couple more people so I had a little time to change and get my stuff together. There were about 10 or 11 of us. Andy, the RD for Croom Zoom and Long Haul invited anyone who wanted to join for some practice miles with a run at 7:00 pm at Croom and a 7:00 am run the next morning at Cypress Creek Preserve on the Long Haul course.
I haven't run at night on trails for a while. We kind of split into 3 groups. Andy B. (Andy #2) went out at a faster pace. Andy the RD (Andy #1) was leading a slower group, and Michael (who I'd never met before) said he'd be someplace in between so I went with him. We did the "starter loop" which is just over 2 miles then headed out for the ten mile loop. 2 more people joined us. I stayed in front and set the pace ( a lot of 12's and 13's and a few slower). The night cooled down to where it was comfortable in short sleeves, there was also a good amount of moonlight so it wasn't pitch black. As we neared Croom Road I had my first fall. It's funny, I actually have time to think about how I'm going to land once I get to the point where I know I can't keep myself from falling. Landing ok and quickly got back up again.
Gained more confidence as the run went on. Mostly stayed on the trail ok, sometimes I'd go off it at points where the trail would converge and split from one of the dirt fire roads.
Finished the first loop, grabbed some more water and a few bites of protein bar and then back out again, same group of 4 of us still together. First half of the second loop I did not fall, but a mile or two into the second half I did fall again. Landing was a little harder and small bruise on my right forearm but ok overall.
The run seemed to go on forever but then suddenly it was done. With about a mile left to go I kept on wanting to tell everyone how glad I was that I only fell twice, but wisely waited until the run was actually over with. Didn't feel tired at all. It was now about 12:50 am by the time I left, just under an hour drive to get back to my house. Had time for just over four hours in bed but had trouble sleeping before having to get up again just after 6:00 am.
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