Only in New England can you go 4 trail miles out and back and run through dirt, sand, mud, sheer ice, snow and flood waters in the same day.
Stats
- Number of miles run: 8
- Number of times I stopped to pee: 1 (not even two miles in…too much coffee)
- Number of GUs consumed : 2
- Number of times I had to walk/slide through sheets of ice: 4
- Number of times I had to wade through knee-deep water: 2
- Number of other runners on the trail: 1

The run started off so well. Aw, look how pretty those trees are, and the soft pine needles on the ground. Awww.

Lake Massabesic is just so pretty this time of year, isn't it? It was nice to start out the run meandering through the sites.

The trail didn't stay nice for long. About a quarter mile down it started to get gnarly. I didn't think there would still be so much ice, since it's all melted near my house 10 miles away. Snow racers come through a lot and draw lines in the trails, that ice over. Makes it hard to find a spot not to slip on.

A couple miles in, I come across this bullshit. You can't see it here, but there's lake on both sides of the path and currently this section of the path has become one with the lake. I had to cross it twice, soaking myself up to my knees in slushy water. I cursed myself the whole time for not choosing the wool socks.

A half mile from my turnaround point, I saw this sign. Yeah, tell em! I wish those smart folks could be hired to write highway signs.

Before dealing with the puddle-o-doom for the second time, I crossed a bridge and really liked the view of the lake from it. The first time I crossed the bridge there was a man out on the ice. Now he's gone. I'll try not to think too much into that.
*And speaking of that, did you see this video yet? Shit Ultrarunners Say. Hilarious.
January 28, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Wow.. looks like you ran into it all! How did the Vivo’s hold up to the abuse? Besides that, sure is beautiful.. 🙂
January 28, 2012 at 6:13 PM
I really like the Neo Trails. I’m almost ready to review them, I think. I’ve put a few tough miles on them and they haven’t let me down.
January 28, 2012 at 6:22 PM
Me too.. especially for a snow/winter shoe… I am going to do a follow up review once I run more in them (and it snows more)… I really am enjoying the Merrell trail gloves though… aside from wishing they had the aggressive tread of the NEO’s, they are great..
January 28, 2012 at 6:39 PM
The Neo Trails held up better than the Trail gloves for icy trail.
How did you manage to walk on ice? I always find it easier to run on ice – the whole centre of gravity and foot placement. My running club thinks it funny I can run quickly on ice, but as soon as I stop and walk I am flat on my arse. 😉
January 28, 2012 at 8:34 PM
Well Kate – we all know you are a special kind of talent. 🙂 It was more like a controlled sliding across those areas. I did run on most of the ice, but those patches had a fine layer of water on them (because of the warm day) that made it extra slippery. I was astonished to complete the run and never once land on my tush.
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