Visiting Pumpkin Holler
Early Sunday morning, a combined group of T-TOTs and the Midnight Madness training group caravanned to Pumpkin Holler for a run. Some intended to run the whole loop, while some were out for 4-6 miles.
Stormy and I had decided the best plan was to not run from the starting point of the race but rather we would take everyone to the Nickel Preserve.
Those wanting to run a short distance had the choice of running a couple of loops on actual trailz, or taking the road that bisected the preserve. Those wanting to go longer could do the bisecting road (big hills) or do an out-and-back on the actual course. Those wanting 18-20 miles could do the course and cut back at the halfway point on the bisecting road, and those wanting 27-31 could do the whole big loop.
We all headed out around 9:00 am.
There were 10 of us going long. Brian and Susan chose a shorter out-and-back. Russell took the sag wagon in at some point during the run. Travis, Michael, Cassy, Cheryl, and Kirk went the full loop, omitting the out-and-backs that will be in place for the race. Mitch and I sagged in at the 19 mile point. I was impressed with Cheryl, who ran her longest run to date. Her and Cassy trotted in like they had just finished a Saturday morning 6 miler. Kirk also finished strong and seems to be tougher each time he runs. Travis and Michael--well you are already tough. Good job, you guys.
My run started out at a very sluggish pace. I was running like I had ran a marathon the day before--and that was about half right.
The group pulled ahead....
....and after a bathroom break, they were out of sight.
I almost forgot--Mitch and Susan were behind me. I DID have someone to run with!! :-)
Susan spotted this cute little snake. He seemed a friendly sort.
Susan captured the little guy sticking his tongue out. Nice.
We met Brian on his way back, and Susan joined him and they assumed sag duties in Mitch's Jeep.
This cemetery will be a little eerie during the night for the 100 K-ers and 100 milers.
Bathtub Rocks is one of the highlights of the route. I really thought this would be impossible to get through with dry feet, but with careful selection of where each foot should land, dry tootsies were indeed possible.
Before the summer is up, my feet will soak in the healing pools of Pumpkin Holler's Bathtub Rocks.
The course was so green--what with the abundance of rain of late.
There will be lots of crowd support along the way.
These horses have always come to the fence to visit us--every time we have passed through. Notice the debris on the barb wire strands. That is how high the flood water was a few weeks back.
This section of the course was about mile 16 for Mitch and I. It will be early in the race in October, since we start at Eagle Bluff instead of the nature preserve headquarters.
I was surprised to find that you can see the Illinois River so much during the race. The river was still high, and I thought it was only visible in three locations, but you can actually see it in 5-6 sections of the course. It will be a visual treat for the Pumpkin Holler runners.
For more pictures from Brian's collection (with his high dollar camera)
Stormy and I had decided the best plan was to not run from the starting point of the race but rather we would take everyone to the Nickel Preserve.
Those wanting to run a short distance had the choice of running a couple of loops on actual trailz, or taking the road that bisected the preserve. Those wanting to go longer could do the bisecting road (big hills) or do an out-and-back on the actual course. Those wanting 18-20 miles could do the course and cut back at the halfway point on the bisecting road, and those wanting 27-31 could do the whole big loop.
We all headed out around 9:00 am.
There were 10 of us going long. Brian and Susan chose a shorter out-and-back. Russell took the sag wagon in at some point during the run. Travis, Michael, Cassy, Cheryl, and Kirk went the full loop, omitting the out-and-backs that will be in place for the race. Mitch and I sagged in at the 19 mile point. I was impressed with Cheryl, who ran her longest run to date. Her and Cassy trotted in like they had just finished a Saturday morning 6 miler. Kirk also finished strong and seems to be tougher each time he runs. Travis and Michael--well you are already tough. Good job, you guys.
My run started out at a very sluggish pace. I was running like I had ran a marathon the day before--and that was about half right.
The group pulled ahead....
....and after a bathroom break, they were out of sight.
I almost forgot--Mitch and Susan were behind me. I DID have someone to run with!! :-)
Susan spotted this cute little snake. He seemed a friendly sort.
Susan captured the little guy sticking his tongue out. Nice.We met Brian on his way back, and Susan joined him and they assumed sag duties in Mitch's Jeep.
This cemetery will be a little eerie during the night for the 100 K-ers and 100 milers.
Bathtub Rocks is one of the highlights of the route. I really thought this would be impossible to get through with dry feet, but with careful selection of where each foot should land, dry tootsies were indeed possible.Before the summer is up, my feet will soak in the healing pools of Pumpkin Holler's Bathtub Rocks.
The course was so green--what with the abundance of rain of late.
There will be lots of crowd support along the way.
These horses have always come to the fence to visit us--every time we have passed through. Notice the debris on the barb wire strands. That is how high the flood water was a few weeks back.This section of the course was about mile 16 for Mitch and I. It will be early in the race in October, since we start at Eagle Bluff instead of the nature preserve headquarters.
I was surprised to find that you can see the Illinois River so much during the race. The river was still high, and I thought it was only visible in three locations, but you can actually see it in 5-6 sections of the course. It will be a visual treat for the Pumpkin Holler runners.For more pictures from Brian's collection (with his high dollar camera)
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