18 miles with a Detour

Today I was back again at my new favorite trails, the North Ottawa Dunes. I pulled into the parking lot around 7:00, which for me is not all that that early. My alarm is normally set for 5:20. By 7:00 the sun was up which meant that I wouldn't need to worry about my footing on the trails, at least not as much. There were two other cars in the parking lot, but their owners must have taken a different path because I never saw them.

I double checked my Camelbak. It was full of watered-down Gatorade, carried my cell-phone, and my driver's license. Then I started my Nike+ and hit the trails. It was very quiet. At least in the sense of the noises that I normally encounter. When I took the time to listen there was a lot to hear. Rain drops blowing off leaves and hitting the ground. Squirrels dashing up tree trunks. I even heard the scramble of a large animal and looked up in time to see a deer bounding away. But as I was thinking about all these things I began to realize that I needed to go to the bathroom.

Now, I know there are those who would find a tree and use some leaves, and the thought occurred to me. But I just wasn't at that point quite yet. Besides I knew there was a bathroom at the trailhead. So I turned around and headed back. I was only a couple of miles in at this point. But when I got to the bathroom, it was locked. You know that feeling when you've been holding it and seemingly, your ability to control yourself is fine when you know you are a ways from the bathroom, but as you get closer and closer you seem to enter a state that boarders on soiling yourself? Well I was there in a pretty big way. Finding the bathroom locked forced me to compose myself and think through my options. The one I decided on was to trek back toward a port-a-john I had noted about a mile up the road.

It was not the most fun I have ever had while running. I tried not to let myself wonder, "What am I going to do if this one is locked as well?" I tried to remind myself that these things happen in long-distance running, as in life, unexpected problems arise and I need to be prepared to deal with them. And if I have not prepared, then at least I need to do the best I can.

Luckily I made it to the port-a-john and it was open and well equipped. I then ran back to my car and grabbed a bite to eat and was once again back on the trails. This time I made it all the way to the northernmost trail point, and then, to my pleasant surprise, I found a trail that led out to Lake Michigan. All in all it was a good run. 18 miles, almost 3 hours, mostly on trails. Still debating on which fanny pack, but set that I will need one.