The Story of the Misplaced Virgin…

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…also known as How to Survive at the Spring loop

It is important to find a starting point, and the announcement of a Spring Loop from our Bimbler friend Bounce is as good as any. Back in March, for reasons that are loosely connected to sanity, Bounce made it known that he was going to do the Bear Mountain 50, a tough 50 mile trail race in New York in early May, and for training purposes he would be heading out to do the Spring Loop for a long training run at the end of April. He invited all comers, and somehow I got the impression that this would be a good opportunity for me to do this fabled trek. After all, it was Bounce, a level headed paramedic and the author of a wonderful piece on crewing . How bad could it be?

In running with Bounce at several races and training runs in the past I knew that his pace would be steady and on the gentler side of moderate, so I jumped into the fray and agreed to go on the Spring Loop journey, of course only after getting the appropriate approvals from the home front. My training up until this point had been a little week for such a formidable challenge, but I wanted to give it a go anyway, and besides, a paramedic was in attendance! Leatherman’s Loop provided many with a good excuse to opt out, and despite being aptly named for this training run, Bimbler Loopy chose to hammer out the miles on pavement for the Lake Waramaug 50K. Ultra had already agreed to be the guide, as Bounce had only a previous limited, brief exposure to the Loop. Downhill was an early shaky yes, but gave in and committed in the last minute, with Sammy and Chase representing the canine unit.

It is perhaps a good time to point out what the Loop is. The Spring Loop is a 35-38 mile trek through the woods and hills of northwestern Connecticut, through the Mohawk Trail and part of the AT. It is also important to note that lore suggests that the Loop was designed by Ultra.

My nervousness/excitement increased all week, trying to be thorough by writing out a packing list, but I stayed true to my moderate training regime, and awoke early Sunday (4:19am! Ughh!!) to prepare for the long day. I picked up Bounce and headed off to the meeting place (a commuter lot) to join Ultra, Downhill, and the dogs for the hour plus ride north. Thanks to Forrest and the internet we were to greet 3 runners who were training for some upcoming races…Western States something or other…whatever!….and who were interested in training on the Loop.

We arrived at the parking area near the Loop start to see that the 3 gentlemen were already there, waiting. After brief salutations we headed out into the light rain, and about 100 yards up the road, and then, with a blue “MOHAWK TRAIL” sign pointing the way, onto the uphill (of course!) start of the Loop. Both the rain and the hills became the ominous signs of what was to be a very long day for this misplaced virgin of the Spring Loop.

Let’s back up just a bit to clarify my situation here. In attendance of this epic journey are: Ultra and Downhill, no strangers (more like experts) to the Loop and epic distance runs, along with Sammy and Chase (expert runners in their own right); Bounce, who has completed several 50K races, one 50 miler race, and a lot of training miles with his dog Sadie; 3 young guys who are decked out in all the latest distance gear and LEADING the charge up and over the first hill like it was butter; and me. OMG!!!!!!

First thoughts…

1. I’m in trouble.

2. Keep someone in sight at all times if possible,

3. Follow the Blue Trail

4. Turn around and sit by the outside of the car until they return sometime later tonight, in the rain, because it won’t be as bad as trying to deal with 1, 2 and 3!

After fighting off my fear on the unknown (even though I was pretty sure I knew it would be bad) I chugged up the first hill, watching the others disappear except for Bounce, who throughout the day demonstrated the Bimbler tenant of never leaving a man behind. Actually, after the first hill glided gently down to a road crossing, the 3 young adventurers were gone, never to be seen again. Ultra, Downhill and the dogs all waited until we regrouped, and then we set out again. This pattern was replayed again and again, and the rest of the day I never felt that I would be left behind, out there on the Loop.[singlepic=6066,280,200,,right]

The points of interest were interesting, like Dean’s Ravine, and the death defying ankle busting climb down the rocks to West Cornwall Road, as well as the same kind of climb down some other mountain, or the climb up Cathedral Pines, or a regal work horse standing in an electrified field, or the greeting brays of a friendly donkey, or the …blah blah blah…you get the point. Of note was a very cool 2005 Ford “state-police issued” Crown Victoria for sale ($5,700) at Limerock Auto Service, a business stumbled upon by a more direct route to the AT by cutting out a 200 yard romp around a very boring field. Well worth the effort, and an opportune look-see at a possible Bimble-mobile for one speedy-prone but citation- avoidant Bimbler!

At the aforementioned West Cornwall Road crossing we met up with Suds and Forrest, who, in their delirium upon completing the Leatherman’s Loop, felt that they needed to be loopier and met us in an amazingly timed fashion. Opening the dialog upon arriving in their car with a WOO HOO, and getting an immediate and resounding WOO HOO returned from us. It was Bimblekismet. This was hour 5 on the trail for those of us who began from the beginning, and Forrest and Suds were gracious enough to bring with their smiles and encouragement a mother-lode of replenishment.

While refueling and refilling, I took stock of the food I ate and level of fluids in my hydration pack. Although it was clear that I was taking in the calories, I was shocked to see that I had only drunk about 2/3 a liter! Forrest drank more than that in the car ride from Leatherman’s Loop!!! I refilled my pack and re-committed to drink, drink, drink! Having had a horrendous experience with a dehydration-induced kidney stone the last September, I was very motivated to fix this rookie error. Suds planned to drive up the road to meet us at the top of Breadloaf Mountain, a few miles away.

More grueling climbs over wet slippery rocks proved to slow even the most experienced trail runner, and I was tiring with every hour, “leading” from the rear. From this point forward I spent the rest of the way watching the clock and drinking every ten minutes. I held Master Po’s mantra dear to heart, “When in Ireland drink Guiness!” Oops! Ahh, not that one… this one, “Run when you can, walk if you have to”, and I walked a lot! After the meet up atop Breadloaf, Suds was not feeling well enough to journey with us much more and headed back home, carrying with him a “tree-hug” thanks from some tired and grateful Bimblers. A stop at the general store near Routes 7 & 4 lead to the wise counsel of Ultra when asked what would be the appropriate food of choice at this point. “Almost anything”, was his sage advice, but he did warn that if sugar was on the list, be weary of the sugar bonk. “You can try and do sugar the rest of the way in, but we still have a bit to do”. RED FLAGS popped up everywhere in my tired mind! I definitely need to re-calibrate euphemisms like “bit”! We left the store, me with potato chips in my belly, a Mountain Dew (“…when in Rome…”) and a Snickers bar in hand at hour 7.5, and according to Forrest we still have 2.5 to 3 more hours to go! I spent the next 3.5 hours doing the math over and over in my head. I hate math!!!

I was finished before I finished, and when I finished, I was happy I did the Loop! 11 hours!!! It seems so counter-intuitive, but despite the trials and tribulations of the day, and more accurately despite the mind battle that raged at the lowest and, literally, the highest points of the day, I arrived at the end, just like everyone else. Today my feet are a little swollen, but I can walk and do stairs just fine. I am so glad for my friends (of whom I am in total awe) who helped me accomplish the un-accomplishable, and for the opportunity to be a part of a tradition that I’m sure will bring in more into the fold of Loop participants. The meal at the diner was classic, and I would not have it any other way. Great recaps and debates of the values of being “lost versus misplaced” were bantered about on the car ride home. My Loop virginity may be lost, but I know where it is, it’s up in the hills of northwest Connecticut, on the slopes of some of the most rugged trails I know, so I know that it is not misplaced!

You can check out more pictures by Ultra, here