My motivation, post-race, is somewhat predictably in the toilet.  In case you were wondering, this is not an optimal location for one's motivation.  I skipped my run Friday, promising myself that I would do a longer run Saturday.  Then I skipped Saturday's run, too.

The weather has been rainy and chilly, and I absolutely hate running in that kind of weather. This continued today, and I came this --><-- close to skipping today's run, too.

Instead, I had a brilliant idea.  My wife is out of town, so I have the car.  Finally, it hit me.  I could drive somewhere new and run there!  I could run a whole new route somewhere I've never run before.

I've been meaning to hit some of the unpaved portions of the American Tobacco Trail.  I grabbed some directions and hopped in the car for my run.

Although it was drippy and damp outside, it wasn't actually raining.  I accessed the trail at White Oak Church Rd.  I first went towards Chatham.  The trail there is unfinished, which gives it a slightly more rustic feel.  However, there's also no bridges built, and I had to turn around at the stream at mile marker 8.25 (the lot is at 5.5).  If it hadn't just rained, I might have made it across, but I'm just not that intrepid.  Instead, I turned around and ran past my car to mile marker 4.0.  

Tall pine trees give the trail an almost cathedral-like apperance.  Tulip poplars stood out against the pine with the bright green newness of spring leaves.  The pretty yellow flowers of Carolina Jessamine (I think), had fallen onto the trail in many places, a cheery yellow counterpoint to a somewhat dreary day.

There were several people on horseback out on the trail, so I had to drop down to a walk every once in a while.  I didn't begrudge it, though.  I love horses.

I'm so glad I did this.  I really needed the change, and I really enjoyed running through pretty woodlands and past fields and old tobacco barns.