Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. That is seriously all I could do. The trail conditions were so obnoxious that you had to make light of it. It was HORRIBLE.
Snow Moon Run Trail 25K
- Midland, Mi
- Midland received 8 inches of snow this week
- Race time 7pm
- Race Distances: 5k, 15k, 25k
- This race is designed to run loops. 3 mile loops that bring you through 2 aid stations and the finishing tent.
- Temperatures started out at 23' and dropped down below 15'.
I car pooled with Chris and Kris.
We were there over an hour early, but the parking a problem. Because they started the 5K a half hour earlier and they had doubled the participant size they were offering shuttle service.
This was really nice.
We honestly had NO idea what the trail conditions were going to be like.
Ignorance is not always bliss.
 |
| I always love running into this sweet lady, Dale, your the BEST. |
LOOP 1. DRUNKEN RUNNERS
Everyone was trying to stay upright. The snow was thick, deep and best described like running in sand. Only with a layer of ICE under it.
The runners looked like they had drank too much in the starting tent. No one was running upright. We all were slipping, sliding and kicking ankle high snow everywhere.
And so I laughed. It was a sight for sore eyes. I laughed for over a mile.
Then I got REAL serious.
"How am I going to do this 4 more times?"
Runners were complaining and talking about defeat before we even made it into the second loop.
TIME: 36:06
LOOP 2. WEIGHING MY OPTIONS.
By mile 2, that is just 3 miles into this madness my ankles were suffering. The unsteady footing had me kicking my ankles with my spikes. They felt like they were rubbed raw and possibly bleeding.
There was NO denying the blister that was rubbing on the arch of my left foot.
"I can't do this for 15 miles..." I did my best to land flat footed but I kept kicking myself. It hurt.
"Everyone's complaining, I wouldn't be the only one..." I began to justify the idea of dropping down to the 15K. I had so many good arguments. It just didn't make sense to suffer this much and possible hinder my future training.
I DECIDED to drop my Pace, give up any goals that I had other than just FINISHING.
TIME: 35:58
LOOP 3. THE LITTLE ENGINE WHO COULD.
I changed my stinking thinking. I was going to finish no matter how bad it hurt. If I had to walk across that finish line I was NOT going to QUIT. I decided I would find a steady pace and run it all the way in.
The temperatures dropped and so did a lot of runners. I would catch up to a runner than pace off them until they fell back. The right hand side of the trail was the best place to get ANY type of traction. I put some music in to motivate me and even grabbed a peanut butter cracker at an aid station. I needed the calories but discovered very quickly I couldn't chew it. I had a salty peanut butter paste that just sat in my mouth. My face was frozen and I couldn't chew and swallow. It took a MILE to get that cookie out of a gooey paste and down my throat.
Every so often I would pass a runners, walker and do my best to encourage them. They were excited because they were finished, 15k is only 3 loops. I actually hung with a couple guys and chatted for a bit. It was nice, it was getting lonely out there.
"Just get to the next loop..."
TIME: 36:18
LOOP 4. SOLO RUN.
Most runners gave up the ghost and quit at loop 3. This made loop 4 really lonely. I had no one in front of me and no one behind me. My music froze up in the cold. You could see my breath like old man winter blowing not so sweet kisses at me.
Because the temperatures were in the teens this actually condensed the snow, that and a few hundred runners. I was able to maintain my pace. I NEVER looked at my watch. My goal was to run steady and FINISH.
My temperature was warm. I knew if I stopped I would get very cold and probably not recover. My toes were all burning from blisters. My body was NUMB. I couldn't even feel my worst ailment.
Coming around the last mile of this loop I heard Kris. I looked closer in the dark and she was walking with a tall guy. Without stopping I yell, "HEY KRIS! How are you doing?" She sounded great and was moving forward. I was so happy she was still going.
TIME: 34:47
I changed my stinking thinking. I was going to finish no matter how bad it hurt. If I had to walk across that finish line I was NOT going to QUIT. I decided I would find a steady pace and run it all the way in.
The temperatures dropped and so did a lot of runners. I would catch up to a runner than pace off them until they fell back. The right hand side of the trail was the best place to get ANY type of traction. I put some music in to motivate me and even grabbed a peanut butter cracker at an aid station. I needed the calories but discovered very quickly I couldn't chew it. I had a salty peanut butter paste that just sat in my mouth. My face was frozen and I couldn't chew and swallow. It took a MILE to get that cookie out of a gooey paste and down my throat.
Every so often I would pass a runners, walker and do my best to encourage them. They were excited because they were finished, 15k is only 3 loops. I actually hung with a couple guys and chatted for a bit. It was nice, it was getting lonely out there.
"Just get to the next loop..."
TIME: 36:18
LOOP 4. SOLO RUN.
Most runners gave up the ghost and quit at loop 3. This made loop 4 really lonely. I had no one in front of me and no one behind me. My music froze up in the cold. You could see my breath like old man winter blowing not so sweet kisses at me.
Because the temperatures were in the teens this actually condensed the snow, that and a few hundred runners. I was able to maintain my pace. I NEVER looked at my watch. My goal was to run steady and FINISH.
My temperature was warm. I knew if I stopped I would get very cold and probably not recover. My toes were all burning from blisters. My body was NUMB. I couldn't even feel my worst ailment.
Coming around the last mile of this loop I heard Kris. I looked closer in the dark and she was walking with a tall guy. Without stopping I yell, "HEY KRIS! How are you doing?" She sounded great and was moving forward. I was so happy she was still going.
TIME: 34:47
LOOP 5. GET ME TO THE FINISH.
That tall guy told Kris he was going to jump in with me. He was running really strong. He was run/walking. It was actually funny how he did it. He would run REALLY fast then walk as I just caught up to him and then go again. I just tucked in behind him. We played this cat and mouse game for miles. It was so nice to have someone to run with. I discovered I knew him when he shared his first name with me, STU. Together we made it to the final mile and a half. I could make out a shadow in front of us. I knew right away it was CHRIS. He was walking, he had started cramping. I tried to gather him up to run the last bit in with me but he joined up with Stu and I was finishing alone.
With about 2/10 of a mile to go I see another runner. I came up on her quick. I knew she was finishing with me. I encouraged her and hoped she would pick up the pace. I hated passing her so close to the Finish Line. She kindly wished me well giving me grace to move ahead.
I could hear the Music blindly blaring through the trails encouraging me to pick up my pace. After 4 loops I still had a smile to share in the Finishing CHUTE!
TIME 34:24
RUNDOWN: My pace surprisingly got faster the last 2 loops. The colder weather made the terrain better.
After getting rid of my stinking thinking, I reminded myself that the only thing that mattered was doing WHAT you SET out to DO. Readjusting your Goals, embracing your relationship with GOD, A LOT OF PRAYING! And reminding yourself we don't sign up for these things because they are easy.
THE NUMBERS:
5K=342 runners
15K=136 runners
25k= 63 runners
*** out of those 63 runners:
17dropped down
*2 dropped down to 4 laps
*11 dropped down to 3 laps
*2 dropped down to 2 laps
*1 dropped down to 1 lap
That tall guy told Kris he was going to jump in with me. He was running really strong. He was run/walking. It was actually funny how he did it. He would run REALLY fast then walk as I just caught up to him and then go again. I just tucked in behind him. We played this cat and mouse game for miles. It was so nice to have someone to run with. I discovered I knew him when he shared his first name with me, STU. Together we made it to the final mile and a half. I could make out a shadow in front of us. I knew right away it was CHRIS. He was walking, he had started cramping. I tried to gather him up to run the last bit in with me but he joined up with Stu and I was finishing alone.
With about 2/10 of a mile to go I see another runner. I came up on her quick. I knew she was finishing with me. I encouraged her and hoped she would pick up the pace. I hated passing her so close to the Finish Line. She kindly wished me well giving me grace to move ahead.
I could hear the Music blindly blaring through the trails encouraging me to pick up my pace. After 4 loops I still had a smile to share in the Finishing CHUTE!
TIME 34:24
 |
| BIGGEST SHOCKER OF THE NIGHT, I TOOK 3RD PLACE OVERALL FEMALE!! HOW'S THAT FOR THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD. God was listening to those prayers! |
RUNDOWN: My pace surprisingly got faster the last 2 loops. The colder weather made the terrain better.
 |
| STU, me and Kris, all trying to stay warm waiting for the rest of our gang. |
THE NUMBERS:
5K=342 runners
15K=136 runners
25k= 63 runners
*** out of those 63 runners:
17dropped down
*2 dropped down to 4 laps
*11 dropped down to 3 laps
*2 dropped down to 2 laps
*1 dropped down to 1 lap
Congrats to some local runners we saw out there. It is always good share encouragement with each other. Great Job Christina and Antonio.
Anita!
Anita!
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