Polar Dash Revisited! A Run... Down Memory Lane....

Greetings from Minnesota!  A Warmer Area than the last blog post.   The temps here tipped over 42 degrees!   (Amazing for the Twin Cities!)     So what brings us here on the first weekend of 2019???? 
The Polar Dash! 

It has been a while.  (2015!)  And the Polar Dash was Cheryl's FIRST race ever!  ( Granted, it was only the 5K....  But  still the FIRST!)  We traveled up here on a whim and signed up.   Neither of us had ever done a race before and had no idea how things were done.   Thankfully,  The running officials treat everyone like an idiot.. I mean... Newbie... so we fit right in.   It was fun,  it was festive, it was mildly warm,  and it was over far too quickly.  There were no treats, beer,  live bands, or mascots to hug up on.... but we both had a great time.

Having taken several "Polar Dash" years off since then,  Cheryl finds herself in a unique position of being ...healthy!    Or at least...injury free,  this winter.    I have wanted her to accept the Polar Dash's "HARDCORE" version for some time.  ( Because Traveling to Minnesota in the winter for a mere 5K seems "Dumb" at her current Level of runner...)   What is the "Hardcore version" of the already "Hardcore" Polar Dash?

  It is the Everest Challenge!

 Three races run back to back.   A half marathon...  Followed by a 5K;   Followed by a 1500M run.   The Yeti Challenge is similar only it is only a 10K followed by the 5K and 1500M runs.

  If she completes them... ( If?)

Check out the Cool Hats!

Got the Bib and Fleece.

 She will get 4 medals total.   A fleece,   And a big hug from me....  and maybe a really cool hat.   ( I really want the hat the most.)   I may withhold the hugs if she wimps out on any of them.   But I'm sure she will complete them all... even if the times are not really worth bragging about.  And YES!  My hugs are totally worth it!


So one thing to note this year is that it appears it will be another rare warm day in the icy latitudes of Minnesota. Cheryl is not sure if she will have to suit up in shorts!   But the half marathon starts at early and I'm sure the Sun will not have much time to warm the race course.    We shall have to see on Race Day.

Where is all the Snow?

Easy packet Pickup. 

Other than that,  Nothing too frilly.   Packet pickup near the start line.   Not many people where there, so it was easy to take her pic.   We had dinner at IKEA and looked around at all the stuff we already had.   It is fun knowing that the stuff you see is waiting for you a home already... AND  you do not have to assemble it when you get home.

Watch Out  for Subie Loving Deer in the Night...

So,  I will now Binge on the free cookies and WiFi that Country Inn and Suites have to offer.   I hopefully will not make myself sick on either one.   I will have to drive home tomorrow and all of the festivities/races end mid day... meaning a long ride back in the dark.   Just say no to Iowa Deer!