Cheryl's Longest Half Marathon To Date. Hypothermic Half Complete!

I thought the WTF race was next week?

That is right!   She ran a 15 miles of a 13.5 mile race.   What's that?   The numbers don't add up?  I shall explain. 

Staying warm in the Subie.

The temp was 24 degrees.  On par with the Polar dash.... (balmy for Minnesota.) Except for that little bit of wind that bit your nose.   We arrived early.  ( and at the Wrong Place! Hurray for Garmin's directions.)  And discovered that this race was going to be one of those "small races"  Cheryl looked around and eyed up her competition.   At first, she was a little intimidated, but that would change later.  ( No tutu's,  no dog walkers, baby strollers,  or mascot racers.)  The theory being that only the "Hard Core" folks would want to race this one.

Cheryl at the Start. 

Rather small crowd at this race.

The start was non-descript.   A few announcements.... be careful of slippery spots...  GO!

No bell, no horn, no gun... Just "GO!" 

Cheryl noted that there was no timing chip.   Possibly because timing things would have been expensive... AND that the snow would have messed with the electronics anyway.  It was probably a good thing that this was "unofficial" anyway, But don't let me get to the end just yet.

Cheryl moon walks over the Ice and snow. 

The cool thing was that I was able to drive up ahead in a few spots and cheer Cheryl on.  I really like that feature of smaller races.   The race itself was on a Bike trail around two lakes.   Sort of an elaborate figure 8.   The runners had to run around the figure 8 loop twice for the full distance.   With the snow falling,  the wind picking up, the cold temps and the limited amount of volunteers,  there were plenty of opportunities for Murphy's Law to happen. 

She continues over the rest of the trail. 

Cheryl noted that although the trail was plowed,  it still had slippery spots.   Also the falling snow and the packed snow that the plows missed gave the course the consistence of running on beach sand or Corn Meal!   So.... P.R.'s were definitely OFF the table.   Add in all that other stuff, and simply surviving to the end seemed to be the main goal of this race.  She had her cleats, but did not wear them because they were "untested" and probably would not have been much help in the 2-3 inches of fresh snow.   She DID wear her Icebug Running shoes.   ( No medal cleat, but plastic ones that offer limited grip.)   I noted that she looked like she was Moon walking as she ran by.   Her stride and cadence were dictated by the conditions.

After catching her at three places,  I headed for the finish line.   She had a pretty "normal" position near the front  third of the pack.   (Which I thought was pretty good, anyway)  As I counted the runners coming in,  I noted that she was "missing".  Had she fallen?   Was she hurt?   Did she Quit?   Was she abducted by aliens?    The questions circled in my mind like a raging malstrom! 

Well,  I was certain she had not quit.   One:   Cheryl does not do that.. especially in a race.  And besides,  even if she quit,  there were no emergency resources there to give her a ride back.   She would have ended up walking back on her own anyway... and walking in the cold is not as pleasant or as fast as running!

Finally She arrives at the Finish. 

Only 10 minutes "off" from where she
was projected.

About 10 minutes after I expected her,    here she comes.   Come to find out,  she took the wrong turn at one of the intersections and  was running the wrong way.    Since she was running all by herself, There was no lead person to follow.   After about a mile ( or so)   she realized her mistake   when she ran into other runners and turned around to take the proper direction.   So...add about 1.5 miles and 10 or so minutes on to her time.   But she DID finish it. 

At least she got the Medal! 

She wins the Yeti!  Who needs
the Polar Dash one now?

There was an after-party.   But we decided to get a head start on the winter storm.  (because, what better way to end the trip than driving through a winter storm?)  I thought we would beat it or drive out of it...  No such luck!  The storm plagued us the ENTIRE TRIP HOME!  

Showing off the gods for the drive home. 

Winter Driving?  Snow.  Ice.  Slippery
Highways...

There were plenty of cars and trucks in the ditch.   I drove slower than the posted speed limit almost the entire way.  Even in Iowa the Roads were sloppy.  Thankfully,  we had plenty of time and no hard deadline to arrive home.   Slow but sure! 

Cars in the ditch,   Blowing and drifting
snow. 

Cheryl is just happy the race is over. 

So this entire "vaccation" seemed almost more stressful than the Pearson Job.   Cheryl noted that most people go to relax on a vaccation.   We tend to do the opposite.   I think because it makes us realize that being safe and warm in a small crappy apartment in Iowa is better than being stuck in a ditch along a Minnesota  backroad! (Even if Iowa is more boring....  Somtimes boring is good.)

But my journey was just beginning. 

Iowa Ice Trucks!   Sideways on the
road in front of us. 

Cheryl also noted that this race was a good preperation for the WTF race coming up.  (Winter Trail Frosty... or some other meaning I'm sure you can figure out.)  You have to have a bad race now and then to appreciate the good ones.  Crowded cities,  sloppy weather, and limited organization can sometimes break ( or Make!) a race noteworthy.   Hope everyone was safe his weekend,  and thanks for stopping in.