It was colder than it has been, but that didn't make us think twice about going. We had decided we would go when we thought Whitney would have a volleyball tournament in Topeka this weekend so we were driving almost that far anyway. Her tournament was changed, canceled and then reinstated but we had already as a team decided not to go.
We got to Olathe and grabbed some food at Subway and went to the trail. There was a house that was used as an aid station so you could actually leave your stuff inside and get out of the cold and socialize.
Most people pick their running attire based on temperature and distance and what fits and wears right. Makes good sense for running. I chose to wear these
Here's Steve and I pre-race.
Since it was a new trail to Steve and I he stayed with me at the start to get the feel of the trail. At a mile I told him to go ahead he asked if he was pushing me, I said I was fine, but because he wanted to run further than me, the slower he ran the first loop the longer I would have to wait for him and the longer he would be on the trail. He took off, and I slowed my time from the 9 minute mile pace to something I could sustain for a mid-range distance run. The water crossings were iced over in places so you could walk across and stay dry.
I ran into Steve before the second loop, his headlamp went out and he had a flashlight. I traded him my too big headlamp for the flashlight and was much happier with that. I went out on the second loop and the water crossing got me, I stepped on the ice and wiped out. Steve said that the water splashing up by the real runners who splashed through the water (as opposed to ones who care more about being pretty) had the zamboni affect on the ice. The two guys behind me that witnessed it were kind, helped me up, made sure I was okay and then said "don't go the same way she did". Always happy to help. (And this is where the title of this report came from).
After the third loop, having completed 9 miles my injinjis were constricting my toes so I went to the car and changed socks. As I was headed to the aid station, my stomach let me know it wasn't really up for another loop or two and if I went back out, it would make me pay.
At this point, Coleen's fun run had lived up to the bill, I had a blast. I wanted to leave that way. So I left the 23 degree icy water crossing sometimes snow covered starlit trail for the hard core people and called it good. Stripped down to nothing in the parking lot (it was dark, reaalllly dark) and put on dry warm clothes, grabbed my post-run diet coke and went inside to socialize with some really cool running friends.
I ran the first loop with Steve and a new friend, Teresa. Then I ran by myself. There was something so peaceful about the solitude on the two laps I did solo. Quiet, dark, cold, clear, clean air, it was soothing.
Steve did 21 miles, clothes were sweat soaked and he was cold and didn't have any dry shirts and had a head cold when we went so he called it good 10 miles short of his plan.
I'm usually in a hurry to get home after these events, whatever it takes to stay awake to drive home. But about Emporia I had been up for 22 hours and I told Steve I needed two five hour energy drinks or a nap. (Remember, my original plan was a hotel in Topeka...) Steve voted nap, so we pulled into a truck stop and napped for a couple hours and then came home.
I had a really good time. My hip flexors are killing me today. Steve says I need hill training. Like that's gonna happen.
Coleen has a run in July, ran exactly the same way at the same place, only it's called her "Sweaty Ass Run". I'm looking forward to going back and running that one too.
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