This was an AWESOME run. It started out a bit slow as everyone was stacked up in two single track trails with about 6" of snow between them. The first part of the run was frozen dirt. Then we got to the 3.5 mile mark and it went to a single track trail of slippery packed snow. If you wanted to pass, you had to do it in ankle deep snow. There was a BIG hill here...I think all 589 feet of elevation were in the next mile and a half. I felt GREAT running the hills and even passed people! When the downhill came, I just opened it up and cruised. My body felt so strong.

It was a good day for my mental game. My mantra's were- "You're Golden." "Feel your body working" "Run your race, woman" and "Your rock." I may not be the fastest cookie on the route, but I sure felt like it. It's amazing what positive self talk can do for you!

I actually ran equal splits between halves, which made me happy as the 2nd half had all the brutal hills.

I did my nutrition perfectly as I had a gel about 5 minutes before the hills.

The only thing I would do is dress lighter. It was 19F when we started and about 42F by the finish. I could have left my ear warmer and stuff behind.

Banana, water, walk to the car, blasted the ipod on the stereo all the way home, and iced my ITB with a bag full of snow, as it's a bit tender after the run.


The start was crowed with limited trail access. I got stuck a few times behind really slow people.