Rick and I volunteered at the Blizzard, the final snowshoe race of the series at Bradbury. Mindy suggested getting in a 3 mile run before our volunteering duties so we met her at 8 a.m. The conditions of the trail were much improved over the day before, but still very slow going. I think the normal chatting had bigger pauses just because the breathing was more labored. When Rick and Mindy turned onto the Link trail to head back in, I decided to take a little longer way back, knowing I was unlikely to go back out later that day to get in the rest of the miles my training plan called for. The garmin read 3.85 miles when I was done.
Rather than change out of the running clothes right away, we went right to lugging stuff from Ryan's and Ian's cars to the pavilion to set up for the race. When I knew I was done sweating, I changed into the clothes that I had brought in an insulated bag with a hot water bottle (good idea, Ian). However, the warm clothes did not make up for my fingers having to handle my frozen running shoes/gaiters. They were painfully cold.
Fortunately, the park let us warm up in their work area with a roaring fire in their huge wood stove. In fact, Tammy, a ranger, watched for signs of shivering people and encouraged them to go in out of the cold, even providing hot coffee.
The race series was a huge success and Rick and I had fun being a part of it. The course was killer (as evidenced by the people wanting to harm Ryan at the finish!)
I am glad to have gotten a run, even a short one, in before; there's no way I would have made myself go out in the cold afterward!
People wanted to harm Ryan??? Hmmn, was it because of the added mileage, the tough course...or both? I wasn't in that group.
ReplyDeleteIt was hilarious watching people come over the finish where Ryan was standing, giving him the finger, pretending to tackle him, yelling threats (all with smiles on their faces) - evidence of a killer hard and fun course that only a TM could design!
ReplyDeleteVal - I finally warmed up, I never would have gone back out either!
Val and Rick - we cannot thank you enough for the sacrifice! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCan't find a way to thank you guys enough for your volunteering awesomeness. But, Val, maybe we should put you on fire duty next time and let Rick handle the timing!
ReplyDeleteCold fingers were worth being at the finish witnessing all the racers' efforts. Besides, I never get to see the front runners finish at trail races : )
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