Lake Effect Snowshoe Festival 1/2 Marathon 9.7 mi.

Run: 9.7 miles in :00:00 min. @ 8:00 a.m.
Weather: Cloudy, 11°F, 66% Humidity, Winds: SSW @ 10 mph; feels like -1°F(!).
Pace: Approximately 10:00 min./per mile
Course: Seven Five loops of a two-mile course in Webster Park, just across from Lake Ontario, pictured below in wintry repose!). The course itself will be dependent on the amount of snow, but it's a mixture of fields and trails.


Pre-Run Observations: It's hard to believe that after having registered for oodles of snowshoe runs, and there actually being snow this year, about one month into the "season" I am finally getting around to doing the deed. I suspect my "debut" will be an auspicious one... a matter of survival and mere completion. Of course, "over a month ago," my goal might have been to place in the top fifteen-to-twenty percent of total finishers, and now (given my lack of training since December 12), I hope to finish.

The temperature outside if freezing (-5°F when I left home!), and with the actual location of the vent being nearly right on Lake Ontario, I hold little hope that my thirty minute drive northeast will yield any increases or warmth... as I sit here and noodle through what to wear (I probably should have bought or dug out some wind pants) I continue to ask myself, "why the hell are you putting yourself through this..." of course, I'm not there yet, so maybe I won't..."

Post-Race Reflections: As you can tell from the post title, I did not run the entire 13+ miles, but felt pretty well in completing five 2-ish mile loops of the intended seven. Though marginally disappointed that I didn't "finish," all things being equal, it seemed unnecessary as I likely would have had to walk part of the remaining two laps due to my current state of poor conditioning. I did, however, feel that I had an excellent workout, running almost ten miles in snowshoes at a fair (to middling) pace.

I certainly feel that after Friday's run and today's effort, I am soon to be righting my training ship... and there's always the Freezeroo 10k I signed up for next weekend to look toward for some improvement!

Embrassez votre été invincible!