Winter Wolf Run

<span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">I was very worried about completing the Winter Wolf 15 mile race in Olmer MI. It was a good thing that I pre-registered for the event or I might have backed out. This is a race that starts at 6:30PM in the dark and temps were in the single digits (who knows what wind chill was). There was a group of us crazy people that car pooled. It was a two hour drive to the small town of Olmer. We were all questioning what we would wear. I decided to go with three shirts and a jacket. I also had tights with pants over them. I had my smartwool socks and a layer of gloves and mitten. I had a balaclava and a hat. We all had the mandatory head lamp and tail lights! We were ready to go but they delayed the race about 20 minutes because they were waiting for some people to arrive! Gotta love those small town events! There were about 100 people in the event. Some were doing 15 miles and others were doing a two person relay.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">We got started on a road that quickly led to a snowmobile trail. It was a challenge to stay in the narrow snowmobile ruts and not get hit by tree branches. Then we went into some single track trails. I really slowed down on the twisty trails and tried to keep an eye on people ahead so that I wouldn’t take a wrong turn and get lost. The best advice I got before the race was to follow footprints. I followed that advice the whole way thanks to snowy conditions. After a few miles of trails I was happy to get on some roads and I was able to pick up my pace. I caught up to some runners that I let pass me on the trails. I was feeling comfortable in the clothes I had chosen. I also wore my fuelbelt with two bottles under my jacket. I was able to drink my Gatorade. I didn’t see many water stations. I thought there would be water at the relay exchange so I ate a GU coming up to it. I asked for water but they said they had none! Oh well!</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">Soon we were on snowmobile trails again! Then we came to a steep rocky downhill that led to a river crossing. I thought I was going to slide on my but down that hill but I managed to stay up right. There was a small bridge made of twigs and logs that we had to cross. I don’t know how I did it but I managed to get across. Then there was a steep up hill with deep snow. I walked this portion. Then it was back to trails and snowmobile trails. It was at this point that I was wondering why I was doing this. I had to take my glasses off because they were all frosted up. Finally we got back on roads. I shared my second bottle of Gatorade with someone because their bottle had frozen. I passed some people who were walking in the last mile. I had no idea where the finish was but I knew it would be coming. Finally I was there! My time was 2:23:40. I wanted to finish under 2 ½ hours so I was happy! There was just one person at the finish. Everyone else was inside! We got changed and ate soup and drank hot chocolate. Then I was surprised to hear that I was first place master women. I won a unique wooden plaque with a wolf on it and a hat.</span></span><br><br><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';">This unique event was a good challenge for me and a nice diversion from stuff that has been happening right now to me. I am glad I had the chance to go and even more thankful that I could do it!</span></span>