This Saturday, thanks to The Running Depot, I was able to run the Frozen Gnome 10K trail race. I ran this race last year and it was one of the hardest things I'd ever done. Last year the temperature was below 0 with windchills in the negative teens and it had snowed a handful of inches the night before leaving fresh snow for us all to trudge through. This year, however, the temperature was and had been above freezing for a couple of days before the race and it had even rained a good amount. So I knew that I wouldn't be able to use last year's experience as an exact replica if what to expect this year.
Last year I had hit a wall around 4 miles and I drug myself up and down those snow slammed hills for the last third of the whole race. I was completely beat after 2015 Frozen Gnome. I knew that I was a lot stronger than last year, though. I had done really well at Ragnar and I had another full marathon under my belt so I was totally stoked to hit this race up again.
The morning of the race, I got up when I alarm rang, had coffee and toast and got dressed. I was excited to not be anywhere near as bundled up as I was last year! Long sleeved shirt and thermal vest over my capris and compression sleeves and my older pair of shoes with my yak trax for traction on the snow and ice. And of course, I couldn't forget my awesome Frozen Gnome beanie.
When I got to the parking lot, it was pretty full, but luckily I was able to find a spot. I could feel the positive energy all around through the chilly air. The racers were excited and pumped. The Frozen Gnome is the only trail race I've done, but things are definitely different in the world of trail running. The energy is palpable and infectious at road races too, but something is just different about the energy here.
I was able to catch up with some of my incredible Moms Run This Town ladies before the race!
Last year I had hit a wall around 4 miles and I drug myself up and down those snow slammed hills for the last third of the whole race. I was completely beat after 2015 Frozen Gnome. I knew that I was a lot stronger than last year, though. I had done really well at Ragnar and I had another full marathon under my belt so I was totally stoked to hit this race up again.
The morning of the race, I got up when I alarm rang, had coffee and toast and got dressed. I was excited to not be anywhere near as bundled up as I was last year! Long sleeved shirt and thermal vest over my capris and compression sleeves and my older pair of shoes with my yak trax for traction on the snow and ice. And of course, I couldn't forget my awesome Frozen Gnome beanie.
When I got to the parking lot, it was pretty full, but luckily I was able to find a spot. I could feel the positive energy all around through the chilly air. The racers were excited and pumped. The Frozen Gnome is the only trail race I've done, but things are definitely different in the world of trail running. The energy is palpable and infectious at road races too, but something is just different about the energy here.
I was able to catch up with some of my incredible Moms Run This Town ladies before the race!
Once the race started, I was able to run the first mile or so with my friend, Christine, but after awhile, my conservative side took over and I made myself take it a little easier. I ended up behind a really nice girl from Nebraska who was going a little slower than I really wanted to go, but I thought maybe it would help me conserve energy for the back half of the race if I stuck behind her, so that's what I did. She was doing the 50K. It make me wonder what my plan would be if I was doing the 50K. Would I be going even slower than this? I got caught in that dream for a bit, but realized I needed to stay in the here and now at that point.
Soon after this, three of my great friends from my group caught up with me and I was able to stick with them the whole rest of the race. It was such a blessing to be with friends!
Soon after this, three of my great friends from my group caught up with me and I was able to stick with them the whole rest of the race. It was such a blessing to be with friends!
We made it up hills, down hills, up more hills and even down buttslide hill which was the only muddy place on the trail!
I was so glad to have these ladies by my side the last half of this race. We encouraged each other, made each other laugh and literally helped each other up the hard parts. There was one hill we were climbing and I could not get my footing, even after three tries. These ladies were right behind me offering hands to help.
When we had about a mile to go, the chatter became less and somewhat soft exclamations like, "Whew!" and "Good Lord!" were more often. When were so so close, we didn't say anything, but we all picked up the pace and charged up the last few small hills because we could see the woods clearing and hear the people at the finish line. We were almost there!
With a hundred feet to go, Geri said, "Hold hands!" and here's how we finished
When we had about a mile to go, the chatter became less and somewhat soft exclamations like, "Whew!" and "Good Lord!" were more often. When were so so close, we didn't say anything, but we all picked up the pace and charged up the last few small hills because we could see the woods clearing and hear the people at the finish line. We were almost there!
With a hundred feet to go, Geri said, "Hold hands!" and here's how we finished
I'm not sure, but I think the difference that I have noticed is that the people who are in this world of trail running are more excited about what they will experience during the race and what they will learn about their surroundings and about themselves as opposed to simply just getting to the finish line. This philosophy shift is extremely appealing to me. It was not just my own friends that were encouraging during this race. From the people at packet pick-up to the other seasoned runners on the trails to the people at the finish line, they were all incredibly supportive, positive and loving to everyone. It was like a family.
I
love
this.
I want to experience more of this world. I'm pretty intimidated and scared though. Definitely not because of the people, that's for sure. They are all so kind. But man, they are the toughest people I know. I want to be like them. If I've learned anything, I've learned that I need to do things that scare me. That's the notion I come back to EVERY SINGLE TIME I run on the trails. It nags at me. I want to see what it is that is calling to me.
This race is my absolute favorite race of all time. I can't wait to try the Earth Day race in April!
Quick update on My Fitness Pal tracking: I've gotten back into it. Things weren't perfect, but I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things and it feels good to be headed in the right direction. I've got no races on the docket anytime soon so more on that next week.
Thanks so much for reading, friends! I hope you have a fantastic week!
I
love
this.
I want to experience more of this world. I'm pretty intimidated and scared though. Definitely not because of the people, that's for sure. They are all so kind. But man, they are the toughest people I know. I want to be like them. If I've learned anything, I've learned that I need to do things that scare me. That's the notion I come back to EVERY SINGLE TIME I run on the trails. It nags at me. I want to see what it is that is calling to me.
This race is my absolute favorite race of all time. I can't wait to try the Earth Day race in April!
Quick update on My Fitness Pal tracking: I've gotten back into it. Things weren't perfect, but I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things and it feels good to be headed in the right direction. I've got no races on the docket anytime soon so more on that next week.
Thanks so much for reading, friends! I hope you have a fantastic week!