Well, it had to happen eventually. Lee Anne and I ran with Cathy, a longtime friend that hangs out with the Borden Striders. I hear through the grapevine that the Striders will be hosting trail races at Base Borden again next year. Not sure if it will be the same format (5K, 8K, 10K, 10K, 5/21.1K) but should be interesting! It can be quite challenging running on the base, with snipers trying to drop you, explosions all around and the constant shouting. I may be exaggerating...
What happened? Snow. Just a few flakes on the ground in Creemore, but once we climbed the escarpment, it is a whole different world up there! 4 inches of snow on some of the trails, unplowed roads with 3 inches of slush, snow and sleet stinging the face... Wonderful!
Although slow, I managed a respectable 18K that included some significant hills (is there any other type of run in the Creemore area?) and enough snow to up the exertion. Lee Anne remarked that if these are the conditions during the Creemore 100M on December 1/2, it could get ugly!
The scenery was certainly worth the discomfort. snow-clad branches overhanging the trails, beautiful sun drenched vistas to the west and what could only be described as weather that depicted toxic Armageddon to the east. A snow-laden streamer coming off Georgian Bay had just the right colouring of the apocalypse. We saw white-tail deer twice and red deer, which was easy to arrange as we ran past a farm that raises red deer!
So now we will prepare for 30 adventurous runners (there are other descriptions for people that attempt 100 miles in Creemore in December, but let's be polite) who will test their abilities in what could be a harsh environment. I had planned to mow the grass on one of the trails this weekend, but it would have been tricky as it was covered in snow. I still hope for reasonable running weather in early December. Stranger things have happened! But if there is a sprinkling of snow, the runners had best bring their A game... Completing the race could take total commitment and effort.
Yup!
ReplyDelete