Frostbite 5K

As many of you may know...I like to run. I like it because it's good for me physically, I like it because it's good for me mentally, I like it because it's good for me emotionally, spiritually, relationally (I could keep going, but I think you get the picture). Many of you may also know that I don't love running inside. Tracks are ok, but treadmills? No thank you.  I like to be in the outdoors, breathing in the fresh air, seeing the beautiful sights, jumping over roots and dodging under trees. That's my kind of running.

So, all that to say I was quite excited to have the opportunity to run the annual 'Frostbite 5K' at the Willow Carnival last Saturday (Ok, maybe I wasn't completely sold until I knew it was going to be abnormally balmy in Willow that day...think 20 degrees verses the typical -15.) I was looking forward to it because a)it was short, which equals low commitment. :), b) it was outside in the snow, which equals fresh air and that is always a good thing, and c) it started where the Iditarod starts and that is just plain fun!

Points b) and c) turned out to be true - it was absolutely gorgeous running through the trees covered in a thick blanket of white snow, and running along the beginning of the Iditarod trail was fun and exhilarating for certain. But point a) - the low commitment motivator - turned out to be completely FALSE. This race was not for the light of heart! Not because it was long. Not because it was hilly. But because we ran in snow. And I mean snowy snow. We're talkin' mashed potatoes. Let's just say it felt much more like a difficult 12K run than an easy 5K fun run. But in the end, I was happy to have done it - and as a fun bonus, I got second for women, woohoo! (I won't tell you that there were only ten or so women total..shhh!)

So here's to winter trail running - it's the best!