Frigid January Twofer

We have seen rain, flurries, thunder, winds of 30 mph and tempts ranging from the teens to near sixty - this is the paradise that is Ohio. It isn't just January, this is the kind of thing we get about nine months out of the year. You get used to it, but it sucks to have designs on spring being just around the corner before the bottom falls out and you are reminded the year has only just begun.

Speaking of, L and I rung in the new year at Staas Brewing and getting a free beer from a gentleman (he had way too much to drink) who thought we were a cool couple and wanted to show his appreciation. He may have also given me a bro hug and a bro peck on the cheek (there is such a thing, right?), but we got free beers man!

The year also began with bottling a hazy IPA homebrew with roasted chestnuts that is fermenting away in our basement - the recipe coming in the form a Christmas gift from L (the chestnuts were my idea). The cool fliptop bottles housing the concoction came from a spiced pumpkin cider purchased at Aldi's. The cider was decent, but was cheap and I was more after the bottles - so I bought a few. And as you can see, Whiskey and Jameson hung out to watch the less than thrilling drama.

Since L is now fully committed to running, we will both be taking part in many of our adventures. The first would be the Fantastic Frigid 5K Series hosted by the Stratford Ecological Center Education Farm and Nature Preserve just a handful of miles away from us here in Delaware and taking place on January 12th and 26th.

The Stratford Ecological Center is a non-profit educational organic farm and nature preserve on 236 acres in Delaware County, Ohio. Visitors are welcome to explore the land, hike the 4 miles of nature trails, visit the livestock, tour the gardens and greenhouses or explore the creek, pond, prairie, swamps or State Nature Preserve.

The route was to contain sections of grassy fields, grass trail, hard-packed earthen trail, and crushed gravel trail. And since we are the middle of winter, snow is likely to be present - but not a guarantee. Though, I'm told last year there was six inches of the white stuff to trudge through at these events. If anything, we were guaranteed to have a scenic jaunt of some kind.

Just as Thursday rolled around for race #1, we discover at least three inches of snow was to be expected on this Saturday - but coming later in the day. Also, L's brother - Chris - would be coming with us and would act as our cheering section and photographer.

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Race #1 -  Saturday, January 12th:

With some remnants of snow on the ground it began to flurry and as we listened to instructions at the starting line about 40 yards down the course a fox as sitting there watching us before deciding it had had enough and moved on. We take off and pay full attention to the surface below us. The frozen flurried field path was loaded with rolling humps from the natural topography, along with divots created by utility and maintenance vehicles. Less than ideal for fast times, but great for concentration on footwork and patience.

The route

Traffic Panther Gary and I are following a couple of young guys as we wind our way around the Stratford Nature Preserve. About a mile in (6:02) we leave the field and enter a wooded trail as the flurries turn to full on snow. Navigating through the fallen leaves and branches, undisturbed snow piles and wooden footbridges, I am third man back in the tight single file line of runners. Keeping one eye ahead and one onto the ever changing debris on the ground, we reach a tight turn between two trees and the guy in yellow in front me slips, falling to the ground. With more than enough time to dodge and miss him, I squeeze by without hesitation and ask, "You okay?!" I get a frustrated, "I'm good", in return.

He gets back up immediately, but is now behind me and I have taken over second place. The guy in front is only a few feet away as we wind through the serpentine trail. The footsteps behind me are no longer audible as the trail portion comes to an end and we dart back onto the grassy preserve. It is a bit more of a chore to find find sufficient footing as mile two drifts by (7:10).

Gary, his son, myself & L

We make the return trip winding through the farm complex and I fall a bit further behind. From the farm grounds we get back onto the nature preserve path, doubling back on the route we started on. Somewhat smoother ground, I pick up the pace and gain on the lead though my lungs are on fire and I'm content with keeping pace and simple finishing. I come in at 20:44 (mile 3: 6:39) and eight seconds behind the leader and twelve seconds ahead of third. Traffic Panther Gary comes in fifth, L finishes 30th (6th female) after dropping the hammer and reeling in a girl in the final 100 meters and Gary's son is 39th.

A 15 minute drive home and we spend the rest of the day watching the NFL Divisional Playoffs and playing games with Chris as the snow continued to fall. By the time Sunday morning rolled around, five inches had fallen. We missed the onslaught of snow for this race, but the Fantastic Frigid 5K Series Race #2 is in two weeks. Would the snow casually melt away, would it hang around or would there be more of the white stuff? We will find out in fourteen days...

Sorry Gary, I couldn't resist

After Race #1, L is ready
to go home

 Race #1

Race #2 - Saturday, January 26th:

When winter hits, you roll with the punches. This is our
backyard and that's me gliding on the white stuff

With two weeks in between the races, anything could happen. Actually, EVERYTHING happened. After race one, the ensuing week was relatively mild until the Blizzard of '19 arrived. Expecting a full day of a winter weather rodeo that Saturday, we were instead treated to an extended afternoon drizzle which occasionally turned to ice pellets. Then the sun went down and the angry tears of a delayed winter storm turned to full-on snow followed by gusty winds and temperatures of single digits & negative windchill. We ended up with about 4 to 5 inches of snow, but the wind created drifts and oddly manicured snow "ledges" of a foot or more from roadways to roofs.

The following morning in the 5 degrees and full sun, I left for a long run. It was quite the workout high-stepping for more than 11 miles along roadways & trails still waiting for ODOT's snow warriors to reach them. Relief arrived by midweek as thermometers were pushed above the 40 degree mark along with a nice downpour, though we weren't anywhere near being in the clear. Single digits and negative windchill, along with a light cover of flurries returned by Friday and more snow expected for Saturday. Race day #1 was cold with a dusting of snow and flurries, race day #2 would be freezing with a thick blanket of ice and snow.

The snow drift roof "ledges"

L's brother Chris was convinced into taking part in race #2 and after this day may be hating us for some time. It was a bit colder, but we had full sun for the morning and it made a difference. It didn't, however, make a difference with the frozen ground. At the start we had to keep an eye on the surface below and bounced around to find the best footing. Spikes and Yaktrax were a big help, but not foolproof. The kid who won two weeks ago was out front with Traffic Panther Gary and I close behind.

About a half-mile in Gary had to stop to adjust one of his Yaktrax as it slipped and was about to go missing in action. Trailing the 17-year old, I find it not so hard to keep up but difficult to get decent footing in order to feel like I'm not running in place. We essentially ran the entire way together, though the last 200 yards or so he spurted ahead and I just maintained - mostly frustrated that I couldn't find decent footing in order to make a run. I finish in 20:05 and in second place again, placing just behind the same high schooler as I did two weeks before but :38 seconds faster. We congratulate one another and I wait for the others to finish.

Traffic Panther Gary comes in fifth, even after having to stop to adjust his footwear. A few more minutes go by as I'm in my own little world and I realize L should have finished by now. Looking around in attempt to locate her I see her mom (who came along for the ride). She tells me Chris took a hard fall some ice in the first few moments and L stopped to be sure he was okay before taking off again. Apparently, Chris ended up falling a few more times - he did not have the benefits of added traction devices and paid for it. He did, though, finish.

As for L, she was doing well - despite stopping to aid her brother - but as she entered the trail portion and attempted go around someone she rolled her ankle, hit the ground and slid downhill. Her mom checked on her, but being stubborn relayed that she was fine and walked for a minute or two before running again. When I finally saw here headed for the finish, she didn't seem in pain. Rather, she looked exhausted. Once there, she is limping a bit and not feeling well. Her brother finishes moments later.

Chris is exhausted as expected, not having run much since his high school days and being tossed around like a rag doll by the less than ideal conditions didn't help. His hip is sore after being his source of padding after the initial crash on the ice. At home, L is no longer limping. Instead, she is hobbling like she has a peg leg - L has become a pirate and she doesn't wanna be one. Her ankle has ballooned to twice it's size and is a lovely shade of purple. It isn't broken, but all tissue in that area has been yanked beyond what it was intended for. It was ice and Epsom Salt soaking the rest of the day for her.

On Sunday, L felt decent enough to visit and hang out with her mom and check on her brother. I, who was lucky enough to avoid an ice crash the day before, put in a casual twelve mile long run and welcomed the comforts of a day with full sun. That night, I bit the bullet and quick smoked some bacon wrapped tenderloins with the cognac barrel smoking chips I received at Christmas. Standing in the carport at night in a huge parka and pretending not to be affected by the 13 degree temperature just to get a taste of summer was worth it.

For L's birthday, we are visiting South Haven, Michigan. Aside from being a fan of the Great Lakes and the surrounding environment, she purposely selected this location because there is a race going on that weekend. If all goes as planned, we will be taking part in the 5th Annual Break the Ice 5K along the banks of the Black River in the shadow of Lake Michigan. I will be running for sure and L will at least be walking the course if her ankle isn't ready to run again.

My guess is that it may be a bit nippy on this weekend, but it's going to take more than just cold weather to break her down...

Taking Back Sunday - MakeDamnSure

You've got this new head

Filled up with smoke

I've got my veins all tangled close

To those jukebox bars you frequent

They're the safest place to hide

A long night spent with your most obvious weaknesses

You start shaking at the thought

You are everything I want

Because you are everything I'm not

And we lay, we lay together

Just not too close, too close

And we lay, we lay together

Just not too close, too close

I just wanna break you down so badly

I trip over everything you say

I just wanna break you down so badly

In the worst way

My inarticulate store bought

Hangover hobby kit it talks

It says 'You, oh, you are so cool'

Scissor shaped across the bed

You are red, violent red

You hollow out my hungry eyes

You hollow out my hungry eyes

And we lay, we lay together

Just not too close, too close

(How close is close enough?)

And we lay, we lay together

Just not too close, too close

(How close is close enough?)

I just wanna break you down so badly

I trip over everything you say

I just wanna break you down so badly

In the worst way

I just wanna break you down so badly

I trip over everything you say

I just wanna break you down so badly

In the worst way

I'm gonna make damn sure

That you can't ever leave

No you won't ever get too far from me

You won't ever get too far from me

I'll make damn sure

That you can't ever leave

No you won't ever get too far from me

You won't ever get too far from me

I just wanna break you down so badly

I trip over everything you say

I just wanna break you down so badly

In the worst way

More Photos

Race #1 - L & I preparing in the flurries
(attempting to keep warm)

Race #1: -The pre-race fox sighting

Race #1 - I, in the gray, the winner in the black
 and Traffic Panther Gary in the red & black
 in the background.

Race #1 - L headed to the finish

Race #1 - The aftermath of that day's snow on my car.
A few hand prints and you have the image of a dog.

Race #2 -L's foot swollen
 & purple