Having run 5 marathons in pouring rain, I thought I have seen the worst. Until today…Never in all my running years been in a race with so much rain, so freezing temperature, so much mud, so much snow, and so much elevation gain all in one race. Translation: I had a blast! Grin from ear to ear. I should have been a bear. No weather seems to bother me anymore.

The race went on despite a heavy rainfall warning. On the way to the race, my wipers couldn’t keep up with the rain. What once was rain in lower elevation, turned into sleet in Bragg Creek. Temperature was dropping fast. Half an hour before the race start, we were told that there was so much snow at the summit (8000ft) that the volunteer’s 4x4 truck couldn’t even get there. So the race was cut short from the original 29k to about 25k.

About a dozen no-shows (I wonder why…where were you Julie?), but 49 hearty souls started the race. I have never done this race before but had checked last year’s results to get an idea what pace I should run. So I started the race staying close to a friend, Rob, who finished in 3hr30 last year. Rob and I usually run very close together in other races, even tough he’s over 50! First couple K we were on this gravel logging road that has become super wet and muddy. Then onto a single track, switch-back hiking trail. Rob was having a bad day, so I soon left him on the switch-backs. I was feeling pretty good, going up the mountain without slowing down much. As we climbed higher and higher in elevations, the snow came down harder and harder. And was deeper and deeper on the ground as well. Footing was tricky. It sure was pretty though with all that snow! Met a triathlete along the way, named Annie. We ran most of the way up together. Soon we passed two other fellows. Then caught up with Heather, the first place lady. Once we came out of the switch-back trail, we ran on this fire road and must have been over 7000ft by then. Snow was ankle deep the rest of the way up to the turn-around. Luckily the track left by the truck made life a little easier. Got to the turn-around in 1hr15, in 8th place overall. But I soon passed Annie on the way down, once I recovered from the climb. I even picked up the pace significantly and practically flew down the mountain. Wiped out though, at the first switch-back corner with all that snow and ice. I was just going too fast for that tight corner. After that I was being very careful on those corners. Finished 7th overall in 2hr11. 4th in the 30-39 AG. Next year I would know how to pace myself better. I ran too hard coming down on the switch-back trail. The pounding hurts my quads. Once I got back on the gravel road, I slowed down because of that. Crossed the finish line soaking wet, freezing cold, caked in mud but with a big grin. What a race! What a day!! Just Love it!!!

Like Joanne would say, "A bad day in the mountains is still better than a good day in the city!"

Joanne, you were so right. Now I understand.

A big Thank you everyone for volunteering! It must have been cold standing out there for so long.