Tiny Slushballs

Today's photos were taken by Chris R at the Greenland 50K (with Brandy's camera?) Thanks, Chris!

Last night, I ran 10.6 miles in freezing, windy rain. Not a mere sprinkle, but a full-on rain. Each droplet was a tiny slushball.
Instead of wearing a rain jacket, I wore two long-sleeve tech shirts and a short-sleeve tech shirt. I had my GoreTex beaujest flap on one of my NorthFace caps, and I wore fleece gloves and fleece headband over my ears.
I wore my GoreTex Solomon shoes, and actually wimped-out by running around and gingerly through the water puddles. Let me tell ya, about half the terrain was water puddles.
Ever now-and-then, the wind would blow hard and the freezing rain would turn to tiny white snowballs. Then it was back to slushy rain droplets again.

I figure I have to train in anything. They aren't going to postpone or cancel the Leadville 100 if it rains. They may not cancel it if it snows, either. So I need to be used to it.
Part of getting used to it is learning what to wear. You go quite a few miles between aid stations, and some of the course is exposed with no trees. If you don't wear the right stuff, you could ruin your race.

When I train, and I stop for whatever reason, I never stop my watch. So my time, "average pace", and "average speed" suffer greatly. At Leadville, they aren't going to stop the clock when I stop at an aid station. If I decide to take a little nap on their cots, they aren't going to stop the clock. You get 30 hours, period.

I somehow got mixed-up about the awards. I thought everyone got medals and if you finished under 25 hours you got a belt buckle. Instead, there are no medals. If you finish under 30 hours, you get a small belt buckle that says "under 30 hours". If you finish under 25 you get a BIG buckle that says "under 25 hours".

Sometimes it seems like a lot of trouble to go through just to hold up your pants.