Zumbro Bottoms Fat Ass

Last minute decision to hit the trails for the first time since Orcas. I've been getting the miles in on the road but there's a small matter of a 50k next weekend (Chippewa which by all accounts is a very popular inaugural race) so when I heard about Larry putting on this run on the UMTR website I was immediately tempted. But it was a 2hr drive each way for approx 2hrs on the trails so I figured I'd just wait until next weekend. Until late last night when I got an email with updated details of the run and I just knew I had to go! Pam and I had been planning to run with Kami from her house while others were doing their long run tomorrow morning. I figured I'd just head down there myself. Given it would be another hour for Kami to get to this side of town I knew it wouldn't work for her but Pam was up for it. So we set off at 6am this morning and found our way to Tielman...

Yes, there is a good story behind this...

Caribou - serving good coffee and ice-packs!

Of course once we got to Tielman we were a little lost not having a clue where the trail started. But sure enough we spotted a few people in a car wearing what we decided was technical fabric - we'd make great detectives - and followed them... indeed Nancy, her husband and friend were headed in the right direction.

After a few minutes chatting with Larry (confirming he did receive my Sawtooth entry - no backing out now!) and others we set off towards the river. We ran with John (2008 Arrowhead winner - WOW - 'nuff said!) and Steve - nice flat run along the river, across the bridge, up and down a few big ones and after an hour or so we left the guys at the river as they were going quite a bit longer than us. In any case I think it was only fair to let them off as we are just a tad slower! So we headed back along the south/east side of the river, back across the bridge and back to the picnic area.

Oh - you want to know about the leg - well, ok... so I'm hammering down that last hill on icy snow knowing it was just a matter of time until I wiped out. The packed snow wasn't so bad but every few yards there were patches of ice - I thought maybe my feet were going fast enough that they weren't actually touching the ice for long enough to slip... not so! Around a corner, no chance to navigate around the icy patch and down I went, slid along the ice and snow into a tree. THUMP!

Oh how I wish that was what actually happened! The truth - Pam and I are running back to the picnic area after a very enjoyable 2hr run - and I decide, in my infinite wisdom - sure, I can hurdle the HEAVY GAGE ROPE (which as Pam told me later is there to stop cars!) - OW OW OW - most emabarassing of all - there were witnesses.

Oh well. I'll know better next time... and at least I can tell my running into the fence story to people - when I'm ready to be laughed at that is. Pam on the other hand had a similar experience with a fence that you might not hear until after a few cocktails...