OWL-DRAGON

Icicle 10 Miler – Wilmington, Delaware

Back in December I ran the Reindeer Romp which I never blogged about. The ran began at 3PM on a Sunday. It was cold and very wet. I tried weakly to console a fellow runner that it wasn’t the worst weather I had ever run in. But it was in fact very close to the worst. However, about today’s run there is no ambivalence – the weather was really awful. It had snowed overnight but by daylight it was raining. Well the forecast last night said the rain would end by 9AM just in time for the race. HA!

This is a nice course – almost the same footprint as the Caesar Rodney Half Marathon – but very hilly. The first three miles thru city streets were slush covered. Once in Rockwood Park the road is even snowier (apparently these roads aren’t plowed). The three miles thru the park are all uphill and this was rough running. Did I mention the rain? It never did stop – a cold, steady rain.

Near mile six just as we came out the park the leader past us on his way back. Amazing given the conditions. Nobody, even close to him.

Once out onto Rt. 52 the running is a little easier. It’s up to the MBNA building but not around it as in the CR. Then back – a nice three mile downhill but hard to get traction in the snowy slush. In the park they had a water station – got to admire these volunteers – we’re crazy to run but what about the volunteers who man the intersections and water stops.

Out of the park is a steep uphill – very icy – slow but steady going up. One runner stops but another barrels ahead and quickly regrets it as he loses his footing. Fortunately no fall. Feels good to come out on the flat and sprint down to the finish. Slow race but satisfying. I hadn’t run ten miles since the Philly Marathon. In fact I haven’t been running much at all – partly by designed – partly by holiday pressure – and most recently by a persistent head cold (not to mention the fierce lows of last week that made if foolish to try to run with a cold). I wanted to do a trail run Friday but the howling winds convinced me to sleep in. Now I feel ready for a great spring.