First Snowstorm 10k -- Sat. December 8

Again after a busy week and no training, but what the heck -- have to start somewhere. So up at a good hour and drive in on a cold, freshly snow-dusted morning to reach Forest Park at about 9:30. Do a modicum of warmup running: slippery under the snow, and not too cold, so with hat and gloves but also shorts, head to the start. Nice turn-out, though none I know personally. Aiming to go gently for first 1-2 miles, and so we go. Make steady start, hold off for about 1.5 miles, then decide to pass chap in front and stay marked on the guy who's run 200 of these (aged 56, but no way I'm actually catching him, it turns out. Make a push near the end, but he does the same, and then we're joined by a much faster guy who'd gotten lost and rejoined the route (not the only one, it becomes clear at the end). No real sprint, but feeling pretty good after the finish:

Time: 41:51
Distance: 10k (6.34 miles on digivice)
Speed: 9.1 mph

Comment: very happy about the speed and 5th of 68 entrants is a high place, albeit in a somewhat depleted Snowstorm field. Nice way to get the season started, though, and I've got a target for the next 10k now.