Boston -107 -- Sat. Jan 2

A Snowstorm 5K and a snowy day -- just a perfect birthday treat! Didn't feel too much like getting up at first, but managed to leave by 8:15; the drive was mainly quite hairy, with lots of slippery snow on all the roads. Skidded past the stop line at several junctions, including at least one red light (that was fortunately about to turn green). Got to the park and decided to take car right to the boathouse--but then couldn't drive down the slope as folk advised it was too slippery. Registered and retrieved my hat, gloves, and digivice (yay!), then went to warm up (still wearing longs). Feeling pretty faded after the last couple of days, but got 1.46 miles in before returning to the boathouse to stretch, then it was race time.

After a moment of silence for a GSH member who'd died (in his 50s), we were off, slipping and clambering up the first hill. It felt tough, though I was not quick and was a way back. Pushed on past a few and then toughed it out waiting for my stride to settle. It didn't get much easier, and I was close to pushing a bit, but the first mile was 6:45 ish, so I didn't worry. Then focussed on my target (no Billy this week, so Scott R instead) and steadily closed in. As we hit Sumner he took to the road,and I followed: good to have traction, even if everyone else took the shorter route on the sidewalk. Caught him as we slipped and skidded on the streets between the houses, and then went after the next guy, a young highschooler. Got him before the downhill, then just worked to stay ahead, which I did barely, though he closed a bit at the end. Here's the data:

Time: 20:41 (20:40 GPS)
Distance: 3.1 miles (3.18 GPS)
Pace: 6:40s

Comment: A bit gasping at the very end, from the effort at keeping traction. Came in 8th out of more than 100, good enough. Grabbed some food then headed off for the four mile extra loop of the 10K to get the mileage I needed. Took this easy at first, then woke up a bit and opened stride: ended up with 4.03 miles @ 30:48. This brings my weekly total to just over 25; again, good enough in the circumstances, if not quite where I need to be for the marathon... My first run as a Harrier, too!