As I awoke on for today's run I peered at my digital indoor/outdoor thermometer and it read, -1 degrees...OK, I'm planning on doing the run whether I'm strapping on the Kahtoolas, snowshoes or cross-country skiis. Of course, I hadn't planned on being lazy and not shoveling the civic out the night before. But heck, I've never had a problem getting out of the driveway, until now. Realizing how late I was, I decided to take Diana's car. When I got to the meet spot, several cars including McKenzie's were there so I figured at least I might find the crew. I stuck to the Schultz Creek trail and once it got too deep to run I doubled back to the old CCC logging camp site and ran the trail up to the main road. Seeing no one, I figured I'd head up Schultz Creek Road until I saw Mackenzie. No such luck. After about 1.5 miles mostly staying on top of the snow, I turned around amid some gorgeous views of the Peaks. Somehow I missed all the runners but was glad to have gotten out. Despite the sub-zero temps, the sun felt pretty good and since it had been so cold, snow still clung to the ponderosas lining Schultz Pass Road. Upon returning home I called Mackenzie to find out that indeed, our friends from Phoenix, Rudy and Aldo had joined her, Don and Annika (Mackenzie's running pooch). They had taken the high road about 2.5 miles out and back, so I had completely missed them when I got to Schultz Pass Road.
Mackenzie relayed to me the answer to one of the most perplexing questions that we often have during every run. After 2.5 miles, the gang placed a GPS unit on Anneke to see just how far a dog runs. Anneke is known for running ahead and then returning to Mackenzie. On the 2.5 mile trek back to the vehicles, Annlka covered 4.22 miles!!!! And those are "snow" miles. Anyway, kudos to Mackenzie, Don, Aldo and Rudy for braving the cold this AM.
After returning home, Diana gave me the best present ever...the first NATRA running vest. Unfortunately I was too tired to hit the trails again so the field test will have to wait until tomorrow...
