24 mile Winter run with Zoolinder

·         Cat wakes me up at 4 and I put him out to catch mice in the snow – take that you little bastard

·         Just getting back to sleep when the alarm goes off at 4:50 –get your ass up, it's time to run

·         Zoo texts me at 5 sharp – ready to roll

·         Put all my stuff in the car, but can’t take a dump– screw it, the snow will hide it on the trails

·         Roads are snow covered – looks cool – no snow plows yet

·         2 miles from home and realize I forgot my watch – damn it

·         Get to the start, freezing my ass off waiting outside for Zoo to get ready in his nice warm car – what the hell is he doing in there?

·         5:40, on the trail, dark – new fallen snow, crunch, crunch, crunch of snow under the feet – easy on the legs, nice – I could do this all day…

·         Crunch, Crunch, CRASH – Whoa – Zoo takes a spill – he’s ok, good– now I can laugh my ass off

·         Beautiful Snow falling, quiet, head lamps - should've brought my GoPro camera, left it in the car – easy does it – it’s going to be a long one

·         Porta John stop – nice, no need to go in the woods – dark - cold, wet seat – damn it

·         Climb the hill – footing a bit slippery, but good enough – easy does it

·         Tire tracks to run in – nice, good break on the legs

·         Loop 1 done… easy does it

·         Loop 2 done… starts raining on and off – sheet of ice forms on my vest, hat, eyebrows – what the hell are we doing out here?

·         Loop 3 stop at car, get fuel, drop headlamps, check time – Zoo can only go a little longer

·         8:15 - Loop 3.25, Zoo turns around to take care of wife and kids– good man that Zoolinder

·         Loop 4 done after one more porta john stop – still feeling ‘ok’ – Zoo said the record is 4 loops - how long was each loop? 4.6 miles + the run from the car - can I do one more?– wish Zoo were here to work through this, it's gonna hurt – roll the dice – go for it Kona – you can do this

·         Get to turnaround before big hill, see 2 more runners about to start - dumb bastards

·         Start the climb – plow has been through but what is left is a sheet of ice – small steps Kona, easy does it, find the traction…

·         Damn this hurts, back, legs, foot – relax, just keep moving –you’re too wet and it’s too cold to slow down

·         9:30 – Loop 5 done – get to car, start ‘er up – drink a shit load, eat banana, soaking wet - no place to stretch in the snow – painful ride home as legs start to stiffen up – get home and stretch like a mother – hot shower – food – nap - read – rest is history

I love this epic shit – you only live once, gotta soak it in