![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEE8yE_iIZCSe1lPW3QWUtcgRw_ObJA2Rmoq7tgC8PrWpbM4qAFgS-krqNgjxwycH1OF-h_3-XBSXPsghHTCvZHONRAEZj3SH2olMa7wB4IZFJOwVfz_5l9NlQ6myY7XZZ_So-MXwIx0/s400/11.29.10winthrop+111.jpg) |
Snow run in the mountains near Winthrop, WA |
Who knew snow running was so hard? From the first few steps in the 6-8 inch+ snow I knew I was in for an epic 21 miler. Or really I thought,
okay I am ready to stop! Such silly thoughts... must be ignored. Each step was a small miracle of balance and strength. My legs felt tired from the previous days run (11 miles), a regular lack of sleep, and a few months of almost weekly 50Ks. On top of that, I came into the run a bit unprepared coming from Western Washington's coastal Whidbey Island. I wore my minimal Inov-8 shoes and just barely kept my feet warm enough during the run. I admit, I KNEW this was not a good idea. I still did it. At one point I asked William and James,
so what are the signs of frost bite? My toes did finally warm up after I put on an extra jacket (thank god) that I brought with me.
To give you some background, William, James, and I ran close to and on the Sun Mountain trails near Winthrop, WA during Thanksgiving weekend. Winthrop received half a foot of snow the week before, and the temperatures stayed low enough that the snow remained. We followed what at times looked like a snow covered trail and at other times looked like a snow covered field or mountain. I'm not sure how the guys knew where the trail was, but I was glad they did! A few times William and James had to stop and figure out where the trail was. At one point James led William and me up a steep mountainside covered in snow, to find the trail a bit farther up. How many more miles do we have left?
It was quite the adventure despite the many new challenges. All in all, the run took us 7 hours to go 21 miles. That's pretty freaking long. Gives you an idea of the unusual conditions!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0sDBpAZHow_ZH08z-gs-RK80h5FfFziHwpftrhL3wj4VzL9wtqwKQJazDUkPov18Jqz0LbK6ZoMzjYgaJbMWzoj6ozqfcqXcH-SlsgEuPGpX98WhC6XBcaYA-p2dqZWJRNMLUBCEi2k/s320/11.29.10winthrop+006.jpg) |
I purchased chains for my car before I attempted Steven's Pass with my Matrix. I didn't end up needing them, luckily, even though there was snow on the pass and on the east side of the mountains. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2CS9aHhj0sBjk1owVCRXqHrbIFlWCYBS99THJ2DrNoJZALOjFpiN-J6QFxFlEHwxDFoLMFHd8VeoS1kmUZhA5UgcFYpEQYt5-uIPh9WLyyITSfHqUKWQu1E4yeU3ulv9wqMI2ryHGks/s320/11.29.10winthrop+081.jpg) |
Looks coooooold |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouSMECa23Y79kuClNeuFJx7FlqtoQj6IvUVqre3EP0mUJJlozxN_HqRwlUrZo0PnaRquIG-VZiGYv0_foGFb_wd8-epZsHeOk-ygMmbMZ6yH17zUjJOaG6ymEJarTCra6kxCRjqgiQZg/s400/11.29.10winthrop+084.jpg) |
James in the foreground, William in the background. The freezing temps made incredible ice art on the grass. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6i0G94R41vrWzPKgBcGtzcUFOSVvDFE30LZVIiHYwCjTaQJfObuACv09uk2LHdjyVYHj0QybatHYM1Lvx_KsRdj7W5KOCxHeI5QA3LowDuydacx-Q55bi1hhxN8iDspHcPjHJKX7AXU/s320/11.29.10winthrop+085.jpg) |
It was pretty difficult to get a grip on the trail with the dry snow, I felt like I was moving forward one and a half steps for every two steps. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfafWLtwQGtjkvVVV0ZYAIYmKNN2vah01526UB7MZIus7BDqXyEV5g4FzNNtkb_elhgdjeao2KNrE-L4Xvm_BKxG8wvo2PkprCqgRurNwymgo94eSO7GG_mXm35DlYpTUXIRoeVdmaH2w/s320/11.29.10winthrop+095.jpg) |
The Popsicle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYC1VL9HiYx34zLdt9IXgwLxHWAkMhoSGVM6S_DxGST-QgOK_KDI9JkrIUaXcspfeW2PPC9-guu0SlRnPCI6VfQLzbqUIIXOnW68Ah_ApMe57Pg017ZOvz48ECvOjRIheKS9cUDeOJLI/s400/11.29.10winthrop+099.jpg) |
Where is the trail? James stops to assess the mountainside. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qR9_BnLMr0pO_n83lcTmOv21qPhPtMqvDrqAgKLSyHdjmr-TuN19wWfiEtbTN20Voh-1FMo5cTbzbFuj9HM5-z1bpNIghPeUWrj0QPPpRIMuysYqIHqpPkxBWFfEt1oAQvoK7Gp3m-E/s400/11.29.10winthrop+103.jpg) |
William and James |
The Snow Shoes:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkVxM-2hQf9Z2yQMtwpO1-_yLtfU4C8CwE0cc2Lea1WJ5_qa2uIoy1fUA_LKxwfeNUvcOJ5X4Bh0rqnM2xtvgbY3d3m8a_xCWysMiRpERv00JI5z6yqGIbOmNep_Bcqvt6j_Lba8dvEw/s320/11.29.10winthrop+117.jpg) |
James |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx4tdkDKAN_5SjslbsgHUvu165-IaCgd-dtCMAcTK4pu1M4HONsGX3JDlWSO0dQCyKyxwrUKqT63pImIgO97QBCt9txeIzmP5z8OlAa-jRpgvSoKNoyCczRVJE4Hp0EQ5NhyphenhyphenIJiBNZ8o/s320/11.29.10winthrop+118.jpg) |
Candice |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWVMtGV9u1ypHuf8EraMCzxBwK3Fmj6Fab2dWfJHKaURvjqdKLytxCgISCvUacd0QF5O_ZtN9MRE0yurQ3Q8hZMP_HnGfLFeawgL9buYXc1mNjtMDE-PDHQyG0mMcC7LGWziWdZ3RjO8/s320/11.29.10winthrop+119.jpg) |
William |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8stHnzcxKsC4qk1UbpUd7_0mfICWpMdDZBHehOg3Hq4r1p2Kn7VpnqSrZwtAhbahSWk-b5Z1xLdi3Ixz78XowPGzi_1w10epo2NhlPQMKwjgJK1lYuWwd3mMq6VxRwsdIKn42mT3aos/s320/11.29.10winthrop+120.jpg) |
Team Photo |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3gtuk5Sic7GcebovRQieYESGEXyovxqFdT0ZVSijfKCBtuuf6sdD-7K12It2mebXmFoGiAn2LZRPp-tkH2xpby3xIRq6p4R9oTLX6YfeIEzyYNoNtYao0Vlt9TULyLRXU5uOXIRO-X8/s320/11.29.10winthrop+121.jpg) |
Bye Winthrop....Headed home into the sunset. |
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