Road Warrior Blog

18 February 2008

ICE RUN ‘08

Posted by Matt Stargardt under: Matt Stargardt .

This week I knew I was going to have to skip the RUNGAZELLE long run as we were planning to head North for mid winter break.  Fortunately my brother, who is training for Boston in April, was also going to be up, so at least I would have some company on my long run. We decided on Sunday (2/17) as best day to try to squeeze it in, and we both needed to get between 14 and 16 miler. My brother and I have a history of pounding on each other on runs, but on this run the weather itself was to do the pounding.   We awoke to Traverse being coated in a 1/4 in of ice.  As I let the dog out,  it was all I could do just to stand up in the driveway.  This was not good.   It was relatively warm…about 32, but there was mostly rain coming down and it was encasing everything with ice. We discussed our options…..but it was today or do the run alone back in Grand Rapids on Monday.  Yes, we could have easily decided not to run, but my brother and I are kind of cut from a similiar cloth.  We both had our Yaktrax, so we decided to head out and if it really got bad we could turn around.   We geared up and slid down the roads to the base of Old Mission Pennisula.  The view heading down to the bay is always nice, but it was especially strange to see the reflection of the bay in the road. 

So we put on the Yak Trax and started up the road.  The plan was to run out for an hour and then turn around.  In our hurry to leave we forgot or gels and water….but no big deal we found two granola bars in the car. If we were able to put in between 14 and 16 mile, then great.   The road conditions were insane.  Even with full Yaks, our only traction was on the 4 inch shoulder between the road and the snow bank.  We debated on which side of the road to even be on.  Do you want to see the car lose control before it hits you, or would you rather get it by surprise? 

We watched a figure in the distance slowly shuffle across the road to get the morning paper.  It took him several minutes and he was still hanging on to his mailbox when we got up to him.  He just looked at us blankly. 

“How are you boys staying on your feet?”

“Magnets”

 By mile three I was soaked, I looked at my brother and his hat brim was solid ice.  The front of my jacket was also frozen in the slight head wind.  My gloves were like sponges and my Mizuno’s were filled with more water than a small fish tank.  I’m getting cold and I have a long way to go.  I look over at him and water is beading off his back. He has his jacket partially unzipped because he is too hot.   When we get to the center highway,  we find an actual 3 foot shoulder to run on.  Of course it is covered with 3 inches of slush. The road is still a skating rink.  I keep pulling my jacket away from my stomach to try and create some “wetsuit” effect as my body warms the air between the jacket and my skin.

We run for a couple miles up the highway.  As we turn off to follow the Bayshore route we see a sight that makes us laugh.  There in the middle of a field is a Hummer.  Just buried.  I don’t know why I like seeing big four wheel drives stuck…….but I do……especially this one, which looked like a classic case of someone the night before showing off to his friends.  

As we approach the time to turn around, I am not doing well.  I’m cold and hungry and I know all I have is a Granola bar to get me back.  I’m already feeling a little low on sugar and we have been putting out a huge effort just to stay upright.  As we stop and eat the bar, I also realize that its getting hard to hear my brother……which makes me think I have started to ride the bonkville express.   The problem is I’m an hour out.  I could always send my brother ahead and he drive back to get me………but no that’s not an option.  Can you imagine the lifetime of jokes?  Besides that will not get me warm.  I adjust my hat and  realize the source of my hearing problem.  My hat has become a ice helmet.  If I pull up the hat I can hear just fine. 

We turn around.  Garmin says we have 7.7 miles to get back to the car.  It always feels good to be heading home.  The wind is now at our back, and that is enough to let me warm back up.   Then we look up and see a vehicle flying up the road. 

Now when it comes to horns there are a lot of meanings that you can get from them.  There is the  friendly short “hello” honk and the slightly longer “hey the light is green” honk  …..The several second Chicago  “Hey the light will be turning green” blast.  Then there is the freight train honk.  The horn that precedes the thing running you over.  

The  horn started low and seemed to shake the road.  Definitely freight train like.  It was a plow with one edge of his blade on the centerline and the other side clipping the bank.  You could see the slush flying for a good 20 feet off the side, and the driver plowing was on shear ice….   We had two choices.  We could try and cross quickly and hope we didn’t slip on the ice in front of the plow,  or dive off the road over the bank and be slushed at the least. I dive down the bank. My brother stands on the bank.  At the last second he slams  the brakes and lifts the plow.  I flash him the peace sign……(really)….. he just points the glowing end of a cigarette in my direction.   We hear the reverse beeps and hope it isn’t coming for us. We try to pick up the pace which results in more sliding around. Thankfully he turns up a side road.

With about 20 minutes to go, I’m dragging.  I’m low on food.  I’m thirsty and cold.  My legs are heavy.  I try eating some snow to perk me up.  I just want to get done.  That’s when we encounter the second plow.  He is driving slow and behind him is a fountain of salt and sand.  I give the double thumbs up. He waves back. The ice rink disappears within 200 meters and we finally have solid footing.  This is enough to help me get in.

Looking back, I had made 4 major mistakes before even starting this run.  First, in the interest of saving time, we neglected to pick up any gels, sport beans, water or even a powerbar to get us through the run.   While the Granola was better than nothing, I know how much I need to bring in on a long run and this was not near enough.  Second, I tried out a new set of cross country skis the day before, and I spent a good portion of the ski trying to get my kick wax right…….long story short, I was very sore.    It is depressing when you realize you can run for 2 hours but 20 minutes of skiing left me sore.  My legs felt dead from the first step.   The third mistake I made was in clothing selection.  I grabbed one of my older GorTex Shells and slipped on a short sleeve wicking tshirt underneath.  It would have been great if my GorTex shell was still as repellent as the day I bought it…………but it was not up to the task.  I’ve found that some of my shells have not aged well…..a long sleeve thermal top would have helped me.  

 My final mistake was that I knew better.  Every year I seem to get myself into a run like this when I don’t follow my own rules for a good long run and end up paying the price.  I am pretty sore today, but no permanent damage. 

Would I do it again? You bet.

 Matt

2 more cold runs

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