A bit of mud and water today
Today was the second to last event in the Winter Trail Run Series – the Interlaken Icicle Dash. Not too well named this year, should have been the Interlaken Mud Run given the conditions of the trails after all the rain of the last few days. As usual I was there early for setup and registration which was a bit damp but not freezing cold like some of the other events have been. The warmer weather was good because I wanted to run this event after bailing on the St. Edwards run due to cold a few weeks ago.
The 10k does 4 laps on the course which goes out the paved trail, turns back and then finally ascends up single track to a very muddy turn-around. After the first lap I remembered why I didn’t ever want to do the 10k here, there are stairs involved, there are slippery as heck sections through tromped down grass and there were muddy descents where I felt like I was skiing instead of running. In the mud I slowed down so I wouldn’t end up getting injured, I figured finishing was enough, I didn’t need to be going for a PR in these conditions. My Luna Osos didn’t have the greatest traction in the mud so it was very important to keep my weight over my feet and slow down where needed, probably should have just worn the Altras but I’ve done the whole series in Lunas and kind of want to finish it off in Lunas.
The first lap went pretty fast since I ran the whole thing. The second lap I walked the steepest short uphill section. The third lap I walked the stairs and the steep part and by the fourth lap I pretty much walked all the uphills. I also forgot that this is one steep little course for being in the middle of the city. The 250′ climb per lap all happens in about 1/2 mile so it is way tougher than one would think. The slippery sections got more slick on each lap as the mud was made muckier by the hundreds of feet going over it. I was happy to hit the last mellow downhill stretch and come out on the pavement at the end. I crossed the finish in 1:01 which was pretty on target for other 10k runs with 1000′ of gain I’ve done at Lord Hill.
Next up is the Frost Eagle run at Soaring Eagle in two weeks, this will probably be the Muck Eagle if this weather keeps up. A few years ago it was so bad that my sandal got pulled off my foot and I ran the last stretch barefoot. I’m planning on only doing the 5-mile at Soaring Eagle, that place is rough with all the twisty turns, roots, rocks and mud that I really don’t want to run a winter half there, I’ll save my half marathon for the Watershed in early March.