Garth's Freeze yer Gizzard 10k Report Pictures added

garth · Postby **garth** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:08 pm

Well yesterday we drove the 2 hrs to International Falls Minnesota to run this race. I had not run a full 10 k outside since late October so i knew it may be a challenge.

The weather all week had been into the deep freeze but Saturday it got milder but this meant a new 10 cm snowfall to travel over.

The start is unique as they shoot a couple black powder rifles and then we were off. As usual we were running at a higher pace than i thought sustainable. Even though the roads had been plowed and sanded there was still a layer of loose snow/sand mix where your feet slipped.

There was one group running 10 and 1 and I considered running with them but thought I would walk water stations (there were 2 for the 10k). One girl using yak tracks soon took them off as they did not seem to help.

At the 5 k mark we were continuing a "too fast" pace and i was feeling it. I was able to get out onto some more hard pack ice on the road and the effort seemed easier.

I was feeling good as we hit the 8 k water station and i walked it out but when i started again i felt heavy. At the 50 minute mark my buddy asked me what our time was. I told him and a girl beside us was super excited as she seemed to be running the best time of her life. I encouraged her to try to stay with us and we may hit in under an hour. She was able to stay with us for a bit but slowly dropped a bit.

My legs that had been running a tread mill and had not run a 10 k for 2 months were screaming as we rounded the corner to the finish line. My best time for this run had been in the 58-59 minute mark but as we approached the finish, the clock was running at 57 minutes so I tried to give it an extra bit.

Crossed the line in a PB of 57:29. With a push like that on slippery footing the legs are feeling it today.

They had a nice medal and great give away bag with lots of trinkets, deal vouchers and a real nice spread of snacks for post race food.

This is a small town race with lots of character. We did not stay but there is a runner reception at the Holiday inn later in the day with movies of the run, free snacks and FREE BEER.

All in all a great day.

Post Script feel good message: When we were leaving about 1/2 hour after the race was basically over with the finish line taken down. The police were still sitting at the entrance. I was wondering what was going on and 1 km later we came across the answer. There was one lone runner run/walking the race out at a slow pace. He was a very large man and likely did not run a lot but seemed determined to finish. The local International Falls police were supplying him a personal escort even though the race course was in effect closed.

We honked our horn in recognition for his effort and in retrospect think i should have got out and finished it with him. My hat this weekend goes off to that man.

You can think what you want about American bravado but that picture to me captured what makes the story of the dream real. The effort of the individual and the support of the community to finish....Yes we can

There were only medals available for the first 100 finishers but i wrote the race director indicating that if that person did not get one that i would be willing to send him mine.

His race meant a lot more to him than mine did to me i believe

Postby **Marg** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:15 pm

Very cool, in all respects... way to go Garth!

chunkymonkeymelonhed · Postby **chunkymonkeymelonhed** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:47 pm

Well done Garth! Thank you for including the postscript feel good message. That is awesome! Good on the police officers supporting that fella to the end. Nice.

Jo-Jo · Postby **Jo-Jo** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:56 pm

Congrats on the PB.
Awesome post race message...I hope this person does get a medal..very inspiring.

scrumhalfgirl · Postby **scrumhalfgirl** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:23 pm

congrats - sounds like a special event.

runcherylrun · Postby **runcherylrun** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:29 pm

Great race report Garth & congrats on an awesome time considering the conditions & the temps so far this winter.

And you've once again shown the true gentleman you are in offering up your medal. :clap:

DougG · Postby **DougG** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:36 pm

Garth, that's a great report and a terriffic race, congrats on the PB. That was very classy of you to offer your medal, and it says alot about the race organizers and local police that they went out of their way to escort the man in. It took a lot of courage for him to keep going, it would have been so easy for him to pack it in.
That's what running is all about. What a great story.

Very classy Garth. Bravo. :clap:

Strider · Postby **Strider** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:16 am

Well Done. Very impressive race and post race. Cheers

blank · Postby **blank** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:55 am

Congrats Garth!

Well done to PB under less than ideal conditions. I'm sure you'll PB again later in the year when the conditions are better.

I really enjoyed your report. Let us know if you hear from the race director about the medal for the last runner.

AirForceRunner · Postby **AirForceRunner** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:39 pm

Great race report...and the post race report really opened my eyes. What an AWESOME gesture.
Bravo!

seuss · Postby **seuss** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:07 pm

DougG wrote:Garth, that's a great report and a terriffic race, congrats on the PB. That was very classy of you to offer your medal, and it says alot about the race organizers and local police that they went out of their way to escort the man in. It took a lot of courage for him to keep going, it would have been so easy for him to pack it in.
That's what running is all about. What a great story.

Very classy Garth. Bravo.

Doug basically said it all. great report Garth. i love the name of this race - so fun!

garth · Postby **garth** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:12 pm

Just got a reply from the race director.

Hi Garth,
Thanks so much for your feedback and interest in the final 10k runner. He did make it in. I am checking with him to make sure he received a medal and if he didn't, we will send one to him. We have a few left over and I will make sure he gets one of them.

We look forward to seeing you here next year for the 30th Annual Freeze yer Gizzard Blizzard Run!

All is well!

seuss · Postby **seuss** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:15 pm

garth wrote:Just got a reply from the race director.

Hi Garth,
Thanks so much for your feedback and interest in the final 10k runner. He did make it in. I am checking with him to make sure he received a medal and if he didn't, we will send one to him. We have a few left over and I will make sure he gets one of them.

We look forward to seeing you here next year for the 30th Annual Freeze yer Gizzard Blizzard Run!

All is well!

excellent!

UltraQueenga · Postby **UltraQueenga** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:30 pm

Sounds like a really nice event! Great report, Garth!

Dr. S · Postby **Dr. S** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 11:33 pm

Good job on the PB!

Very nice of the race organisers to let the heavier man have the opportunity to finish his race. Sounds like a great event.

garth · Postby **garth** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:21 pm

The Race Logo

My Wife (357) and her friend, they walked the 5k

Myself and a friend

Me. had to take the fleece mitts off by now.

NewFinnLoper · Postby **NewFinnLoper** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:12 pm

Great report Garth...sounds like a good time. Glad it wasn't too cold, but then the 'brown sugar snow' can be a challenge in and of itself.

Love the pictures!

(p.s. we have a Hash House Harrier in Winnipeg named for this race...he's called Chilly Willy - and has done the race a few times.)

flexrun · Postby **flexrun** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:20 pm

Congrats on your race. I really liked the part about the guy in the end. He must have been very determined to finish. I am glad to hear that he is getting a medal, you are right he deserves one!

Garth's Freeze yer Gizzard 10k Report Pictures added

Garth's Freeze yer Gizzard 10k Report Pictures added

Who is online