So, since Mr. Snow did NOT listen and stay away, I decided to give him a run for his money!

No, he couldn't just listen, he HAD to come back! Alrighty Mr. Snow, that's enough!
So late last night I get the call that both the 10K training teams I coach will not be running on Saturday.
Booooo, Mr. Snow strikes again! And while I found that to be horrible news, I was uber-happy when I got Judy's email that the SNOW RUN for Saturday am was ON! (cabbage patch dance, whoop, whoop!)
I quickly swung into action, hit the running gear cabinet and carefully selected the perfect items for the morning: Cool Max running tights (courtesy of Jill who felt bad for me running in Capri's and tube socks last time), my fav Nike running shelf top, a light weight wicking thermal, visor (the lucky IronMan visor of course), ear band, SmartWool ankle socks, a wind breaker and my Running with Scissors gaiters! Sweet...all laid out in the closet floor for a quick dress in the am. Then it hit me - go grab those Ice Traction Slip-On's I had bought Bob 4 years ago - perfect. I do have very strong ankles, as proven during the Bear Creek icy 10 Miler that turned into a 16 Miler when I got lost - fell 3x hard from ankle rolls but since I was in the woods and no one saw me, it didn't really happen, right? But I was concerned about hitting an ice patch and knew my knee wouldn't take it. So I got them out, strapped them on my Brooks and tah-dah!

Here they are:

I had a good night's sleep and was up at 5am and excited! Although we weren't running until 9am, but that's okay. I woke the Hub up at 8:30am with a fresh pot of coffee and a kiss goodbye and I was off to the gym to meet the crazy crew. Of course I was the first one there due to my need to always be early. Then in comes Judy, Jill and Maggie and Mike was almost there, he was running from home to get his extra miles.
We get ready, clear our Garmin's and off we go...
As we started, poor Mike, being the token man on our girl run, was treated to some song singing and underwear talk, but he was warned, he's a good sport.
We get to the end of B. Road and round the corner on to LD Road, starting with a lovely uphill climb for our warm up - nice! As per typical, Maggie and Mike have a slighty faster tempo pace than us other 3, so off they went. Jill, Judy and I vowed to stay together.
As cars pass, we notice the looks of insanity we are getting from drivers...all I can do is smile! "Aren't you all jealous that you are missing out?" I sheepishly grin and think watching the passerbyer's stares.
As we trudge through the snow and slush, the precipitation is getting rather sleety and J, J and I notice that the foot prints of M and M are pretty fresh so they aren' that far in front of us. Out of the subdivision and getting across PG Road to Dump Road is a bit tricky due to ice and traffic. I think at this point I was babbling about the giveaway I registered for last night and noticed there was only one voice replying because poor Jill was still stuck on the other side of the road.
The 3 of us back together navigated our way down Dump Road, which is typically quiet but today we were blessed with a pissed off woman in an SUV that I truly believe purposely drove thru the slush to splash us...must have been because we looked so hot in our tights and she was jealous! LOL.
We turn off Dump Road onto BC Drive (another nice hill, yum,yum) and Jill needs a break but I was determined not to stop so I settled into a nice pace and pitter-pattered my way up the long stretch, knowing I would wait for them both at the light.
At the intersection, we wait like vehicles in the turn lane to cross onto PG Road...and Jill needs to retie her shoe - hello High Maintenance! So we pause momentarily and I look up and see it - that dang snow plow from last week, but this time he is plowing waterfalls of slush about 8 feet high! "To the other side NOW" I yell - we moved so fast you would have thought there was a shoe sale!
Tradegy avoided - back on the run which for the next stretch of 7 minutes or so, we were dutifully drenched by about 10 cars that seemed to be travelling at lightning speed. What were these people thinking? Actually I know what they were thinking "crazy women"!

We made it to my fav part of this loop - A Drive! This long stretch of road is pristine, untouched and utterly peacefully. I take a deep breath and just absorb the beauty! As we were moving along I looked up and there was a group of robins flying over with their red bellies blazing against the snow clouded sky. Amazing...we all took a few seconds staring up at them...then, as we all started talking about it I realized that one of my running partners had changed! Jill was still on my left but I apparently now had the Joker running on my right - yep, all of Judy's mascara and eyeliner had decided to travel down her face in a lovely pattern - as I looked at her she said, "how's my mascara?" All I could say is "What's up Joker!" I love her and it's all in good fun, but if you know Jill and Judy, they do not leave the house without their mascara and liner, which if something makes you feel good when you run, I say do it! Judy even ran a Firefighter 5K Fund Raiser in full turn out gear in 100 degree weather with her hair and make done, red lipstick included!
What's this? Excuse us sir..a car on our quiet road...oh, it's man salvaging his car after it spent the night in a ditch...we ask if he needs help, then he tells US to be safe. Hmmm...
Nice steep hill here - and the traction slip-ons are still rockin'..right past Waffle House (more people staring)..then the compliment of the day - Hot Guy in Monster pickup truck slows down, rolls down the window and says "Hey ladies, now you guys are HARD CORE!"
LOL! We wave, keep running then giggily turn to each other mumbling "he just called us hard core" and of course, where was Hot Maggie when the Hot Guy shows up? Darn it!
On the main road now and lots of traffic...lots more people looking at us like we are nuts...which I think in some small way most runners are. We round the final turn into the last straight away before the gym and light bulb goes off - we have always needed a group name - "Hard Core Biotches" that is our new name, of course it will have to be HCB as not to offend anyone (sorry Mom and Dad).  The final stretch to the gym, I am feeling good and muster up a sprint, I think Judy and Jill thought I needed to "go" to the bathroom, when in all reality I just felt THAT good.
What an amazing morning. Just as always...a great run, great times with great friends...as it should be!
Run done and we were off to IHop to reward ourselves!
Run safe, run happy!
-d