Vancouver Lake Half Marathon

Sunday I did the Vancouver Lake Half Marathon. Woke up to the yard and roads being covered in snow and a 31 degree temperature. It wasn't a problem driving though and made it to the lake and got the packet and t-shirt. Lined up and Natalie got up front and I stayed back with coach Denise and ran a medium pace to start and then about a 9 pace until the halfway point and then my right leg got stiff so I had to fall back from Denise. She yelled back "come on- you're faster than me." Kept running, but it felt like a crawl.
Came in at 2:05 for a 9:36 pace and ten minutes slower than last year. It was really fun saying high and high-fiving all the people from the club I go to that were doing the race. The club had a van and tent/awning type thing set up and had a stove with turkey soup made by Brian and hot chocolate. Got back to there and found out Natalie had won her age group!!
She smoked the course at a 1:36 even with slush on the path part of the course.
The day before Sarah, Julie, Natalie, and I went up to Mirror Lake by Mt Hood and did a 5 mile snowshoe. Natalie and I were first time snowshoeers, but Sarah and Julie were pros. We had to walk for almost a mile each way on the plow hill just to get to the trailhead because of no parking at the summer trailhead. Got to the lake and it was beautiful and we were alone. Sarah pulled out a flask and hot chocolate and we drank and made snow angels.

Then on the way down we did follow the leader going off trail in silly ways. Saw about 20 people coming up as we were going down. At one point we met a group of about 6 or 7 young girls, so Julie took their picture and they took our picture. Got back to the cars and went to the Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp for unhealthy, but filling food. That whole day was a blast- but may have tired my legs for the run. Pictures are courtesie of Sarah.