The weather forecast was ominous; snow changing to sleet and freezing rain threatened to make the race a slog and the drive home (a little over an hour) treacherous, but we signed up for this race 13 months ago with the understanding that winter weather in Maryland is not always optimal for running.
Or maybe, like many trail runners, you consider snow, sleet, and freezing rain optimal race weather.
We arrived at the registration hall, picked up our race bibs and goodies, met some of our friends (including this lovely lady from Prague), and waited for the race to begin.

At exactly 9:00 we were lead to the starting line (using the most circuitous route possible, according to tradition), given some last-minute instructions, and at the sound of the official starting horn, were off.

Snowflakes began falling right on cue. I saw the first ones floating lazily down before the sound of the horn stopped reverberating through the woods.

The trails at the Fair Hill Nature Center are not especially gnarly by trail running standards, but there are rocks, roots, and rolling hills, along with at least one climb that certainly gets your attention.

The first aid station, decorated to look like the M*A*S*H set, was at mile 4.5. Volunteers, dressed as soldiers or doctors, dispensed crackers, candy, orange slices, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bananas, pretzels, Gatorade, Tailwind, beer, and Jello shots to runners along with encouraging words.

To read the complete race review, please go here:
https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2020/01/23/phabulous-phantastic-and-phun/

Link to this review