Today was the 10th Annual Chilly Chili 5k race in Cazenovia, NY that benefits the Cazenovia Children’s House. I lived in Caz when the race first began, and spent a number of the first years watching from my apartment window as I thought all of the runners were just plain crazy. I recall one year a snow storm came through right at the start of the race and was so bad that you literally couldn’t see 20 feet in front of you. One minute I could see the race route out the window, and the next all it was was snow.
Anyways, when I started running 5 years ago I decided to do this race. I still remember the first year it was about 18 degrees outside, and we thought that was cold! The next year it was slightly colder if I recall, and two years when I raced it it was about 8 degrees. Yea today it was even colder! It was roughly 9 degrees out when the race went off, but with the windchill it was about -6. There were no PR’s to be set today, and it just meant that we all would wear more layers and run a bit slower…well most of us, as the #1 finisher still ran a 5 minute pace and finished in 16:47.
I wasn’t too concerned about the temps because I knew I would have enough layers on, but the picture above shows you just how prepared I was for today. I’ve only worn that full face hat twice, including today, and boy was it necessary. I started walking to the start line without it on, but turned back as my cheeks were getting just bitter cold. Mid race I took it off because I was so warm, but it still came in handy at the end because once I slowed down I was once again cold.
Overall the course is not one to set a PR because of one hill at mile 1, but combine the snow from the storm we got last night and the course was the equivalent of running on the beach with sneakers on. Just the feeling of sand the entire way. The last mile is all pretty much downhill, but right towards the end when I wanted and needed my footing to push was when I just couldn’t dig in. It does make me want to invest in a pair of Yaktrax to see if that would help with these types of conditions.
I finished in just under 30minutes, which I consider a big accomplishment considering the elements we were all running in today. It was for a great cause, and in the end the weather is really what makes the Chilly Chili special…well that and the chili cook-off they have at the after party!
