Got in a nice 7.5 miles on some great single track. Enough usage that the snow was packed nicely other than a couple areas where the wind was drifting snow over and it was a bit deep. Ran into an old guy hiking who was also wearing microspikes so we both chatted up their virtues. He told me that last year he slipped and fell on his head and ended up in the ER so he thinks the cost of the spikes are pretty cheap compared to that. He just might be on to something there...

Anyway, I am free for a bit so I'll be heading to Frozen Head park in Tn (Barkley venue) and then to the Red River Gorge area of Eastern Ky. for some chilly camping and trail usage. I've run the Red River Gorge area in the past and it is incredible with cliffs, arches, etc. It may still be cold there but it will be an improvement over Siberia/Wisconsin. Head out later tomorrow.

moonlight--I did get your PM and I am very interested in doing that. Actually I'm glad you brought it up and jogged my brain on that event. Appreciate your offer on the shuttle too, one less thing to think about. Looked at the map of the course and it does seem a little different from back when I did it but should still be a winner. We'll have to stay in touch.  BTW--It seems like a lot of events utilize power company right of ways as there are a lot of infamous power line sections scattered about but let me tell you--the power line section of this race is intense. 

QOTD--No idea but yeah I remember Mighty Mouse, that's a good one.

That's a good stretch, thanks. I use something similar to that on long runs, holding onto a tree.
I don't think my issue is serious, I've felt out of alignment for quite some time and the recent
pain may just be a culmination of running while my body compesates. I'm in pain in lower
back, left side, I don't have full range of motion when bending or twisting. I'm amazed that
I groan when I twist in bed but I can still run without pain, that tells me in ain't serious.

Almost every time I have back pain, the first step is to stretch out the hip flexors. They are the villains rotating my hips forward and pulling my lower back out of alignment.

Nice rain coming down outside.

 

Looking forward to a 13:19:13 tempo run tonight.  My goal is to do the first 13 slow enough , that I can run the Middle 19 3o seconds faster pace...

Are you talking miles in your 13-19-13? If so, that's quite the training run!