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Wanderers get "Chilly Cheeks" and other Frozen Extremities!
Neither 2-degree wind chills, nor 14 mile per hour winds nor frozen
ground kept the Wanderers from their appointed trail race, namely
this year's Chilly Cheeks 7.2-miler in Reading, PA Sunday, January
20th. Not only was it cold enough to freeze your eyeballs shut, but
the monster of a course was not for the faint of heart. Projected
to be the hardest course that race director Ron Horn puts out there,
the race certainly did not disappoint. The first hill was a bush-whacking
scramble up the side of a mountain as runners searched for any sign
of a "trail." Other climbs were dubbed "Buster Hill," (busting
every muscle fiber in your body), "Whaddafug Hill," (speaks
for itself) and the notorious "Mt. Mudd," a mad, clawing
push up the back side of a parking lot drop-off which had to be re-routed
up a "trench" due to fallen trees and various shrapnel
in the area. With a layer of crunchy snow still left in Reading,
the down hills proved to be even more treacherous as runners risked
losing their footing and slipping into oblivion on the jagged rocks
below. Speaking of jagged rocks, there were "ankle-breakers" a-plenty
however the Wanderers were victorious in that no ER visits were required.
Seven ballsy runners showed the field of 422 how it's done "Wanderers
style." Chris Verry was out in front scampering to 33rd place
in 1:05:22. Next, proving that Wanderers stick together in any kind
of weather were Doug Dubrosky (40th in 1:06:47), Erik
Johnson (41st
in 1:06:49) and Josh Dennis (42nd in 1:07:01). It was a virtual conga-line
of speed! Then it was Polly Jansen finishing 138th in 1:17:42 after
charging by two guys on Mt. Mudd (with Chris' coaching). Matt
Mauren who was cursing the name of Chris Verry for "encouraging" him
to do this race, finished a strong 156th in 1:19:33. Anita
Zalewski rounded up the Wanderers field finishing 359th in 1:41:24.
The Wanderers also had a terrific support team on board. Gabe
Mauren,
braving frostbite while stationed atop Mt. Mudd cheered the weary,
wind-whipped Wanderers to the finish. Beth Mauman, on loan to us
from the Pagoda Pacers was stationed at the 2nd water stop/beer stop
providing what she dubbed "chewy" beer to the frozen runners.
She also happily assisted in consuming the excess beer slushies so
none would go to waste! Back at the ranch (the Liederkrantz club),
runners were treated to hot coffee, cold beer & an Irish band
while they swapped war stories of the carnage they endured. Next
up, the Ugly
Mudder Feb. 17th!
Wanderers
chill (thaw-out) after the race. L-R: Polly Jansen,
Gabe Mauren,
Chris Verry, Doug Dubrosky, Matt Mauren
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