Updates from the Funderstorm

Both SnackyPants and Toots-in-Tights are hoping that 2008 is a big year for racing. In fact, T/T has dubbed 2008, "two thousand and race." The girls are currently choosing their races for the year and working on a race calendar. While it may be slim pickins for adventure races right now, the girls have found lots of other ways to stay in shape and get ready for the 2008 race season.

On January 19th, SP headed down to Michigan (she's thinking about asking for dual citizenship, since this was the 4th trip down in six months) for the Witchy Wolf Run - a 15 mile night trail race run under a full moon in the middle of nowhere, Michigan. Alerted to this race by a fellow Michigan adventure racer, she thought it would be a good and crazy way to start off 2008.

As it turned out, January 19th was the coldest night of the winter thus far, with the thermometer reading -17 without the windchill. There were about 100 other crazies out there with nothing better do do on a Saturday night than run around in the cold. Standing at the start line waiting to the race to begin, the reality, and the cold, began to sink in. With the race starting 25 minutes late, there was lots of time to question the sanity of this decision, as well as to wonder why the hell there was a guy wearing shorts. Once the wolf howled however (the official start to the race), SP began to warm up and the race turned out to be a rather pleasant jaunt through snow-covered backroads with the occasional bushwhack and river crossing. The race was pretty low-key, with no mile markers, four aid stations that had only water, and 1 aid station that had beer. Had the beer station not been only 1.5 miles from the finish, SP would loved to have partaken. Much to her surprise, SP won her age group and was awarded with a unique prize - a big ol' chunk of wood painted with a wolf on it. All in all, it was definitely a unique and worthwhile race. For just a $28 entry fee, competitors got a long sleeve technical shirt, a personalized 2008 Witchy Wolf dog tag, and lots of yummy homemade chicken noodle soup at the end of the race. So next January, if you are looking for something crazy to do, consider a drive up to Omer, Michigan (smallest city in the state) for the Witchy Wolf Run. A 2-person relay option exists for those not keen on racing the full 15 miles.

Funderstorm's next big adventure is a mere 45 days away! Both girls are incredibly excited to get out of the cold when they head to Jalcomulco, Mexico for FAR's expedition training camp from March 15-22. Stay tuned for more details!

Adieu to 2007 and Welcome 2008!

With less races to choose from at the end of the year, Funderstorm was itching for something fun to do to cap off 2007. Something that they could say, "that was the craziest thing I've done all year" about. Enter Crazy JF, whose identity has been protected, who the girls met skiing at the beginning of December. Apparently, JF's idea of fun is go hiking on the Bruce Trail, all night long. So, despite their apprehensions, SP and T/T joined JF and three other equally crazy people for an all night hike on a very rainy and slushy December evening. The girls thought it would be great training for their upcoming trip to Mexico and a great way to get rid of some of the cookies they ate over the holidays. As it turned out, it was also a great way to get rid of some pesky toenails too.

The group met in Kilbride with the goal of hiking through the night. Departing just before 9:00pm under a steady drizzle, the girls immediately discerned that this was not going to be a walk in the park. Now, we're not going to bore you with all the details of the 7 hours spent hiking through the slushy Bruce Trail. Needless to say, it was fun, in that crazy kind of wanting to punish your body way. In true form, SP brought along many a tasty treat to enjoy out on the trail, while T/T instructed no one to laugh while she was trying to climb hills. Both girls thought it was a great experience to log some good miles on foot and practice their sleep deprivation. They also feel fortunate to have found some training partners crazier than they are and look forward to more all night treks in the upcoming months. It was, as they had hoped, a great way to round off a fun-filled and adventurous 2007.

Here's to an even funner 2008!