Kind of a whiteout, not wipeout, there at the end

The woods were lovely, dark and deep (also muddy and then snowy) but I had miles (13.1 of them) to go before this weird little medal (and, more importantly, bottle opener) was mine for keeps. Eagle Creek Night Winter Trail Half Marathon in the bag. That's one.

Force of habit

Illinois Marathon training always begins the same way, by putting one (cold) foot out the door.