Once again,the official 9 AM Fairbanks temperature at
Fairbanks International Airport was colder than our official race cutoff
temperature of -25°F but, nonetheless, 10 runners and the Race Director
were in the parking lot at 11 AM, mostly ready to run. With the closest
temperature sign reading -35°F, the race was run without a hitch (and no
frostbite either). Up on West Ridge the sun had still not risen high enough, to
clear the layer of fog and haze lying over the Tanana Valley, to greet the
runners on their return along the out-and-back course.
But, runners and others, take heart: we have gained nearly 30 minutes of
possible sunshine since our shortest day last month, and we have almost reached
our coldest day. Conditions will improve! Oh, the race - Scott McCrea covered
the hilly course with a winning time of 30:40, and Jane Lanford ran a winning
34:41.