The last weekend of January, the state of Minnesota was hit with a cold front that wouldn’t leave. The temperature hit 10 below with the wind chill and continued to drop in the first week of February. The cold spell happened to coincide during a weekend filled with outdoor sport events that most sane people would decide to avoid but Minnesotans take to the cold like it is a sort of call to battle. As if we are saying “Bring It On!” and “Show us what you got!” Having lived in Minnesota my whole life, I am one of these crazies.

I woke up on Saturday morning, put on three layers of clothes, pulled on my hat and face mask and before I’d even had a cup of coffee I was out on the river road in St. Paul confronting a cold wind from the east. I was one of the thousands that had come out to run the Frozen Half Marathon. This is not a spectator sport -- in fact there is only one water stop on the entire route. It is strategically placed under a bridge to reduce the wind chill factor for the volunteers who risk their fingers handing us water as we run by. At mile 12 my face was still frozen and my legs were tired. The only image that was keeping me going was crossing the finish line and someone handing me a hot latte. This vision of hot coffee awaiting me at the end of runs has frequently begun popping up in my head a lot this winter. I figured I couldn’t be the only one who had this strong desire to chug hot caffeinated beverages at the end of a cold and grueling work out. Unfortunately for me, no one remembered to bring a thermos of Peace Coffee to the race. It wasn’t till leaving and heading to the nearest café that my desire for hot coffee was quenched.

The next day after some thawing out and relaxation, I went to an equally crazy winter event called the Chilly Chili Bike Race. Except this time I wasn’t racing. Instead I was giving everyone what I wanted so much at the end of my race -- a big hot cup of Peace Coffee. I set up a tent on the edge of Bush Lake in Bloomington, MN near a fire pit that some of the volunteers kept stoked for warmth. Fifty bikers braved not only the cold, but snow and ice. Riders came equipped with studded tires, helmets and neoprene face masks. Kristy, aka the Ice Queen, rode for the Peace Coffee team. She was one of the few who almost made it up a snow packed hill that forced everyone to get off their bikes and carry them up. She came in second place in the woman’s category. I have to admit that once the race started I climbed into the warm Peace Coffee van and watched through the front window. I only got out of the van to congratulate Kristi and hand her a cup of hot Peace Coffee. When all the riders had finished there were no award ceremony. Everyone headed to their car for warmth and that was that...just another day outside during the frigid cold temperatures of a Minnesota winter.

To learn more about ice biking and see up close pictures check out this article featuring Minnesotan Jay Henderson, owner of Hollywood Cycles in Bloomington:

Wheels on Ice: Slip-Sliding and Loving It 

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