Running in the Snow

Today:
Distance: 18.45 km
Time: 2 hrs 0 mins 20 secs
Rate: 6' 31" per km
Weather: snowing, rain, cold, temp 0-4 degrees, humidity 90%, wind calm
Starting height: 1110 metres
Highest point: 1371 metres
Low point: 920 metres
Total altitude gain & loss: 667 metres
Week: 18.45 km
Nov: 372.3 km
Year: Target: 5000 km less ytd 4313.5 km = 686.5 km to go

Certainly the most different and interesting run for a long time. I don't like the cold but today was alpine scenery at it's best, and in November, just a week away from summer.
The Australian Mountain Running Assoc held the Deep Space marathon and associated events today starting from the former Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station in Namadgi National Park. The marathon, more difficult than Six Foot Track over the same distance, started at daylight, 5:45am went to the top of Mt Tennent, back to the start, then over to a turn around at Orroral Valley and back. Winner of the men's section was Tim Cochrane with Vanessa Haverd winning the women's section. Both excellent runs in the conditions.
I ran the 18 km event which is the second half of the marathon course. From the old tracking station, the course climbs to a tower high on the range, returns a km to then goes down to a turn around at a bridge at the Orroral River before returning to the start leaving out the tower section.
The run started in light rain to snow, the ground absolutely covered in snow above 1000 metres, freezing cold, but luckily little to no wind in the sheltered areas. To stay warm enough, probably overdressed but not knowing, I wore a long sleeved top, a T-shirt, a running top, spray jacket, shorts, beanie, hat and gloves. The gloves came off a few times when it warmer up a bit on the lower slopes near Orroral valley.
The snow was thick on the track, slushy and icey where it had been trampled on, running on the soft powder was easier with less risk to falling over. No damage would have been done, but it would have been wet and cold. Only off the tower section and heading down to Orroral were my feet cold, and wet, warmed up once we dropped below 1100 metres and the snow and ice disappeared.
Huge effort by those that turned up, a brilliant day not necessarily just for the running, a great course, tough, scenic, the elements at their best. I hope the photos that were taken do justice to the day.
Having said all that, a return to 25-30 degrees over summer would be appreciated.