Winter Running

On most days (especially in the months between May and December), I'd say that I truly love winter running. Feeling the crisp, cold air on your face. Hearing the distinctive crunch of snow under your shoes. Smelling the freshness in the air. It's truly beautiful. Like in the picture above - what's not to love about this? Sure, it's cold, but with the technical fabrics that exist these days, you really can dress very well, very easily.

Then there are days like today, where Boston was covered with an icy, sleety mess. At 5:30am this icy, sleety mess started by masquerading as snow, so I left the house, properly bundled in my favorite winter running gear, excited to start the day with a refreshing snowy run. "WHOA!!!!!" I yelled, as I went slipping and sliding down our front walkway. Eh, no big deal. Our walkway was icy from days past, and I just went out a little too quickly on it. I'll be fine once I'm on the road.

Thankfully, it was a short run on the schedule today. Even so, any sane person would have turned around after quickly discovering that this white stuff that looked like snow, was not snow. It was in fact some sort of crazy street lubricant that would give K-Y Jelly a run for its money. At the very least, I should have turned around and gotten my YakTrax so I'd have a chance out there. Nah, it's only a 30 minute run. I'll be fine.

I was fine, but it was a challenge! With every footfall, I'd slip backwards a foot length, so I was doing some bastardized version of the Running Man dance as I ran along the streets of Winchester. Not only do people think we runners are nuts for running in the cold and snow in the first place, but now I'm doing us an additional disservice by truly LOOKING like a fool while doing so. Sorry guys.

I hate running on a treadmill, but I believe today that would have been the better choice. Since I don't HAVE a treadmill, it was a moot point, but perhaps I should finally bite the bullet and get one.

And just imagine the brick workouts I could do, all right there down in the House of Pain? It might be worth it, it JUST might be worth it.....

Where the HELL have I been????

Or, as an alternate title: I Hate January.

In my opinion, the only thing good about January is that it's over in a couple of days. And good riddance! I've had a lousy month, athletically / health speaking. We returned back to Boston after a truly lovely trip back home (Cleveland) to visit with family over the holidays. That's when it started. First, a neck spasm that had me jacked up on muscle relaxers and prescription pain killers for 4 days. In addition to keeping me from traveling on my first business trip for my new job (and therefore actually STARTING my new job as scheduled - nothing like starting off with 3 sick days, eh?), I was completely blocked from training for a full week.

Ok, well, a week isn't the end of the world. So after I find a good chiropractor who has me on a great program of PT, I'm back to it. Whew. I ramp back up to my usual training levels over the course of a week, and am rolling again, full steam ahead. Woo Hoo!


Then the stomach bug hits. HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING?!? I'm never sick. Ok, well, never is a strong word. I'm rarely sick. But this took me out for 5 days, which included my previously scheduled January race, Derry. You can read all about the fun that Claire and Mary had at the race, while I was at home, wishing I was suffering along with them. I missed out on Derry last year because I was babying my injured calf, to insure I'd make it to the starting line for Boston in April. So I HAD to run Derry this year! I simply HAD to!!!!!!

I'm back. Really, I'm back. The neck is better, and with ongoing PT I'll be better than new. And the stomach thing is gone. And hey, who am I to snub my nose at loosing a few pounds? Ok, not the greatest weight loss plan in the world, but, I'll take it.

I'm done with the whining, I'm done with the worrying, I'm just back to training, with my eyes set on next season.

But I won't be sad when January is a thing of the past.