Running in a Winter Wonderland.

Six AM this morning in North Dakota found me standing outside the hotel in my Under Armor coldgear Superman Suit and a layer of adidas over that and finally a jacket on top of that. An under armor hat and some gloves finished off the stylish ensemble

It was snowing and below freezing. I took the picture here when the run was done and I was going to work. It was dark out so I couldn’t very well take a picture in the dark now could I?

Last night’s sleet followed by snow had made the parking lot of the mall I ran in slickery. The sidewalks were the worst. They were too smooth. So, I ran in the road where the car tires had chewed up the ice and snow a bit.

My single biggest tip for running on ice and snow? Don’t kick off. Seriously. Just lean forward A BIT, and keep your feet under you as you fall forward. Do not kick off with your back foot or it’s going to go up over your shoulder from behind and kick you in your face as your face heads towards your other foot as it skitters across the pavement. That would be on the list of things you don’t want to do unless you’re in a Cirque de Solei show, and even then I don’t suggest it.

My run wasn’t bad though. I wasn’t cold at any point in the run and I never fell or even slipped. I couldn’t run as fast as I wanted to, but my distance wasn’t awful all things considered. I’m off running for the next two days. That was the last day of Week 8 of the Couch to 5k running program. Only 1 week to go and I’m in frozen North Dakota to do it in. Not real excited about this weather honestly.

For more winter running tips go check out elite feet. A really good running blog that you should already be reading if you’re a runner or are interested in starting running. Their last tip, run with someone is a good one but surprisingly they left out a really important reason. Safety. With ice and snow all over the place it’s a good idea to have someone there to make sure you haven’t broken your neck… and that you can get up again. And of course, once they determine if you’re OK, to laugh at you. But mostly, to help you up before a snow plow runs you over.

Running the lazy way

I was talking to some friends about running this morning over breakfast (And to work off this breakfast according to my math I’m going to have to run to Venus and back carrying my car.) and I said what sounded funny to them. They’d suggested I join the local YMCA since they have an indoor track for winter running. The premise was that it would be cheaper than buying winter running gear and I wouldn’t be outside in Iowa winters. My response was. “I’m lazy. I want it to be easy to run. If I have to go somewhere to do it I won’t.”

The part where I said I was lazy and didn’t want to go somewhere when I drive to both my favorite places to run was not lost on them. But the thing is when I get there I step out of my car and start running (Start warming up actually, but you know what I mean) and don’t have to DO anything. I drive. I run. I drive home. At a gym there would be the locker and all that other garbage, maybe a desk or checking in and what if there are a lot of other people there? Ugh. Too much work. It’d be easier to stay in bed.

So I will continue to run outside for now while the ice forms on things and the temperature drops and my gloves are replaced with mittens and my coats get thicker and more layered. Eventually I’ll wind up on a treadmill I’m sure. I’m equally sure I’ll hurt the next day from it. But I’ll be putting it off as long as possible.

I like running outside and not having to deal with any hassles other than the hassle of putting the miles behind me, and that’s not a hassle at all. I startled a deer the day before yesterday at the park and we both took off in different directions. You won’t get THAT at the YMCA except maybe in the shower and that’s not what I’m looking for really now is it?

Sunrise in Winter

Hoarfrosty Sunrise

Photograph by simplerich

Today it was 16 degrees Fahrenheit when I left for work and took this picture from the end of the driveway. The sunrise gave the snow a warm color in spite of the stinging wind on my cheeks that showed the lie of the warm look.

I like the stark dark lines of the tree. Two days ago in Target I saw a picture I wanted. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I saw it. It's big, like, over the couch big and it wouldn't go with any of our furniture so I didn't get it. But it still haunts me.

It was three trees, like this one, side by side in the background with another closer, darker, starker in the foreground, with a snow covered landscape and a foggy background so they shot up from white ground against a white sky. It was all in black and white, photo-quality. I want it still. It was a hundred dollars. Today on public radio I found out that the Des Moines Art Center is going to have American Gothic there on exhibit for a while starting Valentine's Day weekend (The picture, not the movie). I am going to try to go see it

I found the picture on amazon.com, my goto site for all my online shopping. I had someone mention they were looking for a toilet brush of a certain type and after looking in Wal-mart, k-mart, target, lowes, and all the dollar stores I could find I went to amazon.com and got it there for seventy-five cents. I should have started there. They really do have almost everything worth having. Including my picture. Isn't that nice?

I'm on vacation next week and I have a lot to do at the front end of the vacation and scheduling is starting to give me a headache, but I look forward to it. I'm going to go south, where it's warmer... it'd better be warmer.