Snowy Day in November

I am one of those crazy runners, no matter what the weather (for the most part) I'm still out there getting my miles in.  Today was no exception because it was snowing.  I wasn't missing this one, I was going for my run.  I love running in the snow, from Lake effect living in Cleveland, to Nor'easters living in Swampscott Mass to the OH MY GOD we got 1 inch of Winston Salem, NC.  On Beech Mountain the snow started at midnight, I just sat at the window watching the fat, wet, flakes come down.

I waited until the temperature got closer to above freezing, then put on my layers and made it out into the snow.  There is nothing like it.

Everything is quieter when running in the snow.  Even your footsteps are muffled.
Everything looks cleaner when covered in white, today the snow clung to all the branches of the trees making them look like tall snowmen.
There is a peace in running outside your element, in changing your gate because you are slipping a little bit, and pulling off the gator taking a deep breath of the cold, moist air.

I found gratitude in this run because as my feet hit the trail, I thought of those who could not run.  I thought of a few Thanksgivings back when I wondered why my mother couldn't keep up on our "walks" like she used to, both of us trudging through the snow.  She had surgery two weeks later finding out there was a brain tumor, so yes, her gate had changed, she was dragging a foot.  I remember talking during that walk, about nothing in particular, but the snow made our conversation sound like the only thing on that street, muffling out all the normal noises so we just heard each other.    We walked the morning before the busy Thanksgiving holiday, enjoying the quiet, the solitude of doing what everyone else in the house thought was crazy.

As I started up my hill, I thought about how thankful I am for my health.  That I can get out in the craziest of weather and still exercise and love it.  That I may be getting older and much of my times are getting slower, but I am moving to the point of just getting out there means I won.

My thoughtful gratitude was interrupted when a pickup truck slowed down and stopped next to me as I was climbing the hill.

"Are you all right?"  A little old man asked from the pickup truck.
I look at him, "Yes, I'm just running."

And it occurred to me that either I was:
A.  Crazy for running out in this weather, or
B.  I really did look that bad running up that hill.

WTF - What was I thinking

Ever think, man that sounds like a good idea.....then two days later start having panic attacks about it?

Yep.  Sitting right in the middle of one.


I got the call from a friend of mine, I remember it distinctly:

"You're a runner right?"

"Yep."

"Want to run the Blue Ridge Relay with a team?"

"Sure sounds like a great idea!  Count me in!"

Here's why I should have thought about this.


I don't know a single person on my team.  I'm the last minute throw in.

Don't ever go and google Blue Ridge Relay because it will turn out like webMD, you'll find all kinds of articles about cramping, and water, and running, and getting suicidal on the way.

What happened to all the energy gels I had sitting around the house?

Oh great, and now it is pouring.

So I'm lacing up my shoes, hoping that people I don't know will recognize who I am as someone hands a baton to me for my first leg of the run.

Heaven help me.

Next time slap me when someone starts a conversation with, "You're a runner right?

Just a run through the woods

There is no other place like the mountains of North Carolina.  Running is my meditation, time when I can be alone with my thoughts, some great music, and beautiful sights.  Here's some views from the road today.

 Things like this make me stop and pause - Beautiful colors of fire while the cool air surrounds, I continue on.

 The leaves look like they will fall quickly this year from so much rain.  I am blessed with this vista as I start a hill climb, it gives me energy to keep going.

 But the view from the top makes it so worth it.  The clouds moved slowly across our ridge, touching the trees as they went.  Some run for the sport - I run for the sights.

 I even had a visitor.  He didn't move as I got closer and closer to him, snapping pictures along the way.  Only once I had passed did I see the Doe and the baby down the hill and out of sight but under his protection.

It may not have been my fastest run but sometimes when you slow down and really look, you can see beauty all around you.

Be inspired.

Runnerisms

Whether you are a short distance or long distance runner, here's a few runnerisms I think you will understand:

Chafeam - This is that scream in the shower when you find you missed a vital part of your body with the Body Glide.

Going For The Burn - There's chaffing on your body, you know the shower is going to sting, you bite a leather strap and go in anyway.

Bloe - this is that toe you thought to cut before you long run, then forgot.  It is now reminding you with an insistent throbbing.  It is then covered with blood at the end of your run.

WWSD - this is that conversation in your mind where you so want to walk during a long run but you are reminded with "What Would Steve (Prefontaine) Do?"

PACE - the salsa of runners.  You can either pickup the Pace, pick the Pace, or run away with the Pace.

Racing Singlet - a catch tune or that short cut top that makes you look sexy for the bystanders.

PR - a personal request - usually at the beginning of a run, "Can we run by Krispy Kreme so I can carbo load?"  This can also be a Personal Roll - that fall during a run that includes a popping up on your feet saying, "I'm OK."

Runner's Courtesy - best to say, "On your left" than "Get out of the way!"

Injurathon - that meeting with other runners where everyone focuses and explains all of their injuries while the rest bow their heads in sympathy.

Masters - we've been running long enough to remember to smile at the camera at the finish line.

Fast Charlatan - that person that suits up for the marathon (water bottles, gels, body glide, cloth, gummy bears)  and then runs 3.1 miles.

Lady Gaga - that runner that has every new piece of gear including the ultra compressing while massaging you'll love them tights.  Unfortunately, not much of it looks good on her.

Breams - those dreams in the middle of a long run where you see the ice cold beer waiting for you at home, even if your run ends at 7am.

Runner - that person that leaves part of their body and most of their mind on a road to no where and enjoys the journey.

What would you add?

Lessons Learned About The Zombie Apocalypse - Woods Of Terror Zombie Mud Run

Yesterday I experienced the Woods of Terror Zombie Mud Run.  I realized this morning that I am fully prepared for the coming Zombie Apocalypse if I follow these steps:

1.  Always make sure you are the slowest person in the group.  The zombies will attack the fast people first giving you PLENTY of time to quietly slip by and survive.

2.  If you are the slowest person, trip the fast person in the beginning, this will give you plenty of start time to get out of the way.

3.  Most think the gamer is the person to bring, they have online experience with zombies - they are the best to bring because they've been in a chair for years - use them as bait

4.  Looking for your shoes in a mud pit - ain't nobody got time for that!

5.  Why worry about getting wet, dive in first - it cools your body temperature then the zombies cannot find you.

6.  Mud is your friend - camouflage my friends, camouflage my friends.

7.  Test out the garlic theory - eat tons of garlic the night before perhaps the smell coming from your skin will repel vampires AND zombies!

8.  If you are going to straddle and slide across a log over water - pick the one with less bark, certain parts of your body will thank you.

9.  Always have someone with you that has big boobs - for some reason they always attract the monsters AND make the men around them slow down - better your chances of getting away.

10.  Create a survival plan, make sure everyone is on board with it, then ditch it at the end, what ever goes according to plan?

What would you add to the plan?

How to become an endurance athlete - surviving that run!

As endurance junkies we are always striving for that perfect run - when the clouds line up, your player plays the most perfect mix of music, the weather is just a little on the cool side with NO humidity, and nothing hurts.  Never had that type of run, well, neither have I.

Here's how I train myself to become an endurance junkie, but surviving those runs that really suck.  Like my 8 miler today.  If I can make it past this then I can survive 26.2 miles any day.

1.  I walk out the door at 6am and immediately humidity slaps me in the face.  How can it be 80 degrees and 100% humidity so early in the morning?  I start rewriting a song in my head.

"Hello humidity, my old friend.
I've come to run with you again.
There is a moisture softly creeping,
Brought some words that were bleeping.
And the sweat running down my butt
still remains
Within the sounds of sweating.




2.  My headphones decide they will not cooperate.  Has anyone found some ear buds that will stay in BOTH ears.  No, my left side starts to continually fall out.  So my first stop in to get a leaf, fold it up and shove it in my ear to hold the bud it - doesn't help.

3.  I forgot my water bottle holder and my iPhone holder.  So now my ear bud is falling out of my ear, I'm holding a sweaty water bottle in one hand and my iPhone in the other.

4.  My music player has decided to get stuck on one song.  One song only.  So I switch to Pandora and it starts to play Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter.  Granted I like them, but I need something a little more peppy to keep me trekking up that hill.

5.  Before I finish mile 1, I find the one puddle in the road and step in it.  So one foot is soggy and one is not.  Of course I didn't have the right socks so already my bunions are going, "What???"

6.  I am sweating so bad I cannot see, I stop at a gas station and pick up one of those blue paper towels to wipe my face, not realizing there's some kind of cleaner on it.  Now my face is sweating - AND ITCHES.

By the time I head back, there's a junk yard dog sitting at the end of a long drive and I'm thinking after all the other crap I've been working through and still running - bring it on dog.  But soon I realize that he's an old three legged junkyard dog and all he wants to do is lay there and bark at me.  Yeah buddy, I think today I feel like you.

If you can make it through all the crap that threatens to ruin your run then you can make it through those long runs when your body complains from mile 15 on.  That's why they are training runs, they prepare us to fully enjoy that perfect run - if we ever have one!

The best way to visit Montgomery, AL - by foot!

Beautiful morning for a run!  Union Station in Downtown Montgomery, AL

Wondered how many people walk up these steps on a Sunday morning?

 

A little light color with otherwise brick and iron!

Beautiful old buildings - vines and all!

Back when there was detail in architecture.

Don't need to show the pictures, but as always, I find the most unsavory parts of town on accident.  This time is was 5 guys hanging out in front of the Bail Bondsman, but I just kept going!

You never know what you'll find along the road.

Does this make you want to eat meat?

The first White House of the Southern Confederate States!  Jefferson Davis as President

Capitol Statue to Confederate Soldiers 

With the corner stone laid by Jefferson Davis!

Went looking for Old Alabama Town and found this - hopefully I was lost!

Downtown along the Riverfront - in the Alley

Love old buildings!

This is why I travel by foot through the city, what better way to get a view and a workout in the process!  Some of my favorite city runs include - Downtown Sydney, Australia....Seattle, Washington.....London, England.....and you never know what the future holds.  What are some of your favorite city runs?

A quiet morning, a cool breeze, silence as the only sound is the footfall on the pavement.