Happy Groundhog Day. 6 more weeks of winter. But the days are getting longer and the sun is feeling stronger . . .when it’s not hidden behind some murky cloud cover. The promise of spring is around here somewhere right?
This weekend’s long run consisted of 18 miles. 30 degrees! More than double what it was just last week. I got out early to avoid some of the wind. Left the fleece layer and balaclava behind but couldn’t bring myself to take off the trail shoes or gloves. Not just yet.
The sky was blushing a delicate pink as I began, relaxing in the veritable heatwave. Despite the balmy temps there was a deceivingly persistant wind coming from the west. My mission today, enjoy the run, and appreciate all the good things about.
Good thing #1: For now I’m not heading into the wind. But I will soon so I mentally prepare for it and enjoy for now.
Good thing #2: The roadside is still frozen tangled-grass mess but it’s not snowy or slushy and for the most part the footing is solid.
I liken this run in many ways today to the economy, or life in general even. It’s so easy to take the good things for granted. But when adversity rears its head we are too-often devastated, outraged, unprepared. And we dwell on the pain, inconvenience, etc.
I turn and hunker down for a 2-mile stretch into a February wind still with plenty of bite.
DH has obviously been tampering with my Shuffle yet again. It takes me most of the song to realize they’re not saying “Cops on the run” but “Fox on the run”. That followed by what must be the theme song from Gunsmoke has me out of my zone when up ahead I spot a real fox, on the move and watching me warily. A beautiful animal but can it be trusted? Is it afraid of me? Preparing for a human breakfast? Should I go ahead of it? I do and as I glance back I see it sitting in front of someone’s garage still watching.
6 miles are down and it’s time gu time. I have the unflavored one I didn’t use last week. Yum. Not. I consider having the vanilla one for a nanosecond but being all about delayed gratification, decide to bite the bullet. Expecting a mouthful of vaseline, I am pleasantly surprised:
Good thing #3: The unflavored is truly not bad at all.
The miles fall away easily for the most part. I am grateful for the privelege of running. For it is precisely the sub-zero days when I am out here sliding more than running, that make the days when there’s the promise of a thaw in the air and the snow winks in the sunshine all the more sweet. May we all savor and truly enjoy when the wind is at our back.
Make the most of every day
