Runner Insight

Slogging through Ice Puddles

I just couldn’t stand it anymore…it didn’t matter what the weather was like, I had to get outside and run this past week!  Even though the path I use still had some snow cover and patches of ice in shaded areas, I simply decided that it didn’t matter. If it was too bad, I would just turn around and head back home.

As it turned out, I landed in an ice puddle just as I exited our alley!  Well, I didn’t have to try and avoid puddles any more since my feet were now members of the “Polar Bear Club”. 

It felt so great to be outside again: breathing in the fresh, crisp winter air.  There was one place on the trail that could have been a child’s wading pool…and I managed to run right through the middle of it, splashing freezing cold water onto the front of my running tights.  Luckily, the weather was in the high 30’s to low 40’s.  I just gave a loud yelp and vowed not to hit it again on the way back!

It had been about 10 days since my last outdoor run, and I was more than ready.  The day before I had run on the treadmill for 40 minutes, and because of my limited eyesight and elusive balance, I had to hold onto the treadmill as I ran. This makes running on the treadmill, which is already a tedious task, more trouble than it’s worth. I would rather slog through ice puddles than run on a treadmill any day!

So you don’t have to let a few ice puddles get in the way of having a great run – I certainly didn’t.

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner

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Hey, we are back!

2009 is in the archives, and a bright, beautiful new year awaits us all in a shiny new package and it’s up to each of us to make the best of it.

Here’s the news!

Got to Burbank, CA on my virtual RunOverToEllen’s on my birthday Dec. 2^nd, running all of the 1,222 ¼ virtual miles in my home town of Missoula, MT.  I never did hear from The Ellen Show or any of Ellen’s staff, even after a multiple months mailing campaign.  But no worries: Her loss, my gain as I had a blast racking up the miles and raising money for Guide Dogs for the Blind along the way.

This year I’ve been so thankful for my chiropractor, Dr. Krieg.  He really got my back aligned and my sciatica cured so I could put in all the running miles.  I ran more miles in a week than I had ever thought I would want to, and enjoyed every step of it.

This summer, I ran in hotter temperatures than I had ever voluntarily chosen to run, by giving myself permission to turn around if I wanted to.  I also learned how to make my running more enjoyable by taking water with me on my runs.  Not only did it keep me hydrated, but it also allowed me to take nutrition with me to eat at my half-way mark.  This one technique alone – hydrating a couple of ounces every mile – helped me to run as many as 50 miles in a week.

Also, this winter I gave myself permission to run in colder weather than I usually enjoy.  Typically this time of the year it is very hard for me to get out and run due to snow on the trail, but the cold temps usually keep me inside as well. This year I gave myself a cut-off temp of 20 degrees F.  It’s still cold, but at 20 my lungs don’t freeze!  But I’ll write more about my winter running in another blog.

In 2010 I plan on finishing my marathon book.  I am also going to be doing some motivational speaking.

T is now “A Better You Coach”  and she can coach you on just about anything to help you achieve your “better you” -  health and wellness, or even help you grow your small business.  Check out her website at: www.ABetterYouCoach.com

I have more to tell you about upcoming events in 2010, so stay tuned to this blog for more great stories and inspiration!  Make it a great week!

How ’bout it?

–Vision Runner

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