Winter wonderland

Pre-workout breakfast: Cinnabon Cream of Wheat and half of a banana

Workout: Ran 4.15 miles; average pace, 9:11.

I’ve been bemoaning winter running as if I had actually been running in the winter. No siree Bob. I had just been running in the cold. This morning, I got my first real taste of winter running.

 

It was 17 degrees, wind chill of 4, and at least a couple of inches of snow on the ground, with more falling to the ground as we speak.

But it was so pretty. And Denali needed some exercise, regardless of the weather. So I suited up to the best of my abilities, leashed him up and left the house.

We headed the half-mile toward the fancy boulevard near our house, where the homes have garages bigger than my living space. It’s the ideal street for winter running because you can run in the road, which is more likely to be cleared than the sidewalks, the lane is wide, there’s very little traffic and a full loop is close to a mile.

Plus, there are really pretty things to look at.

I couldn’t help but smile every time we passed the yellow house and laugh at the lions with their wreaths. I’d say it helped me forget that I was running in crap weather but I honestly didn’t care that much. It wasn’t that slick, it wasn’t that cold and the snow wasn’t that deep. I simply adjusted my pace so I felt comfortable in the conditions. Denali and me, we’ve seen worse and ran in worse.

Not that he cared. He loved it every friggin second. He would prance alongside me with this look on his face as if he was thinking, “Mom. MOM! This is so great. Can we do this all the time?”

By the way, if you need motivation to run in the snow, Denali is available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. His fee is nominal – just some kisses and an apple (or a carrot or half a tub of margarine).

Sunday ramblings

Pre-workout snack: Slice of multigrain bread with peanut butter and raspberry jam
Workout: Ran 5.51 miles; average pace, 9:07.

I ran this morning. By myself. Well, sort of. Denali ran with me but Mark did not. He proclaimed that he doesn't like to run in the cold. The air, it burns his lungs. I think he is a weenie.

The run, cold air, wasn't so bad. I was slow but who cares about that. Except for Denali. He nearly pulled me down a wood bridge covered in snow that connects the greenway. I was none too pleased.

I got my revenge, though. I made sure he didn't see the recently dead squirrel on the side of the road where we were running. Denali likes to put dead squirrels in his mouth. Don't ask.

I came home, took a lukewarm bath (thanks, Mark) and ate some off-tasting banana-walnut pancakes. I listened to the dog upstairs bark and bark and bark. It's a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and its bark is FIERCE.

I tried to distract myself by watching HGTV. I have a new found love for Bryan Baeumler, the tell-it-like-it-is host of "Disaster DIY" and "House of Bryan." I wish he would come to my apartment and fix the door and window that my landlord seems reluctant to remedy. After all, she says, it's an old house.

An old house in which you can hear everything. Like that big dog running across the floor because it's being chased by children. I turned up "Waitress" on the Blu-Ray player to try to drown out the noise. I can only do that because Mark is out Christmas shopping with his mom. He tries to be considerate but if no one else is considerate, I don't see the purpose in doing so.

And would it really hurt the kids to hear some good dialogue?

"Hiya there, Earl! We all just agreed that your hair is super attractive! Hooray for you!"

Yeah, hooray for you Earl. Now bring some peace, quiet and a slice of pie.