I Run

My rear tire blew on my way to work recently. So what does this have to do with running? Read on...you'll see the connection. Anyway, I know how to change a tire so I just pulled off to the side of the highway, jacked the car up, and took off the lug nuts. Then I tried to take the wheel off. But try as I might - I banged it, I kicked it, I swore at it - the thing wouldn't come off. I had to call roadside service. Eventually he arrived, and he had a sledgehammer. One good bang on the lower inside of the wheel was all it took. Not a subtle tool, but it works. I'll sometimes get into a rut with my runs, just putting in miles without any clear goal. That's OK for a while, but eventually I'll start to feel flat (ah...there's the connection!). I'll try to correct this flat feeling by mixing it up with speedwork and hills, which often works. But sometimes - especially in winter - that's not quite enough to get that tire off. So what's the solution? Run with a sledgehammer? Sort of. Each runner probably has his or her own version of an over-the-top way to pull out of a rut. Mine is to put on my Sorels (the sledgehammer of footwear) and run through the woods. The snow is pretty deep now, so going up a hill feels like the ultimate elliptical workout. Going down a hill is a mixture of sheer terror and exhiliration as I narrowly miss trees and try to control my slippery descent. But it's a great way to give my running routine a good whack.

I don't think I'll run today. The picture really doesn't show the horizontal snow and sleet. But on my brief walk out there it felt like my face was being assaulted by thousands of shards of glass. Not pleasant.

Although the days are getting longer now, it sure is getting colder. On my run up Sweet Pond Rd. this evening I did get warm enough to sweat, but my left big toe felt like it was on the verge of frostbite by the time I got home. On the way down the hill I was torn between speeding up to get home faster and slowing down because I was creating a wicked wind chill on my face. But my toe was getting numb, so I gritted my teeth and got home as fast as I could. I'm not sure what's up with my left foot. My right foot was as warm as could be, but my left toes were all pretty frigid.