Sunday, February 27th -- 3 weeks and counting

We are rounding the curve into the final stretch up to the 5k challenge event on March 19th. We hope that you have been getting up and moving a little more than usual.

This is meant to be a fun family-type event in which we ask ourselves to do a little extra for our health. If that means running, great. Walking, great. Getting up early on a Saturday to cheer on your favorite runner/jogger/walker -- great!

After the event, stay for breakfast, courtesy of the Deacons. To be sure they have enough food prepared, please make a reservation for breakfast.

So check out the information at the Crossroads and join us on the 19th!

Tuesday, Feb. 22. Winter Blasted...

Super cold this morning, 1 degree with the wind-chill factored in. Many layers helped, only my eyes were exposed. My neighborhood got a visit from the snow plows last night, so the streets were somewhat cleared, but that layer of packed snow was tricky. Still, it was a good run, my dog liked it and I like that my run behind me for the day!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

I enjoyed my run today with the dog. Sometimes everything comes together - the weather is just right, or if not, I've prepared for the conditions, my stretching warmed me up, I'm able to fall into a comfortable pace with little effort. Today was one of those days. In anticipation of the approaching storm, I relished the dry pavement and calm air. The forecast for tomorrow's run time is 13 degrees. I'm really thinking about it - I may need extra driving time for work so I'm considering holding off until the afternoon. We'll see...

Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011

The sunshine makes such a difference to me. Getting out today for a run was just what I needed. The birds were even singing, something I'd been missing lately. I didn't want to wear my heavier jacket, so opted for layers. My toes were cold, though, still lots of icy snow to maneuver until I could reach the dry road. The west wind that hit me on my return was chilling, glad I didn't have a lot of that.

Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 Wait for the warmth of the day...

I waited until 2:30 to go out today. According to weather.com, at that time we'd reached our peak temperature of a whopping 17 degrees. I was prepared, with double and in some places triple layers. The wind was brisk, sometimes gusting enough to flap a flag, but I was warm, even toasty at the mid-point of my run. The sun was quite bright and I could see traces of melting snow on the asphalt. Running back home into the wind cooled me down, but not to an uncomfortable point. All in all it was a good run, glad to have it behind me.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Man, it was cold this morning!! My eyeballs felt like they were freezing so I cut my run short -way short! Looking forward to the thaw predicted for this weekend.

Sunday, February 6 ...31 degrees feels good!

What a difference it makes to run when the thermometer is a bit higher. 31 degrees felt really good. Of course the lack of wind and thawed streets was the icing on the cake for me today. My dog was very happy to have a bit of an extended run, too.

Friday, February 4

Getting ready for a Super Bowl party? Planning ahead can make it fun without wrecking your training plan. Enjoy the company. Root for your team. Have a great time. And remember, it's only one day.

Thursday, February 3

Whether Punxatawny Phil saw his shadow or not, it certainly seems as though this winter will go on forever. Six weeks seems like a minimum rather than a maximum. If you did a little snow shoveling, you got a bit of a workout. Just be sure not to overdo it.

One of the great things about this snow is the possibility of doing a little cross country skiing. I confess that the skis I used to have are long gone, but if yours are just gathering dust in the basement, think about hauling them out and enjoying the newly pristine ground cover.

Tuesday, February 1st

It's a new month, so wipe the slate clean and start fresh, if need be. We are sitting here waiting for the heavens to let loose piles of snow, so outdoor exercise is probably not in the cards for most of us. Even if you can't get out of your driveway, you can get some activity into your day. [NOTE: I am not suggesting we all go out there and shovel. There are too many stories about people hurting their health instead of improving it!]

Dust off one of those old aerobics tapes and Dance with the Oldies. Do some vacuuming or do some stairs. Be creative. I know we can all find something to do to get us moving a little more than we might be inclined to.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!