So I Guess This Is Spring

Sometime soon I’ll maybe have a post on something besides the weather, but this won’t be it.

Nearly everyone in the Midwest (and in many parts beyond) has been complaining about how this year’s winter seems to be lingering into spring.  That’s quite literal actually.  The first day of spring this past Wednesday I went out to run at 4 pm and it was a downright cold 21F – with a 6F wind chill!  Luckily the temperatures the last two days have been in the mid 30s, finally melting some of the tall piles of snow (like the one at the end of our front door’s sidewalk).  The weather then looks like it will be doing a slow crawl to more normal temperatures (the normal high is supposed to be 40F), reaching the mid 40s by next weekend. 

While the temps are finally becoming more spring-like this week, today I saw – or heard actually – what I’m calling the official start of spring.  GEESE!  I don’t know what it is but geese always put a smile on my face.  It’s really just that comical “HONK!” as the fly in their grouped V-shape across the sky.  There were tons flying months ago in the fall migration.  My wife doesn’t get my fascination with them, to the point of being irritated by it, always reminding me that geese are mean birds up close.  Well, whatever.  I never see them up close anyway, only seeing them in the sky and hearing them “HONK!” as they fly along.  Maybe today they were saying that spring is here.  I’m not that well versed in goose honk.

Hopefully spring is indeed here, if not only to run in warmer temperatures and in less (or no) snow, but because I also do not want anything more to do with long underwear, fleece tights, heavy wool socks, and the like.  It’s the lower layering for the legs and just the overall thickness that’s starting to bother me.  I want the extra freedom of shorts and maybe just a single long sleeve layer up top.  Additionally, I just did a load of running laundry that included all the thicker winter clothing.  I don’t want to have to wash it again until next winter!

Come on spring!

I Had Enthusiasm, But It's Been Buried by Snow

The last couple of weeks have been great weeks of running.  Not only was I actually doing my speedwork sessions that I always have scheduled for Wednesdays, but I also hit the scheduled total of running miles for the last two weeks.  The extra miles – from longer runs – were giving me better endurance, but additionally the speedwork was training my legs to move faster.  I was on a high so to speak, and looking forward to spring to even further increase my speed and distance.

The weather though, as I have come to learn now from Minnesota’s fickle winter, definitely had other plans.  Last night and into this morning we got blanketed by 10-12 total inches of the white stuff.  I know I had early expectations for spring, but this snow really pushed it back.  For the rest of this week, we’re supposed to have highs in the low to mid-30s so I’m hoping the sun comes out at least somewhat to melt some snow.

Coming back to today however, I had to get out for my run.  As was the case a few weeks ago, I decided to just simply get outside and have fun.  I was supposed to run 4 miles, but I cut it back to 3 and planned a route through the local park.

I mentally prepared to slog through foot-deep snow the entire way, but was pleasantly surprised to see that the trails were plowed earlier in the day.  (Thanks local parks & rec crew!)  The only part that wasn’t plowed, was where they couldn’t really drive – the boardwalk around the lake and stairs.  It wasn’t bad though, as long as I lifted my feet high off the ground to clear the snow.  It really was just like doing sprint drills in high school track.  Keep those toes up!

Here’s a picture of my tracks through the deep snow, going up the park’s big staircase.  Besides not being able to really make out the stairs, the snow is also is completely covering a park bench that is dead center in the picture (to the right of the trash can and railing).  Really, believe me.  It’s there.

 

I continued meandering through the park and the recreational trails.  People were out walking, and walking their dogs – the footprints were there.  I also saw snowshoe tracks and ski tracks.  Well, I actually even saw a skier.  Not the expected cross-country type though, but a high school kid who set himself up a ramp and was doing jumps.  I ran across him (not too closely luckily) just as he was shooting downhill, eventually going off the ramp doing an impressive 360.  All the local schools were closed today, so it was good to see the youngster enjoying the outdoors versus just melting in front of the television.

Finishing up my run, I just took my time and took things easily – partly because I just wanted to have an easy run and enjoy the snow, but also because there was slick ice under much of the snow.  Still, I had a good time and, as always, was glad I was outdoors.  There was a part I didn’t like however – getting home and remembering that I had to shovel the sidewalk and driveway.

  

Damn you snow!  (You should picture me shaking my fist with this exclamation, because I in fact am actually doing so.)