Pebble in a Flat Pond

Posted in general, races, ultras by Nate

The goal of 10 miles melted into 7 miles, but took as long as 12 would have were there not 6 inches of snow to jump through. I tore through the house looking for my new gaiters. Not finding them lead to such frustration that I almost wanted to lay down and cry, in a manly way, however. My headlamp and reflector vest were nowhere to be seen, either, and I was convinced the three had disappeared together. By this point I didn’t care, and I headed out more or less naked to the night and elements.

The first 1/2 mile getting to the main road is paved side streets and therefore slushy or slippery. Not bad for warm up, but not quite long enough to prepare me for the 6 miles of snow that ensued. It ranged from 3 inches to over a foot in some places, and despite the thrill it provided I clocked a dismal average of 13:30 miles.

The snow reflected the moonlight enough to make up for my lack of headlamp and reflector vest, and some sort of magical fairy dust must have prevented the snow from melting through my tights/Injinji/Salomon XA combo. Every mile or so I’d stop and brush the packed snow out from behind the tongue of my shoe, but the moisture never made it in, despite being in knee-high snow at some points, jumping in and out of plowed banks.

In all, a nice start to a new year. This was the best run since before the marathon, and I can feel the bug brewing again.

I’m submitting my entry form for the North Country Trail Run tomorrow, thus emotionally committing me to the rigid training schedule I’ve got planned. Running gear comes to work from now on, and two sessions per-day should become the norm.

My new year’s resolution, aside from the 50 miler (though logically intertwined) is to stop taking on freelance projects, despite the economic niceties they afford. A couple extra grand in your bank account at the end of the year isn’t worth missing out on time with loved ones (or stressing out when you’re with them), and missing out on life in general. I’m going to try a new concept called ‘40 hour work week’, and make efforts to put life before work and not vice versa. I’ve tried it one way, now let’s go for the other. If my suspicions are correct, both my outlook and therefore the quality of my work will improve.

And plus I’ll get to run more.