This winter has been extremely mild by North Dakota standards. No snow on the ground for Christmas? Running in shorts in 55 degree temperatures in mid December? How can this be? These things are virtually impossible in the North Dakota I know!
I’ve been running outside more this winter than during any of the previous ones I’ve experienced since I’ve become this crazed lunatic who actually enjoys running! Maybe it’s been the warm temperatures. Maybe it’s been the lack of snow blocked sidewalks. Maybe it’s been improved outdoor winter vision courtesy of my contact lens. It’s probably a combination of all these things, but whatever the reason, I’ve been running outside quite a bit this winter.
Less than 1% of the population has ever completed a marathon, so those of us who belong in this exclusive group are just a bit proud of our particular accomplishment. When we’re experiencing problems in our everyday lives, we often encourage each other by saying: “You’ve run a marathon: There’s nothing you can’t do!” We all know with complete surety that if we work hard enough at almost anything, we will be able to accomplish it. We also know that most problems that we run into during our lives are easier than training for a marathon!
You may be wondering where I’m going with this. Well, we runners are also pretty sure of our abilities when it comes to winter running. We are accustomed to pushing through adversity, so when it comes to a little discomfort due to the cold, we simply push through that too. We tell each other that if we’re cold, we just need to run a little faster and we’ll warm up.
I’ve usually been taking Maxie with me when I’ve run outside this winter. Her fur is so thick, and because she never lifts her paws like dogs do when their feet get cold, I know she’s better suited for being outside than I am. On the other hand, I have Maxie beat for endurance. If we travel any distance greater than 5-6 miles, she will need to continually stop and rest, even when I want to keep going. This means that when I do my long weekend runs, either Maxie has to stay at home, or Sue needs to pick her up along the way.
Today, though, I was tugged back to earth, and reminded that North Dakota winters are still tougher than even the most experienced marathoner. I was going to do nine miles. I was also going to start out with Maxie, and Sue was going to meet me at Buffalo Wild Wings, about 4 miles in, at a set time, to drive our tired girl home. The weather service said the winds were calm, so I dressed accordingly, but by the time we got ready and left, a fairly steady breeze had crept up. Maxie was fine, but I started to feel pretty cold as soon as we headed straight into the wind going over the Columbia Road overpass. My fingers were becoming numb, so I began to open and close my hands in rhythm with my moving legs, a technique I’ve already employed successfully this winter.
I was starting to feel fairly good but then I met up with a quarter mile stretch of sidewalk in front of Columbia Heights trailer park which still didn’t have the new snow from last week cleared off. Pounding through loose snow is hard work and is the equivalent of “running a little faster.” I got warmer and even started to sweat just a bit. I continued into even more snow filled sidewalks on the next block in front of “Mini Mart” and “Panda Buffet.” This little stretch had me laboring very hard and swearing under my breath at discourteous business owners, but I eventually made it through to Buffalo Wild Wings, who by the way, HAD cleared their sidewalk.
I glanced around, and didn’t see Sue. I looked at the clock across the street on “Applebees” electronic board and saw that it was exactly our appointed meeting time. I stood in the cold wind for a few more minutes and then walked through the parking lot again looking for our vehicle. No Sue. I was starting to get cold all over, but Maxie seemed OK just sniffing around the patio. I contemplated going into the entry way to warm up, but didn’t think the management would appreciate me loitering around with a large shedding dog inside their eating establishment, so we stayed outside in the wind. I started to lose feeling in my hands again, and the rest of my sweaty body was cooling off at an alarming rate, so I knew I had to do something pretty fast.
After waiting 20 minutes, I finally knew what I had to do; start running again! I mumbled a few choice words, started my i-pod and Garmin, and started the return trip home. I ran around the building, then turned so that the wind was at my back and headed back up Columbia Road. As soon as I got past the other side of Buffalo Wild Wings, I saw Sue, sitting in a parking space well hidden from 95% of the parking lot. I ran over to the pickup, got Maxie into the back seat, and climbed into the passenger seat, my run for the day definitely over!
Sue knew I was coming down Columbia Road, and chose a parking spot just a few feet from the sidewalk in order to ensure us seeing each other. I must have run by while Sue was pulling into the parking lot, then when I didn’t see her, I stood waiting by the driveway for a vehicle that had already gone past. The odds of such perfect timing are equivalent to the Vikings winning the Super Bowl next year, and this strange twist of fate had me almost freezing to death 100 feet from where Sue was sitting in a warm vehicle!
I guess the key for us winter runners is to keep moving because if we stop for whatever reason, the January cold could freeze us up pretty fast. I’ll add today’s “freeze up” adventure to my ever growing list of running experiences and hopefully learn from it. I guess no matter how tough we think we are our North Dakota weather always shows us that it’s tougher!
jimlindlauf