I went for a run today.
If you're in Minnesota, you might say "WHY?" because while it was a balmy 36º degrees out, it had also just snowed three inches. For those of you who are not familiar with snow and 36º, that means it was slushy. Like, inches of slushy puddles because despite the unseasonal warmth, it is still winter in Minnesota and therefore the ground is frozen.
But I've been running nearly every day since October, so the inclement weather seemed fairly unimportant since I've run in rain and snow and sleet and 80º and 0º.
About one block in, after I stepped in a small puddle, and icy water started to ooze into my sock, I said to myself,
"I've made a huge mistake."
Immediately, I wanted to turn back.
Then I stepped in a deeper puddle.
My shoes were now soaked. Full of 36º slush.
And I was two blocks into my two mile route.
My choices were clear:
- turn around and go home, with cold, wet feet.
- barrel on, with cold, wet feet.
Clearly my feet were going to be cold and wet for a few minutes no matter what I did.
FULL STEAM AHEAD.
Sort of.
Because there were still puddles and cold and discomfort. [Please read that in your whiniest voice ever.]
My next choices were presenting themselves quickly:
- I could pick my way carefully down the sidewalk, choosing the next place to put my foot to get "less wet".
- splish-splash in a hedonistic sort-of polar-bear-plunge-way down the beautiful, old, shitty sidewalks of Saint Paul.
SPLISH SPLASH, MY PEOPLE.
Two miles later, I finished my plan for the day, none the worse for wear. And I was more prepared for the plan for tomorrow. [Which happened to be the iciest run I had ever experienced, but with some surprising puddles to keep my feet cool along the way.]
P.S. This is my first experiment in writing into the void (life without Facebook). I am INFINITELY curious if anyone will see this. If you do read it, would you mind leaving a comment? (Likewise, I recently changed my comment settings and am curious if those work as well.)
If you like anything about my writing, I have MANY posts on deck, including a whole series on pro vs. pro-am vs. am-am. BUCKLE UP.
