winter run

Happy birthday to Amanda Foubister and Josh Allen today!

Today's photos were taken on my run late yesterday afternoon; I finally remembered to bring a camera with me. I like running along the waterfront much better than downtown even though it's more cold and windy because there aren't as many stoplights, and it's not nearly as crowded.

Unfortunately it's also not as well shovelled, so there were times that I did a little hop-dance over slushy or icy bits on the sidewalk, trying to stick to places where I wouldn't slip. I've smartened up and am wearing less layers now: just nylon cold-weather tights, nylon turtleneck, a fleece jacket, my reflective shell, neck gaiter, hat, mittens. Everything is from Mountain Co-op except for the jacket, which is from the Running Room.

Sounds like a lot, but I used to wear a fleece vest and a scarf as well. Halfway through my run, I'd be sweating bullets, shedding pieces of clothing along the way. On the way back, I'd pick them up. Just kidding.

LOVE running along the waterfront. The air is cold and nips at my cheeks, the sunlight reflecting off the ice, everything frozen and still. When I'm at home in front of the computer, I forget physical things, immersing myself in my writing or the Internet until my body yells at me to eat something, for Pete's sake, or the smoke alarm goes off because I've left something on the stove.

Running outside, I am aware of every sensation, revel in slight soreness of my muscles, the slap of the sidewalk against the bottom of my shoes, the puffs of steam from my breathing. I'm getting tired, but it's a good tired, the kind that melts away gnat-fly worries and helps guarantee a sound sleep at night.

I can't wear my Walkman headphones with my hat so have been running sans music lately. Probably a good thing, since there are less people out along the waterfront these days and I like to know when someone's coming up behind me. But I'm also finding that I'm really listening to the sounds around me. Everything is brighter, clearer, somehow amplified in the crisp winter air.

Or maybe I'm just paying more attention.





Links/News:

FlyGuy is an amusing and whimsical interactive Flash animation. Thanks to Jeff for the link.

Jan/2003 comments: Read | Post | LJ