Winter Blues…and Bruise

Winter in the Upper Midwest can be brutal.  An optimistic view looks at the challenges as character-making.  Difficulties found in training will make any runner that much more competitive when conditions are favorable. 

I believe this to be true…but that doesn't mean that I like the winter months, in Iowa.  In fact, one could say that I hate 'em.  Oh, what it must be like further to the north…

Saturday was initially intended to be a championship 10K race for me – that's what my coach, Brad Hudson, and I had planned my summer/fall training to be set for.  Circumstances had me changing from the Club Cross Country Championships in Charlotte to a 10K in D.C.  My literal rear-ending of a deer two weeks ago caused another change in plans.  It looks as if the weather in Charlotte was much more desirable.

My replacement for either one of those 10Ks was a 60-minute progression (20 minutes easy/20 minutes moderate/20 minutes hard).  It was a great substitution – just wish that it had been 30 degrees warmer…and not raining.  I was game nonetheless.

It was raining and seemed to get harder when I started to make my first stride.  Then I saw these white things sticking to my black Zurich tights – with the addition of snow, this was looking to be a fun hour.

I did prepare well (for me, anyway) with three layers, gloves, and hat.  Those layers would soon become very helpful.

Now, one thing to note – just because the temp is a little warmer, and the rain has washed away most of the snow, does not mean that the ground is no longer frozen.  This reality hit me as I passed a gentleman on a sidewalk.

As I approached the man-in-black, his umbrella stuck out pretty far so I had decided to pass in the grass…the grass that only looked wet.  I nodded and said hello.  He nodded and said hello.  I took two steps into the grass…the grass that was indeed wet, but also frozen. 

Snowboarders and surfers call it catching air – as my feet flew out from underneath me, I just called it humiliating.

Luckily, I landed mostly on frozen ground – only my hands would hit cement.  As I cursed and took a second to gather myself, I popped up and took two steps.  The man-in-black had a look of horror on his face as he asked if I was alright.  I checked myself over, waved in confirmation that I was, and continued northward to finish my workout…which still had 40 minutes remaining.

I was now soaked and muddy on my left side.  My hands were stinging with pain but my gloves took the impact well – no tears or holes.  My shoes were starting to get heavy.  Wintery mix running misery is what I found myself in.

I fought through the time and miles. 

I began to splash through the puddles in a non-caring manner. 

As I was close to finshing, a man in a BMW pulled to the side of me, rolled down his window and asked if I was alright – I must have looked like I felt.  I confirmed that I was well but I wondered later what he would have done if I had said that I was not.  Would he let me into his car being soaked and slightly muddy?

Chilled to the bone, I must have stood in the hot shower for 15 minutes not wanting to get out.

The result of my less than graceful fall would be a bruised hip.  Nothing bad…I can still walk and run as normal.  Sleeping on my left side is just a little uncomfortable, at the moment.

With winter not even officially here, yet, I fear that I may have many more cursing moments…

If you see me out on the streets/sidewalks this winter, feel free to pull up beside me, roll down your window and ask, “Are you insane?”  I'm a runner…what else can I say…