The Best Winter Running Season Ever
Do you love or hate the fact that there has been no snow this winter? Skiers and snowboarders are not happy. But runners – especially those training for early Spring marathons – could not be happier. After the mountains of the white stuff that we dealt with last year, this snow-less winter has been a gift. Usually the icy streets leave us all with no choice but to resort to The Dreadmill for three or four months of the year. Not so, this year. I could not be happier.
Let me be clear – I am not training for a marathon – or even a half-marathon! I just try to get out there and do my running thing whenever I can – at least twice a week and I supplement with the treadmill and other cardio. But outdoor running is my favorite and I am so thankful for the lack of snowbanks this year.
I’ve written before about how much I love my Asics Gel-Kayanos. But have I told you how much I love my running socks? Whoever invented them is a genius!
And of course, I cannot head out without my playlist. I freshen it up from time to time. My winter playlists are always a little darker. Lots of heavy, driving beats. Yes, there are three Florence And The Machine songs on this one. But there’s a little bit of pop thrown in. I’m not yet sick of Moves Like Jagger.
Ellie Goulding starts this playlist off. I discovered her on the radio, of all places!
Here’s the rest of the playlist. Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone is the perfect beat for me – and it’s such a great pick-me-up about 25 minutes into my run. Ask The Lonely is one of those deep cuts from Journey. And All You Need is Now was recorded by Duran Duran in 2010! There’s almost always a U2 song on one of my running playlists.
Here’s the view across my front yard. No snow!
My husband got me this great new Spring running jacket for Valentine’s Day. If this weather keeps up, I’ll be wearing it in just a couple of weeks!
I will be honest. I am not a great runner. I have very flat feet. My knees are getting very crackly sounding (wah!). But I love getting outside and running (even if I have to stop and walk now and then). And the coming of Spring makes me want to run even more. My friend Kalli just wrote a great post recently about how she realized that she had become a runner because she yearned to run. I don’t even think you have to yearn to run to call yourself a runner. Instead, I sent her this great quote that I found on Pinterest:
If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run. – John Bingham
Question of the Day
Are you happy or sad about this snow-less winter?
Posted by: Melissa 10 comments
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 8:37 am
I live in Colorado and we have had plenty of snow this winter. I have been slogging it out on the “dreadmill”! I can’t wait until it warms up here so that I can head back outdoors. Y’all are lucky this winter!
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 9:18 am
I am sad about no snow. I live in Texas so snow is quite a treat!
P.S. I love the running post!
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 9:34 am
I am loving the NO SNOW winter!!! I am in TEXAS and dread the snow & ice that we get. I am originally from Southern California so going from great no snow winters to winters with snow sucks!! But this year Texas has given me my California winter and I am LOVING it!!!!
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 9:44 am
I love the no snow winter for running but also because it’s my daughter’s first winter driving with her new license….so it hasn’t been as stressful had she been driving in lots of snow!!
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I’m in southern New England and I LOVE the no snow!! We had enough last year to last me a lifetime in memories.
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
SO not happy!Irene devasted us(VT) at the start of fall and no snow is not helping the VT winter. We’ll see what happens….
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Loving no snow!! I do feel bad for the ski resorts and such up north and others who need it financially. For me it is great for business to have no snow:) I love the running quote too.
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Happy about no snow! Two fairly new teen drivers and family out of state keeps me loving our winter of 2011-2012. Although, it was nice to drive to NH for a family ski weekend.
on Feb 17th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I am soooo loving the warmer weather because I am running obsessed. Snow gets in my way in the winter( no gym membership…too expensive, so no treadmill). However, I’m a first grade teacher and we haven’t used ANY of our 9 built in snowdays!!! Trust me we(teachers and students) all need a break from each other….Jan. to Easter is a long time!!!
on Feb 20th, 2012 at 9:14 am
I think I’m allergic to running. I started sneezing like crazy when I read this post. I heart climbing stairs — inside, outside, I don’t care. I like going up even more than going down. When working in my(home)office, I take a break every hour and just go up and down the stairs for a few minutes. My cat used look at me like I’m crazy. Now she joins me. Which is good, because she needs the exercise too.