Tuesday 21 February 2012

Braving the snow

I climbed down a flight of stairs and stepped outside the main door. I breathed in the fresh cold air. I looked around and saw a light dusting of snow on the ground. I noticed that the sidewalks however, were clear, and that it was not snowing any longer. I estimated that the temperature was in the low single digit positive numbers...

I walked back into the hotel, thankfully having memorised the number code to get back in - easy because it involves my date of birth. A sprinkling of early morning risers making their way blearily to the coffee machine smiled at me...

Sure I plan to go running/jogging for a bit now, I said as they raised their eyebrows in surprise at me.  I meant it too. I was already partially dressed for the event. For years my Umass Basketball sweatshirt supported me in my brave attempts at dealing with the Massachusetts cold, I was sure that commissioning them for this trip was a good idea! My asics were a good call - thankfully Krishna had advised me against vibrams...

My sweatpants were going to be a bit of a challenge, I thought. They are nice basketball ones - the kind you can pull off at the start of the game in a flourish, hopefully you have remembered to wear shorts underneath!! I wore them a bit during my preggo days and now the elastic band has sort of expanded to a huge circumference....

I came back and bundled up as best as I could. Two pairs of socks. Black tights under the sweatpants (which served well and did not slip down). An additional tshirt. I picked up the garmin and the woolen cap and off I went. I was so super afraid of ice that I took really tiny steps. The pundits would have been appalled at my running stance. But what the hell.

This hotel I am in is surrounded by roads that climb up (or down) a lot... I don't do well on inclines. Some of these are serious inclines. Anyhow I was so excited about a couple of things that I did not worry about the slopes:
(1) the very fact that I was running in Germany of all places
(2) the feeling of running but not sweating
How different an experience from usual at home scenario!

I ran real slow and took in several early morning sights. I think I kept myself safe - sticking to well lit roads, ensuring I was just going radially out from the hotel so I don't get myself lost, and also keeping my eyes open, yes, no music or other distractions. I hung in there for about 45 minutes before returning triumphantly to the room for some light abs work...

I could get used to this. It was really pleasant and very beautiful... I am going to have to break my resolve to not run on consecutive days I think. Or wait. Maybe it would be prudent to check the local temperature out! Because the two hour walking tour we had this evening? Resulted in some serious frozen toes and ears!


6 comments:

Simplethoughts said...

ha ha yes better check the weather before heading out :)...

happy running..

madraskaari said...

It is supposed to touch 60 in Boston tomorrow, would you believe it? Mildest winter ever!

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

madrasi - wow! i went into a mental picture of 60F & running along the charles... ohhhhhhh lovely it would be!

Choxbox said...

What an amazing life you lead Kennyness!

wordjunkie said...

Hey, Kenny.
Are you running the DNA Half marathon in March?
Just signed up for the 10k stretch.

Preeti Aghalayam aka kbpm said...

WJ- In Mumbai eh? Haven't heard of this. My next non-local race will be the Kaveri Trail Marathon (I think!)
Good show on the 10k! Hope you do super well and enjoy it!