I have to admit it, I procrastinated running this morning. It was single-digits outside with a 5-10 mph breeze. Yeah, a bit chilly and not something I really enjoy running outside in. This is when I miss the treadmill.

Oh well, enough whining, I finally managed to get out the door and the temps had warmed up to 12, so while it wasn’t shorts and t-shirt weather, it was a little warmer.

After yesterday’s rain, a bit of snow, and then freezing overnight, the roads had a bit of glaze on them. Loads of fun to run on. 

Between the road conditions and the cold, I wasn’t worried about pace or doing anything more than getting the run done. I was thinking about 3-4 miles when I got on the road and as I got going, I knew it was going to be the 3.0 miles.

The roads weren’t horrible, but at the same time, I had to pay attention to where I was running and what was under my foot. The Town crew had sanded the road a little while before I went out, but it was still pretty slick in places. 

Luckily, I live on a rural road that doesn’t have a lot of traffic, so the middle of the road was mostly clear and that is where I ran. 

Yep, most of my run was down the middle of the road.

Except of course when I met vehicles and went onto the opposite side of the road shoulder — cautiously. Once, when I met 2 vehicles going in opposite directions, I had to head for the ditch as quickly as I could because it was about 3/4 of the way to the top of the hill. I could hear both of them and knew that the one coming at me wouldn’t see me until the last moment. Probably about the worst place to meet traffic going in both directions. 

I headed for the ditch.

The car coming at me was moving right along. The car that was coming from behind pulled over and waited for the other car to go by me. That little scenario did get the heart pumping a little faster.

Otherwise, the run was just one of those getting-it-done runs. I never warmed up and was more worried about pulling something than running faster or anything, until the last mile, when I just wanted to get it over with.

I wore the Brooks Catamounts, and they did better than I expected in those conditions while running. 

Overall, it was a decent run, and I was surprised at the pace I managed to finish with. It turned into a mini progression run and while I never really warmed up for some reason or other. I did manage to get the run done.

After lunch, we looked out the window and depending on who was counting, between 30-35 turkeys in the backyard. Some were to the right out of view.

Come with me now — the best is yet to be.