Well, I almost got all my weekday miles. Monday and Tuesday went without incident, even the rain quit at the right time Tuesday. However, today was not to be…at least without sacrifice.
I got up a half hour earlier today because my recent 4-mile runs took too long when getting up at my regular O’dark-thirty time. I fully expected the thermometer to tell me it was bone chilling cold outside so I was quite stunned when it flashed 51 at me. I had to step out the back door just to be sure, but it was correct. When we went to sleep Wednesday evening it was already getting cold and was below the 51 I was staring at.
I also noticed it was very wet outside. I checked the weather radar on the Internet before going out to see if the possibility of getting soaked was high or low. There was a green blob moving down from the North, but it didn’t really look as if it was here yet, so I took the chance.
The first mile was uneventful until I crossed at the red light. Then…it began. A light rain began to fall and the wind shifted to the North. Would it be alright to finish or should I head back? If it didn’t get too cold or the light rain didn’t increase, I could make my route and my miles for the day. I trudged on and entered the park I pass through to go to a different street (and a hill I needed to climb).
It wasn’t far through the park, but it was far enough. The rain was picking up just a little and I was starting to get a bit damp. I left the park and turned North up the road to face the hill. Up in the distance, street lights were shining. What they lit up was not a pretty sight…a lot more rain. Fortunately, I knew these roads fairly well. I took the detour and headed home. I didn’t need to get soaked with it getting colder (which it was continuing to do).
After two blocks, I turned back South and had the wind at my back. The rain had increased and so had the cold wind. THAT will pick up your pace for you. I crossed back at the same red light, ran down a long straight stretch, crossed back over the road and headed home. I was fortunate that the rain was moving slowly as I could feel it lessening a little as I gained on home.
Sometimes we are just paranoid and things really aren’t out to get us. However, today, that big green blob on the weather radar was really out to get me. There wasn’t any paranoia left around after I got home with my wet togs. To make sure I got as many miles as I could and not get any wetter or colder I didn’t stop running until the front door and did my cool down walk in the house. While I was out only 31 minutes, the 51 had now become a 46, headed for 34. Brrrrr. That was a close one. A few miles is better than none (2.5 by the garmin), but one opponent I don’t want to catch up to is hypothermia. Happy running!
The green blob got our Kids in Melisa, their power went out!
Our grandkids were cold.
love ya!