Fresh Footprints

1/16/12     There’s something magical and mystical about making the first footprints in freshly fallen snow that makes runners minds work even harder than on a normal, ordinary run. Questions bouncing around your head like: How much snow will accumulate? Will the roads be too slippery to get a good hills workout in tomorrow night? Will the outdoor track be clean enough and safe to run around by Thursday night? Is anyone worrying about my safety while I’m out running in this inclement weather? (And my personal favorite) Will anyone else be crazy enough to go running in the snow tonight and see our footprints as evidence that runners have a few screws loose when it comes to staying on schedule and getting in their runs?
     It had just started snowing when Paul and I began our easy 6-to-7 Monday miles from my house and by the time we were a couple miles in; there was already enough snow on the ground to leave visible footprints behind. The snow felt like needles pricking our faces as it was being whipped around by gusty winds, but the joy of leaving the first sets of footprints in the snow made the miserable conditions melt away. For added safety, I ran on the sidewalks most of the time while Paul hugged the shoulder of the streets. If anyone else was crazy enough to head out for a run tonight they would be able to see at least two others were just as batty and brave.