Snow Day

It's been a few days since I've been able to get in a run or for that matter, a dose of cardio. Snow has been my nemesis. What started as a flurry has become 12 inches of white hell. Maybe that’s a little harsh. After all, it’s pretty coming down, the brush of white coating the landscape, and kids with their sleds dashing to the nearest hill. Oh…and the hours of white knuckle driving, idiots who clearly believe that if their bumper is within a foot or two of yours they will have plenty of stopping distance, and let’s not forget the joy of shoveling. Stop before the goose bumps overwhelm me…face it, snow can really suck.

Sharon (younger and faster running buddy) calls and suggests that we use her elliptical machine along with some dumbbells to get in a workout. Cool. I should say cold. The elliptical is housed in the garage. So the plan is that one of us will do 20 minutes on the elliptical while the other does weights, switch and then do it again.

She must have been a tad grumpy (or maybe we blame it on the freezing garage) because it was an interesting workout. During the workout she accused me of “rushing” her on the elliptical (how does one actually do that?), then her iPod stopped working so she threw it across the garage (I’m omitting the curse words but let me tell you, she can really let them rip). Being helpful I pick it up and try and reset it. It’s not working. I hand it back to her in that condition and somehow I get the blame for its lack of functionality. I think to ask if the cold hard cement might have had something to do with it but decide to keep that to my inside voice.

I did get a good workout and logged a tad over 5 miles between the two sets. I reread that last paragraph and it might sound like I’m slamming Sharon. Not at all. We laughed about the workout over lunch and an extra hot latte (non fat/no foam). She has been the driver to my running. The many training workouts she has devised have helped me become a runner instead of a jogger.

I do look forward to clear streets and getting back on the road – or at least to the gym. Until then I will continue to find those opportunities to get in a workout, be it with a crazy lady in a garage or someplace a little safer…