First run in the snow!

3:30 pm. I looked out the window as I was getting ready for our afternoon 2 mile run. Snow!

It's been snowing off and on, usually mixed with rain or even freezing rain, for the past day. Finally Vermont looks as it should in mid-January:  cold and white.

As I drove to Cornerstone to meet everyone for the run, sheets of snow whipped across the road, powered by southwest winds gusting to over 20 miles per hour. I wondered if anyone would actually show up for our run, since this is only our fourth group run and the first one during a snowstorm.

Maribeth was sitting on the bench inside Cornerstone. She knew she wouldn't run alone because I always show up for a run, no matter the weather conditions. I've only cancelled one run in the five years of the group, and that was because my road hadn't been plowed and the snow was too deep for me to drive through.

Michelle and Lilibeth came in right behind me. "Exhilarating weather today!" "Finally, some snow!" Carol was the last to join us, ready to go no matter what the weather threw at us - and it was still throwing snow.

This is defnitely a hardy group, because no one complained about the wind, the snow, or the cold (25 degrees, but it felt like 10 degrees due to windchill). A quick stop outside for a picture, and we were on our way.




Michelle, Lilibeth, Carol and Maribeth

The sidewalks were snowy and the cross-walks slippery as we ran down Richville Road and up Center Hill, yet no one faltered. Michelle even remarked how great it felt to run in the snow, and Lilibeth had a big smile at the top of Center Hill. We spread out a bit as we walked/ran past MEMS, everyone finding a comfortable pace for the last mile.

Big smiles and laughter greeted everyone at the finish. "It's wonderful to run outside again in the snow" commented Maribeth. Everyone agreed that walking/running during a snowstorm was more fun than they expected, and not one person complained of the cold. Carol even thought perhaps she overdressed as she felt perfectly comfortable.

We finished up with stretching, talked about the type of clothing to wear on Sunday for our 4 mile walk/run since the temperatures are supposed to drop into the teens, and remarked how great it feels to be active. Everyone agreed that they definitely would not run in these conditions on their own, and that running together in a group made their day.

Bring it on Winter - the 2012 Training for More group is ready!