Today’s run was just like running on the beach! Except instead of sand, I was ankle deep in snow. And instead of sunshine, I got pelted in the face with ice pellets that stung my eyes. And instead of shorts, I was wearing multiple layers and my windproof pants….But other than that, it was great!

Training in the winter is difficult. Last night, I spent the evening relaxing and flipping through the latest issue of Canadian Running Magazine, searching for inspiration to carry me through today’s long run. I was aiming to complete a distance of 22.5km. I went to bed early and got a great night’s sleep and woke up at 7:30 to get ready for the distance. Unfortunately, I looked out the window when I got up to make breakfast. I should not have done that. Based on the amount of snow coverage on the ground outside, I estimated that the snow had started about 30 minutes earlier while I was still snuggled warmly in bed. Perhaps I should have stayed there?

After gagging down a big bowl of oatmeal and fruit (not a big fan of oatmeal, but I’m a big fan of it’s ability to fuel my runs), I got dressed and eventually headed out the door with the goal of completing my training run before the snow got too deep. I wore my favorite Running Room RX winter running pants and the most ridiculous head gear that literally makes me look like a ninja but completely protects me from the elements (sometimes you have to sacrifice beauty for functionality and pray that nobody sees you.)

A couple of kilometers into my snowy wonderland journey, I saw that The Moose Loop Running Group (a team of locals that I sometimes run with in the warmer months) was gathered in the parking lot at Fisherman’s Cove, a small fishing village and tourist attraction in my neighborhood.  ‘I wonder what they’re doing out here in a blizzard’ I thought to myself when I saw them. The team called out to me and we exchanged waves from a distance but I was on too much of a role to stop and see what they were up to so I trudged on through the snow and left them behind me.

The run got difficult quickly. If you’ve ever run in the snow, you’d know that it is beautiful, serene, calming, and completely exhausting. You’re forced to use extra muscle power to avoid slipping and to hammer through the snow that surrounds your feet. It’s hard. And it’s wonderful. To add to the atmosphere of my beautiful winter run, I recently subscribed to Spotify and created an amazing playlist filled with upbeat songs. I have no idea how I ever lived before without a subscription to Spotify. With thousands of songs to choose from and new content being added constantly, I’ll never have to listen to the same songs for months on end when I run like I was doing before.

Around the 10km mark I started to realize that I wasn’t going to complete the grueling distance. My thighs were feeling pretty spent and my feet were soaked through and starting to blister. It was time to call it quits. So, I called my super hero husband who always comes to get me when I run too far from home to walk back, and at the 11km mark I stopped to wait for him to scoop me up into the warm car.

Normally, I would have been livid, disappointed, and feeling really defeated for only completing half of my goal distance, but today it felt different. I felt proud for accomplishing what I did considering we were in the middle of a snowstorm. I thought ‘look at me! I’m the only one on the sidewalk! The only one brave enough to come out here like a ninja and get my run done!’ The heated seats in our car were a welcomed blessing by the time Tyler arrived to get me as my body temperature had started to drop and my clothes and shoes were soaked. The warmth of the car felt like heaven to me.

After a hot shower and a hot meal, I checked out Facebook to see if I could figure out the reasoning for such a great turn out at The Mooose loop Running Group on such a snowy day. It didn’t take long before I found a post to the group’s Facebook page. One of the creators of the Moose Loop Running Group was celebrating the completion of his goal to run every day for 365 days in honor/support of a charity that was close to his heart. The team was there to cheer him on as he completed his final run on his 365th day. I couldn’t help but feel proud of him and of myself for getting out there today. I also felt a bit guilty that I didn’t stop to say hi when I passed them but at the time I hadn’t known that today was such a big day for him!

The running community in Eastern Passage is sensational. A truly supportive group of like-minded people who all share a passion for running. I look forward to the summer months when my marathon is behind me and I’ll have the time to re-join the group for their weekly running meets. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even take a run on the beach this summer.

Happy Striding!

Andrea