Cold Running

No, I'm not talking about Jamaican bobsledders. It's cool weather here in Dallas, and my latest runs were reminders of lessons learned and nearly forgotten over the hot summer (and spring and fall). Here are a few things for me to remember, in no particular order:

-- It's easy to be lulled into forgetting you are running with the wind, until you turn around. Obviously, running into the wind is a lot harder and colder. Be ready for the shock.

-- Cold weather seems to be more conducive to mentally solving the world's problems. After a long run, make me king of the world and I would usher in a millennium of peace and happiness for all. Pax Patricka. Heat drives those thoughts out of my mind.

-- Dogs love the cold. (I don't know at what temperature I should put Abbey's sweater on her when we go for a run. 20? 30? 40? I suspect that she warms up while running just as I do, and that a sweater when it's too warm for it would be uncomfortable. But what's the temperature?)

-- Even for us humans, it's very easy to overdress. Sweat = wet = cold = even potentially dangerous.

-- It's easy to anthropomorphize our animal companions. I'm not sure we really know exactly how they experience things like pain and cold. Obviously, they feel pain and cold. In what way do they "know" it? I can't say. People have researched this, and I read something interesting about it once. I will, however, err on the side of assuming they feel it roughly the same way I do. That way I know I'm safe. I think.

-- Other runners and cyclists seem frequently to be friendlier in the cold. Perhaps it's just that there are fewer of us, and we are all feeling insufferably smug about being out in the cold when all the other wimps couldn't hack it!

-- I need some waterproof running shoes for snow days.

-- You still need to drink in cold weather, even though you don't seem to need to. Couple that with the fact that outdoor water fountains may be turned off, and prep is needed.

-- Clif's Crisp Apple electrolyte drink is great hot.

-- My insulated Polar water bottle works great in the cold, keeping hot drinks warm, at least for a while.

-- I am reminded that I always wonder why people run with earbuds in their ears. Not having tried it, I'm not passing judgment on anyone, but I enjoy the total experience -- sights, smells, sounds -- so much that I believe listening to music would seriously detract. A sizable minority clearly disagrees with me on that.

-- The sun is warm.

-- Arm warmers and my Mountain Hardwear "Mighty Power 3/4 Tights" (No, I did not make up the name. And no, you don't want to see me wearing tights. They are extremely functional, though.) are the greatest.

-- I'm not sure, but I'm beginning to think that on balance I disapprove of Wikileaks and Assange.

-- No doubt that I love my new (1st run with it today) Garmin 310xt HRM. Much cooler than the 305.

And that's it for now. Except to say that I've really enjoyed listening to The Witch's Garden, by Abandoned Toys.

Here for my semi-annual post

This is a bit strange. I came here just wanting to dash off a few words about running and a couple of other things that have been occupying my thoughts lately. When I arrived, though, all these opportunities jumped out at me! I could add linking widgets at the bottom of my page, for all those people who have been chomping at the bit immediately to distribute my wisdom via Twitter, Facebook and all the other new arbiters of social interaction. So I did it!

Then, even better, I could Monetize my blog. Monetize? My blog? As if the readers of my blog, in their vast numbers, would make this a side biz for me. So, what the heck. Now (until I decide it's too obnoxious --probably the next time I visit the blog) my fans will have the opportunity to click through to -- I don't know what -- and make me a fortune.

And now that I've spent all the time to set up that foolishness, my budgeted time for posting has expired. I'll try to get back to it later today. Just as a teaser, though, I'll tell you it has to do with running, alternative therapies and positive thinking. It's sure to be thought-provoking and compellingly written. I promise.