Chicago Deep Freeze

Today began what I like to call the "Annual Chicago Deep Freeze," when temperatures soar to high in the single digits! Wind chills below zero! This happens every year for about two weeks in January (and for only two weeks, if we're lucky), and it is my absolute least favorite part of the year. The most miserable time of my life last year involved waiting for the train in the subzero temperatures, gripping my coffee in hopes that my fingers wouldn't fall off, all while anticipating the extra-cold "woosh" as the train went by on its way to stop. Glad I don't have to do that anymore, let me tell you.

Seeing as today's high of 12 is going to beat Thursday's high of 6, I figured I'd move my runs around a little. It also helps that I work on Thursday and I don't work today...either way, running today seemed like a good option. Only three miles, so the time spent in the cold would be minimal.

Tuesday, January 13
3.02 miles in 23:57, avg pace of 7:56

It took a little while to get going because I was trying to figure out my footing the snow. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but the snow on the streets made this run much harder than the cold. We had a "blizzard warning" last night, which is a term I've never heard before despite living in Chicago for the past 17 (almost 18! yikes!) years. Apparently the term "blizzard" was in relation the wind that would be blowing the snow around, not that actual snow itself. Lo and behold, I think the wind was fine and we only got about two-three more inches of snow.

This would not normally be a problem because that is fairly minimal snowfall, but it was very fine powdered snow, which blows back onto the road after the snow plows have gone through. Therefore, the road was still covered, and thus not conducive to the excellent footing that I generally like to have while running. Another reason why I like summer so much better!

Anyway, the run went well, and I lifted and did some crunches when I got home. "Lifting" refers to what I used to do while on the high school cross country/track team, and even then I'm not sure I was doing it right. Some day I'll actually have someone who knows better teach me what exercises would be beneficial.

On a much warmer note, I just bought my plane ticket to MIAMI for a cruise that I'm going on with my boyfriend in a couple weeks. Highs in the 80's, woo!