I can't think of a better way to start off the new year than to go outside and play in the snow on the trails. I have always loved playing outside with my winter toys be it just running or snowboarding and snowshoeing. Yesterday, I went on an ez 15k run just to check out the situation in the forest. Hell literally froze earlier this week and everyting turned to I C E! After downing a nice long interval workout midweek of 15x1000m/400 with the usual 4k warmup and cooldown, i went out for an easy recovery 20k the next day and the trails had turned into frozen rivers. It was a NIGHTMARE even in Icebugs it was not very fun. Faced with a 30k in a couple days i was not looking forward to doing it on the ice rink the forest had become. Sure, there was a paved section that was clear once you crossed a km of ice to get there, but 30k of that might make me go nuts from boredom! Here is what it looked like just yesterday on the 31st-
Can you say I C E?!*&^%$#@
Our October Mud Run and December Snow Runs start here
The sand is useless-already iced over
1km stretch of ICE
to get to the 2.5km clear loop
QUACK!
well...mostly clear 2.5k loop
Back in the forest to head home
Yeah 30k on this was going to be "fun" and about the only thing to save the day would be a dump overnight to cover all the damn ice. Well, Father Frost delivered! About midnight it began to snow and by morning the trails were in excellent condition!!!! I could go out and play and not worry about busting my ass after all. I had already lost a running buddy who wanted to join me when he fell and busted a rib a few days ago-not fun. I had invited another friend over to run too but really didn't want to take responsibility if she fell and busted her ass too. I'm the only one with studded trail shoes, so I can go anywhere whereas tackling the kind of ice we have had in ordinary shoes is suicide.
So off I was to play in the forest. I can't believe this is my SEVENTH YEAR doing a NY run in Kuzminki Park. The only other place I've lived longer at any one time in my life is Alaska which all of you know I miss training there on the mountains like mad. I've been trying to go back for nearly three years now, but there are no jobs in my old school district much as is the case with the rest of the United States right now. Something tells me today's NY run in the park was not my last given the lack of improvement with the economic mess in the U.S.
So, today I met many very cute frosty friends in the forets. This snow family was really cute:)))) AWWW!
snow bunnies
cutest snow family ever
A little further up the trail was my obligatory stop at Ded Moroz's place aka Father Frost.
Bear hug for Mr. Bear:)
Editor's note: I have not grown boobs overnight nor gotten fat, I'm wearing my Camelbak vest as a bottom layer to keep it from freezing. I picked up this toy in the States in October and wasn't sure if the small top was going to be too small-nope perfect skin tight is just right to keep the bladder from moving. I'm glad I didn't swap it for a medium, it would have been too big.
http://www.rei.com/product/811638/camelbak-racebak-hydration-vest-womens-70-fl-oz
So off I was further into the forest:
Road leading to the overpass out of town
Ded Moroz's backyard
More trails just outside city limits
...and more snowy friends:)))
So off I was to play in the forest. I can't believe this is my SEVENTH YEAR doing a NY run in Kuzminki Park. The only other place I've lived longer at any one time in my life is Alaska which all of you know I miss training there on the mountains like mad. I've been trying to go back for nearly three years now, but there are no jobs in my old school district much as is the case with the rest of the United States right now. Something tells me today's NY run in the park was not my last given the lack of improvement with the economic mess in the U.S.
So, today I met many very cute frosty friends in the forets. This snow family was really cute:)))) AWWW!
A little further up the trail was my obligatory stop at Ded Moroz's place aka Father Frost.
Editor's note: I have not grown boobs overnight nor gotten fat, I'm wearing my Camelbak vest as a bottom layer to keep it from freezing. I picked up this toy in the States in October and wasn't sure if the small top was going to be too small-nope perfect skin tight is just right to keep the bladder from moving. I'm glad I didn't swap it for a medium, it would have been too big.
http://www.rei.com/product/811638/camelbak-racebak-hydration-vest-womens-70-fl-oz
So off I was further into the forest:
Pretty:)
I really wish people would listen to Mr.Squirrel,"Thank you for not littering in the forest, the forest is my home! There are many trash cans in this spot too so if you litter, you are just a lazy PIG!
...that even play footy!
Time flies when you play outside. I actually felt like going longer, but it was getting dark and there are some very isolated sections I wanted to cross before dark while heading back for safety reasons. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
