Winter Freezes Running in 2015

The Stats
2/4: 3.00 mi; 23'52"; 7'50" avg. pace
2/8: 3.10 mi; 24'47"; 7'57" avg. pace

I always knew this was a possibility. A winter would roll through the Kanawha Valley and shut down my favorite source of exercise. In winters past, I may have gotten along by running in sweats or picking and choosing warmer days to run. However, the 2014-2015 winter has not played nice. Those two days in early February offered the only respite from bleak, frigid winter before piles of snow filled the roadways. After back-aching shoveling, that snow gave way to iced streets and mounds of ugly, black-tinged slush piles.
Escape from this nasty situation has come mainly by ducking indoors during the week and fleeing to Snowshoe over the weekends. In the early evening of most weeknights, I can be found peddling away in my basement in front of a laptop streaming Hulu comedies. Ashley can attest to how startled I can be if someone enters the house while I'm down there and surprises me. Ultimately, the indoor spin is not so fun, but it's a great way to stay in shape over the gloomy winter season. Skiing offers the chance to be outside and breathe in the icy air. I have probably spent the majority of weekends in January and February on the mountain. The Snowshooter even caught me in action.

Random guy, Ashley, me, Mike

I am cool with this alternate form of training. The only downside is that our first 10k of 2015 is approaching. The Statesman 10k is less than two months away, and Austin, TX promises to offer some warmer temperatures and more excitement than Charleston. I only hope we are prepared to enjoy the race along with the amenities.