Training in February.....54~9~27

 We have had snow on the ground since the day after Christmas and it has been cold. Winter as it should be but not your typical New York winter with snow, rain, heat wave and bitter cold. The weather has been pretty consistent this winter and we've done a fair bit of shoveling. Good for skiers as they say.

 I have been able to stay true to my training plan and have run through it all. Other than the daily battle of nailing down the perfect clothing combination I have enjoyed myself. A run or bike ride six days a week this time a year is quite an accomplishment for this guy. For the first time I am not flipping through the calender longing for the warmer months of the year to get out side. I admit however that I am looking forward to spring.

 Recently Mother Nature returned tossing us a sample of the yo-yo weather we had been missing, confusing everyone.

• Late Friday night the wind howled, trees and power lines fell and in the morning the thermometer read 54 degrees: I ran in shorts for the first time in months it was so exciting I felt strong, free and fast. No gloves, hat, gators or jacket. it was wonderful.
• That afternoon the wind picked up again, they were calling for snow the temperature plummeted over night and in the morning the thermometer read 9 degrees: It hadn't snowed but I had to wear everything I had on a 10 mile run even stopped home at mile 4 to change gloves, my hands were numb. It was a brilliant blue day without a cloud in the sky as the sun slowly warmed things up. 
• That night it snowed, sneaking in while everyone slept laying a clean white eight inch blanket over everything, that morning it was 27degrees: A heat wave. I was up early, dressed, pulled my gators over my shoes and got 8 miles in before the plows got out. First tracks!

 This past week has been pretty consistent as yo-yo weather goes. It rained for two days as the temperature hovered just above freezing. It was 50 degrees one day a 30 the next only small dirty piles of snow remain.  Mother Nature is back to her old tricks, New York winter is here as March approaches. When is Spring?