“Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks.” — Tom Petty

This morning’s run was a rock. I lumbered my way through the usual 3-mile loop with all the grace and dignity of a broken washing machine, shuffling from side to side to avoid patches of black ice while hacking up the lingering phlegm of a neverending cold. Some runs are diamonds, some runs are rocks.

During the week, I run before school (alone or with my dog, Basher) and after school, usually with the Winter Run Club, totaling 6-8 miles on any given day. The morning run is always the tough one, for obvious reasons. It’s early, it’s dark, it’s cold, and I am barely awake. My legs are tight, my lungs are asleep, and I usually need to pee immediately after leaving the house. My pace is a crapshoot; some days I can muster 8:30 miles, most days 9:00 or 9:30 are good enough. It all depends on a slew of common sense variables. What did I eat last night? What did I drink last night? When did I go to sleep? How was yoga? If I make good choices, the run will be fine. More often, though, I pay for my sins out there on the road.

Despite these setbacks, the morning run is essential. No matter how terrible the conditions or personal performance, I always feel better when it’s over. I feel refreshed, awake, and (slightly) more ready for the day. I’m an obsessive creature of habit, so the morning routine is unalterable and set in proverbial stone. I’ve been running before work for so long I’m don’t know what would happen if I missed a day. I just know it wouldn’t be pretty. That being said, an old friend has reemerged to make things a little more challenging…Old Man Winter.

Yes, winter returned to Kalamazoo Sunday night, with freezing rain quickly evolving into heavy, wet snow. This week’s runs have been split between the harsh outside (cold, wind, snow, ice, layers, dying electronics) and the tedious inside (I ran 56 laps on the Bronson indoor track Monday). I made the mistake of running with Basher on Tuesday morning. He’s not a fan of ice (and steps as gingerly as possible whenever he encounters it), so I ultimately ended up running with a 35-pound anchor tied around my waist. We struggled together for 2.3 miles, clocking in at 29:56, a blistering 13:03 min / mile pace. Thank goodness for the afternoon run.

By running twice a day, I always have an opportunity to make good on the less desirable aspects of the morning’s endeavor. The Winter Run Club continues to grow, even as the temperatures plummet. More and more non-runners are joining the fray and stepping out into the snow for a few good miles of fitness and camaraderie. As a teacher, there is no better way to cap off a day of school than burning off steam while running alongside some cool, like-minded students. Running with young people pushes your pace and challenges your pre-conceived notions and routines. These runs are diamonds. 

Happy Running.