Wednesday, December 2 - Elk Meadow - Hiwan Loop

Time: 54;07

Distance: 6:32 miles

Effort: Easy

Body: Good

Weather: Cold/Fresh Snow

Knowing today would the the second of three all-day meeting days, I decided to get up early and get in a run pre-work. Alarm went off at 5:45 a.m. Looked out the window and noted the three inches of fresh snow. And, it looked cooooold!

Managed to pry myself out of bed and slip on cold weather running gear. With headlamp in hand, I stepped out into the eerie silence that accompanies the fresh, new and pre-dawn world of the mountains in winter. For the first mile, with the wind gnawing at my cheeks and ears, I questioned the decision to get out of bed. After a mile, about the time I stepped onto the snow-covered Painter's Pause Trail in Elk Meadow, I was glad to be out. Suddenly, the focus that was devoted to the chill, now was redirected to the plethora of critter footprints that crossed the trail every 10-15 meters, to the squench...squench...squench...squench sounds my shoes made in the snow and to the muffled sounds car tires made on the normally noisy Evergreen Parkway.

These sights and sounds stole my mind away as my legs churned up the steady climb and short descent to the Buchanan Recreation Center ponds. I soon was winding my way through the Hiwan neighborhood. I was greeted first by a fox, then several men and women up early shoveling their driveways. Bad weather always seems to make people more friendly, at least when they are home safe.

It's supposed to be even colder tomorrow morning.  May have to jump on the treadmill for the first time this winter. That means another way early morning.  Ugh.