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March 2, 2007
Not Quite Normalcy
(I'm slowly writing a big post about the "real" vacation part of our trip to Costa Rica. Race and vacation photos to follow also! I'll probably post this stuff early next week.)
It's insanely difficult to return to this winter weather from a training perspective, after running around at low lattitudes for 3 weeks. Up here, at these high elevations, tucked into the mountains, we are still in the throes of winter. However, according to my notes, I wore shorts on a training run last year on March 23rd. Does this means that the sufferfest will end in a few short weeks? If so, I think I can survive!
After 2 weeks of doing, quite literally and quite intentionally, almost nothing running-wise after the race, this week might just (barely) exceed 50 miles. Then, next week will be as close to "normal" as I can get. I'm motivated to run, no doubt. If only I could run in above-freezing temperatures, the motivation factor would be through the roof.
Spring really is just around the corner. The other day, I talking with someone about bears. Soon, Yellowstone's black and grizzly bear populations will be waking from their winter-time slumbers. They emerge from their dens just as the snow begins to melt to feed on winter kills. Winter kills are the animals (mostly elk) that don't survive the harsh winter conditions. Typically, they die and are frozen into the snow untouched. When the spring melt begins and the winter kills begin to thaw, it's like a bear buffet of fresh meat, a perfect way to fatten up after hibernating for 6+ months. Resutingly, I'll shortly have to exercise more caution with reference to training in their home territories, lest I not become a member of the aforementioned bear buffet. That night after this bear conversation, I appropriately had a nightmare about a 100 foot-long grizzly bear that wanted to eat me! Sigh, let's stay in the realm of the rational, shall we?
Happy Weekends, all! I intend to practice and equal mix of activity and lazy-ness this weekend. We're planning to run and ski (just not that much of it). We are also headed to a new hot springs that we haven't visited before, which will assist in the lazy-ness portion of this endeavor.
Posted by Meghan at March 2, 2007 10:31 AM
Comments
Bears? Bears? Oh, my. I'm not sure I could deal with that - what does "exercise with more caution" look like in regard to bears?
Sounds like you have a fun weekend lined up. Enjoy!
Posted by: backofpack at March 2, 2007 12:56 PM
I'll trade you two central park gang-bangers for a Grizzly?
Posted by: chelle at March 2, 2007 2:12 PM
Sounds beautiful and like an adrenaline rush! I;m jealous of the hot springs visit. Closest I'll get to that is a hot shower!
Jenny
Posted by: Jenny at March 2, 2007 6:05 PM
After your Costa Rica experience will life for you ever be normal again? Hey Meghan! Ever skin a Griz?
Posted by: Eric at March 5, 2007 10:58 PM