Yes, Yes I Did Run in the Snowstorm...

...Okay, to be fair, I ran BEFORE the snowstorm on Thursday, with the final half of my run happening during the beginning of the snowfall (and that only happened because the storm was three hours ahead of schedule, according to our local weatherman). 

And before you say, "You're nuts" (believe me, it's not the first time I've heard it), let me explain why.  I HATE the treadmill.  I loathe it.  I often fantasize about giant treadmill bonfires.  Although I understand that they can be beneficial, they are essentially human-sized hamster wheels that lie about how many calories you actually burned in a workout.  I can run on one for about a mile.  And then I want to bash my head into the dashboard and let the treadmill belt roll my unconscious body to sweet, sweet freedom.

So when the weather forecasters were predicting our super fun snowstorm on Thursday, I had a choice.  I could:

1. Resign myself to the tedium of running on a conveyor belt of human tears and sorrow, or
2. Get up at 4:30 am and run outside before the snow hit.

I'm sure it resonates with you how much I hate the treadmill since I chose option 2.  I was not happy about it, but I did it.

Someone asked me later, "Why didn't you just skip it and take a rest day?"

Secret option 3.  Hmmm...

To be honest, that hadn't even occurred to me -- and I felt very proud.  Because a mental change is happening.  Why not skip the run that day?  Because I would not have been at peace with myself knowing that I'd missed a training session.  Would missing that run have affected my ability to do Ironman?  No, probably not.  But it would've messed with my mood, and that would have carried over into other things.  So, ultimately, I did not run in a snowstorm at 4:30 am for Ironman.  I did it for me.  And I would do it again.

But let's hope I don't have to.  I'm sick of winter.  I'll take spring anytime now, thank you.