Tuesday, March 3, 2009

November Was White...And So Was December, January, February...

This morning it was seven degrees.

Seven.

Despite that, I still did my four miles outside. I'm so thrilled to be back on track after my bout with ITBS that I don't care what the weather is like, I'm running outside. I doubled up on leg coverings (warm tights under warm pants), kept my hands curled into balls inside my gloves, had the Jacket of Wonder zipped up to my chin, and ran hard (4.24 miles in 36:39).

Even so, I am growing weary of winter. The area experienced its first snowfall of note in mid-November and the white stuff has been our near-constant companion ever since. We have also had a few brutally cold days, one of which resulted in my frozen fingers.

I am ready for sun, warmth, and longer days. I want to smell green things coming to life, that fecund, earthy odor of warming soil and uncurling leaves. I want to hear the gentle burbling of the ground thawing. I want to run in shorts! Of course, that will mean my fishbelly white Midwest winter legs will be inflicted upon the world, but SO BE IT.

Sunday we turn our clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time, which means daylight will last into the evenings, but my morning runs will be plunged back into darkness for a while.

I picked up a new song from one of my favorite artists, Say Hi (formerly known as Say Hi To Your Mom; expert purveyors of low-fi fuzz and softly mumbled lyrics), about a month ago, but only recently has it truly begun to speak to me.

Say Hi: November Was White, December Was Grey

The fire it cracks and the flakes snow on
November was white and December was grey
Well someday soon when the spring brings the sun
I'll finally sleep
I'll finally feel better when the winter's gone
I'll feel better when the winter's gone
I'll feel better when the winter's gone oh oh


Speaking of Say Hi, their web site is chock full of free mp3s. Aside from "November..." my other favorites are "Angels and Darlas" and "Northwestern Girls."

8 comments:

Kristin said...

Springing forward...sigh. I guess that means my 6:30 a.m. runs will be all dark, instead of half dark, half light. Although...I'll be in England for the first two weeks of it, so I guess I don't care so much after all (even though it will be dark there too).

Anonymous said...

I am so ready for spring too and it's been warmer here this winter than where you are. Bring on the sun PLEASE!

jen said...

I'm looking forward to Spring and Springing Forward and everything else with the word Spring in it. You've definitely had a real long winter up there so you deserve to be running in shorts soon!! Hang in there.

Anonymous said...

I've been a reader/lurker for a while now! I know girlrunningaround in real life (we worked together about 4 years ago).

Anyway, I'm just tired of SO many layers! Ugh, the tights, the pants, the long sleeve, the fleece, the jacket. I'm so tired of tracking down missing gloves (the cats love playing with them!).

The past two mornings, we had -13! I stuck to yoga and 30 day Shred instead!

Spike said...

I am seriously starting to get a resentment against that groundhog.

Glaven Q. Heisenberg said...

want to smell green things coming to life, that fecund, earthy odor of warming soil and uncurling leaves. I want to hear the gentle burbling of ... etc.

Man, you could be describing my lower GI tract after some strong chili, right there, sister! When Teh 'Bride complains about the smell, I always say: "Why you gotta be a fecundity-hatah?"

Playah ain't down wit' that!

I'm ready for spring, too. My favorite season, even though I have allergies.

C said...

Daylight savings doesn't happen for me until March 29th. I'm very bummed about this. I need more sunlight in my day, stat.

tfh said...

Too bad you can't infect certain other members of the blogosphere with your running-outside-despite-winter-weary spirit...