Ice, Ice, Baby

I was a bad ass Thursday night. Got home from work at 5:30, and it was cold with a little snowy drizzle. Instead of wasting 40 minutes of my evening driving back and forth to the gym, I decided to run outside. So, I waste 60 minutes finding all my gear, and getting it all on! That included tights, baggies over socks, shoes, two base layers, and running jacket, iPod, baseball cap, stocking cap over that, head band around all that, headlight, face mask, running watch, and mittens (last!)... what *am* I doing? One last question shot over my shoulder to my daughter as I headed out the door, "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?". The anticipated, "Uhhh, NO.", and I was finally out the door!

My headlight shone into the freezing rain\snow mix, and my breath rose into that, and I had one of those moments where you think, "Wow, how awesome... I wish I was sharing this experience with someone." I could feel the pressure of the wind hitting me, but I couldn't feel the wind (don't you love it when you gear up just right!!!). It was dark and in the 20's, my iPod was blasting, and I was warm and toasty, completely shielded.

The road was a bit slick, so I headed over to the golf course and got on the snowy cart path. No problem with traction there. I did two rounds of the golf course and thought I'd head back into my subdivision and do my usual "cover every road", on the sidewalk. Then I noticed the people that had shoveled their sidewalk had actually done the walkers\runner (that's me, no one else crazy enough to run run in this crap!) a disservice. The drizzle had froze and the shoveled parts were shear ice! Ok, move over to the grass for those parts...

4.3 miles and I was back at my house. Hmmm... this is such an awesome run, if I just go up and back one more time, it will be 5.3 miles, and I want to go at least five. I slip at the first driveway, and that should have been enough to send my rear home. But no, I *want* to go 5 miles and I am warm and feelin good! Second shoveled driveway, stop, walk, and pray. Third driveway, doesn't look so bad (did they salt, too?!), it's flat, I think I can slow jog. One step good, two steps not so good. Both feet come out from under me, I go down on my right hip and wrist and before I know it the back of my head cracks on the concrete. Kinda bounces, actually. OMG, am I ok? Did I knock myself out? My flippin' head hurts bad!!! Hurry, get up before someone sees you and calls you out for the stupid (albeit BAD) ass you are!

I walk home with my head between my mittens, thankful for the stocking cap that likely saved me from a concussion or worse. A quick look at my watch... damn, 4.8 miles!!! .2 miles short of my goal. Grrr! :)