Snow Blows

Today's run was in North Cheyenne Canyon... and I only have one thing to say:
Eff Snow.

Things were great starting out- the weather was clear, it wasn't too chilly- but so help me, my feet just couldn't get a grip on the ground beneath them.

About 30 minutes up Gold Camp, I grew aggravated. As I trudged on, the aggravation grew to to disgust, and by the 1 hour mark, I was having a full-blown tantrum. I felt like I was running in place! If I had desired that feeling, I would've hopped on the treadmill...
But here we were, out in the snow, and I was going to have to deal with it.

Eventually, I just stopped.
I found a sunny place with a good view and just quit running for a few minutes.

Everything was silent and still.

As I looked out over the trees, I realized what a dumb-ass I was being.

I had completely lost focus of what I most enjoy about running- the view. I hadn't been looking around much, but instead was fixated on the ground and how fast I was moving. Tisk-tisk.

So I walked. I forced myself to look around a little, and to stop worrying about my lack of progression up the road. My walking pace wasn't that much slower than my running pace anyways, so I had nothing to lose.

After that, things started looking up.

By the time I turned around and started the journey back, I was willing to give running another chance, and maybe even consider enjoying myself for the last stretch.
My feet were still slipping, but the new perspective and gradual down-hill did wonders for my previously grim mood :)

We made it back to the cars with a round-trip total of 90 minutes.

Sometimes I just have to remember to enjoy the ride... to take in the whole experience. I am so blessed to be where I am and to have such beautiful places within driving (or running) distance...