Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Next Up: Sawing Logs, Pulling Dogsled

After that Russky delivered a knock-out blow last weekend, I decided to get all Rocky IV on running's ass.


You're going down Ivan, you terrible bastard!

The snow is high-ankle deep and more is falling as the Royal We speak. I had to bound through unplowed portions of my West Akron neighborhood as if it were tundra. My knees churned up near my chest as my lungs burned. I weaved into the street at times as it offered more solid footing. I set personal long-jump records as I hurdled over mountains of icy slush left over from plow trucks. Three miles never felt so long.

Running Like a Dodo
As I was trudging through the snow last night, I realized I had better forward propulsion and balance when I swung my arms in a more outward, akimbo position than with my elbows tucked in toward my ribcage. I caught my shadow in the light of a streetlamp, and I looked like some poor flightless bird, flapping my useless wings as I bounced along.

I call this new running style the Dodo Trot -- because A) I'm sure I looked as stupid as I felt, and B) I hope it becomes extinct very soon.

Yakking Away
I wore my YakTrax for the second time since receiving them as a gift. Again, my traction was solid on unsolid ground. But I have a question for fellow users. The packaging says not for use on concrete or roads clear of snow. Therefore, I stuck to the sidewalks where it was too full of snow. What I'm wondering is do you think I'd royally destroy the YakTrax if my run was up to 50 percent on more or less clear roads?

As for Yesterday
I have no idea why yesterday's post didn't show up for some of you when it was posted. It just goes to show that you should check Team BHI every couple of minutes for updates.

13 comments:

Unknown said...

The Yak Trax will be fine if you wear them on the clear roads at times. I have done it many times when the roads are only half clear. Be careful though. They can slick on dry concrete.

Ian said...

They slick on dry concrete? Viper, you need to test this the next time you have dry concrete in OH to run on, and video it too.

Nitmos said...

I love training montages to 80's pop songs. If only I could get so much improvement in a two minute timeframe...Go For It!

Jess said...

I can't imagine running in such snow! If I want that kind of workout here in FL, I'd go down to the beach and run on sand. But even that seems like too much work for me.

S said...

You totally stole your dodo trot from me. Except they like to call me a jogging chicken. Geez. Get it right!

Turi Becker said...

I used "screwed shoes" a couple weeks ago for the first time - 20% slush, 80% concrete, and they were fine. Only slippery on manhole covers.

trihrdrgrl said...

Did someone mention dry concrete in Ohio? You must not live here. I only wish we could describe Ohio as dry, one day, just one day!

chia said...

I was told my YakTrax are fine as long as I'm not doing more than a mile on dry concrete so you're probably cool.

Thing that floored me was when I caught an uneven bit of sidewalk (which GOD FORBID I could actually SEE) and my rubbery metal goodness snapped off like my thong on prom night (was that out loud?)... ya... that wasn't a nice mid-run gesture!

Traction compromised (exclaimation applying to more than one reference, I'm certain)

Sun Runner said...

the next time you have dry concrete in OH to run on

That would be...June, probably.

Are you going out in this week's Arctic temperatures? I ran outside this morning: 4 miles, zero degrees. It was...interesting.

Marcy said...

I'm a freako about bustin my ass so I wear (or should I say wore because my running has been nil :P) them all the time in the winter regardless of if there was snow or not (Hello! Hidden icy patches, people! LOL) Anyway, yeah expect to replace them every month if you go my route HAHA

Razz said...

ah yes, the obligatory montage in every Rocky movie. I thought there was a shot of a hypodermic needle going into Drago's arm. That, and I find it interesting that Rocky never took a punch while training. Hmm...

Ms. V. said...

Wow. Running in the snow. "What is this white stuff you talk about?
"

lifestudent said...

Living in the Midwest blows. But the snow? Thats nothing. Its the subzero HIGH temps that truly make me wonder what the heck I'm doing here.