I almost stepped in deer poop. Lucky for me, it stands out well against the snow. 

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Nashua has lost the distinction of hosting the first trail race of the season, as 3C Productions Race Director Michael Amarello has postponed this Saturday's 5k in Mine Falls Park. 

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Remember that trick where you stand in a doorway, put your arms at your sides and then press against the frame with all your might for a minute?

 

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Sherpa John wrote a nice report on the snowshoe marathon he helped to organize this past weekend in Pittsfield Vt. My own snowshoe outing pales in comparison! There's also an ultra planned in the same area this summer, he writes.

 

 

 

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A cold, hard rain was falling over three inches of fresh snow Friday. The roads were a mess. I had the day off. Naturally, I had to get out and play. What else am I going to do, stay inside and clean?

 

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I hadn't seen my friend Michelle in a long time, so it was great to get out and run together while the sun shone today.

 

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Since I didn't exhaust the Potanipo trail system, I had plenty left in my legs, so we drove to the Eastman Meadow trailhead at Beaver Brook and ran for another 1.5 hours.

 

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Steve and I got out for a run yesterday in Mine Falls Park, whilst the storm still blew. It was great! I've never run in such fresh, deep snow, and it was everything I'd hoped it would be... in a word, tough.

 

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It took a good long while... I'm looking forward to getting out and running a bit in the snow tonight. I know the footing can be tricky, but it will be absolutely gorgeous out and I'm betting that fresh snow will offer a nice extra workout, sort of like running on sand. Anyone want to come out and play?

 

Last winter, I took my chances running on ice and glazed snow. It's not so bad, so long as you keep your stride steady, and don't try to change course any more sharply than a supertanker. This year, I got myself a pair of strap-on cleats for winter running.

 

 

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Moonlit nights are romantic, but running in the dark can get scary. When you work days and live in New England, though, it’s about all you’ve got this time of year.

 

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I like to carry water when I run. It’s a thirsty business, and I figure the extra weight is a good training aid. I feel a lot faster when I run without it.

 

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Steve and I got out for a couple hours in Hollis last Saturday. It was a challenge trying to figure how best to dress for the cold, and we turned to the roads after finding the trails a bit too slick.

I enjoy running in the winter, most of the time. I can’t think of anything more beautiful than a forest full of fresh snow glowing in the light of a full moon. Also, it’s neat how the freezing sweat makes my eyelids sticky. If it's really cold, you can turn a fleece hat into a hardshell helmet.

 

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Clover, née Peanut, joined my family back around 1996. She’s always been a family dog, but the two of us bonded by exploring the outdoors together. I used to bring her mountain biking. She’d run for hours, mostly off trail, in great circles around me. Eventually she’d tucker out and just follow me, and we nearly always finished together. 

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I’m here to tell you, the ice is strong enough for skating. At least, it was on Lovewell Pond Wednesday night, before the predicted deep freeze. The bad news: that recent dusting of snow fell while the ice was still soft, and all but wrecked it for skating.
There are good smooth sections though, and maybe some of the other local lakes fared better? Let me know.
I love pond skating, but haven’t been able to do it for a few years now.

 

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