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.

We managed just about four miles, and it felt as though we'd done twice that. About ten inches had hit the ground, give or take, when we hit the trail. We didn't get first tracks - a snowmobiler had already been through the park - but the only other person we saw out there was on X-C skiis.

It was a great chance to field-test the gaiters I got for Christmas (thanks again, Kath!), along with my cleats. They both worked really well; I got only the slightest bit of snow up one ankle.

We found running through the fresh snow was actually easier than following to semi-packed snowmobile track. Paradoxically the footing was a little more solid when compressed by our own feet. Still, we both found the bottoms of our feet got good and sore as the muscles strained for balance. We were able to chuff along at a slow pace, but when I tried to keep a more normal pace I found I couldn't hold it long. Snow swirled all around us, and sprayed out in front of each footfall.  I ran along the canal for a stretch; it's well frozen and the snow was even deeper there.

The best part about running in adverse conditions is that it makes me feel so hardcore… it's a real boost to the ego. A little voice in my head urged me to stay out and run for hours on end, just to defy the elements and push my limits. Alas, sanity prevailed.

Clover came along, and was in her glory prancing around in the fluff. At one point, she meandered over to the opposite side of the canal, and had to be rescued… she was scared to climb back down the steep bank, the ol' doofus.

Steve was kind enough to invite me over for dinner afterwards, and he cooked up a big dinner of eggs, bacon and the best home fries I've ever scarfed. I guess that's the downside of winter workouts; they make me want to eat as though I were on the Iditarod.