12/2/10--Zigs and Zags

Today's run: 5.06 miles
Week to date: 12.14 miles
Month to date: 5.06 miles (First run of the month...)

And this made me happy:
Year to date: 400.09 miles

Big smiles about that, for sure!

It was another cold and snowy morning in the Copper Country!

So, it was time to put the "snow tires" on:

The outfit:

It was pretty much perfection. I was just warm enough to be comfortable. The hat was the only downer--it kept almost coming off anytime I got a headwind. The jacket ($10 at Wal-Mart--I have 3 of them) broke the wind very nicely, and I was good with a long sleeve and UnderArmor t-shirt underneath.

I knew that I wanted/needed to go 5 miles today, so it was time to get creative with my route. I saw the trucks out plowing, so I knew the streets would be relatively clear. I give you: how to run 5 miles through a tiny Upper Peninsula town:

Yeah. I zig-zagged through the streets like a champ. I got a lot of strange looks from the people out clearing their driveways, let me tell you, especially when I came back through a second time!
I felt slow today, but that was OK. I knew with the streets being snowy and slick, speed was not going to happen. I was more concerned with safety and completion today. Oddly enough, I enjoyed the rolling hills. I can't explain why exactly, but I did! Maybe it just added to the insanity factor of it. I can look back now and say, "Hey, remember that day when it was 20 degrees, windy, snowing sideways, and I went out and ran 5 miles with hills?"
You know, I can't decide if that last statement is either awesome, badass, or completely mental. Either way, I still did it.

I leave you today with this:
The other night, I decorated the apartment for Christmas. I noted that we didn't have a topper for our Christmas tree, so I found a sparkly gold ornament to hang at the top to suffice for the time being.
Yesterday, I noticed the boyfriend staring contemplatively at the TV. Perched on top was Fatty, the stuffed squirrel he bought me on our first vacation together in August '09. The next thing I know, I look over and see this:

Yup, Fatty is now our tree topper. Personally, I love it. This may have to become a tradition.

Have a great day, everyone! :)