For Christmas every year since Heather and I have been married we have gone to Iowa. We have established a tradition in which we stay at home on Christmas Eve so Santa Claus can come visit the kids at home. We get up Christmas morning bright and early and see what Santa Claus and brought all of us. After opening all the gifts we all get to play with our gifts and enjoy our time. Then by the time the kids have played with everything once, we leave home and head to the airport. We catch a plane to my inlaws in Davenport, Iowa. Most of the time we arrive at their house around 5:00 or 6:00 and then Christmas keeps going for the kids. Our kids love it! Christmas lasts all day long for them. Plus, they love flying on a plane. This year was a bit different. In the past we have been flying from Atlanta. Atlanta has a direct flight to Moline, IL (The airport of my in-laws). But, not that we are in Nashville we have to lay over. The funny thing is that we layed over in (guess where?), you guessed it - Atlanta. I originally booked the flight for us to lay over in Memphis. Memphis was less busy with less chance of winter weather. The airline changed the times of our flight and we had a choice of Atlanta or Chicago. Chicago is significantly closer, but has a good chance of bad weather. (By the way it did snow in Chicago) So I choose Atlanta. It all worked out. We actually arrive a bit early. When we arrived it was snowing fairly hard. At least we get to have half of a white Christmas. I did not schedule to run on Christmas day. I figured flying through Atlanta on the way to Iowa with the 3 kids with all the luggage was workout enough. (It was a real workout)
Today is my long run (9 miles). Before heading up to Iowa I found a website in which I could plan out a run based on distance. I planned out a course in which I ran from my in-laws house to the Mississippi River and then back up to the in-laws house. With google maps I was able to check the roads that have sidewalks. To keep on track with the training I had to run the course. It was snowing.
I got decked out for a winter run in the snow. Heather had gone to Target and purchased another winter hat. So I didn't have to wear the bring pink hat. This was going to be my longest run so far. It started out fairly fun. Most of the sidewalks had already been cleared. Up in Iowa they clear the roads and sidewalks as it is snowing. It seemed to snow a few inches while I was running.
I got down to the Mississippi River and tryed to remember how I was suppose to get back. I ran all around downtown Davenport and headed back to the in-laws house. The run down to the river near the IMAX theater had a large downhill. I had to slow down and walk down the slope to make sure I didn't slip and fall and hurt myself.
I tried to remember the course I had drawn out. I knew most of the roads heading north had to the Davenport Mall area, but I wanted to make sure I didn't end up on a road without a sidewalk or area to run. Running in the grass wouldn't work since there was about 3 -4 inches of snow on the ground during this run.
I ended up running up Marquette Street. I didn't plan on heading up this street. Marquette street was a great road to run on until we past where the old K's used to be. Then the street heads into a neighborhood. Marquette street near Kimberly did not have a sidewalk to get across the street. So I had to try to climb up a large slope up to the street to push the button to cross the street. I slipped multiple times and couldn't get up the slope. I then had to add some more distance to get around the slope.
I didn't prepare as I should have. I had no water during the run. I looked around and there was snow everywhere. I decided to eat snow to get some water. The snow was fresh because it was actually snowing at the time. The snow was good. It melted and the cold water really felt good. (Normal water would have been better, but it worked).
When I got into the neighborhood off of Marquette street my sidewalk ended. I ended up needing to head off into the grass in 3 - 4 inches of snow. The snow forced me to lift my feet significantly off the ground. It added some difficulty I was not used to.
In this run, I knew I had run a lot more than the 9 miles that I needed to run. I ran most of the run. I did walk quite a bit in this run, especially when I was in the snow. I did not know who much I distance I had covered. It was a long long run.
When I got back at the in-laws house, I went to the website and mapped out the run. I had covered a total distance of 12.2 miles! It took me a long time. In fact when I arrived at the in-laws house Heather was getting ready to leave and come find me thinking I had injured myself. I was ok. The snow really slowed me down.
No wonder I struggled so much on the run I had run 3.2 miles farther then I had planned.
10 years ago
