Pass the scalpel....

Well maybe I should have first watched the Canadian video Brad alerted us to this morning (see "How to dress at -25" under Latest Stuff). But it was hard enough getting my brain in gear to go out at 7.45am as it was.

Actually, I've got the layering thing down pretty well -- I am usually too hot. The hardest thing was deciding what shoes to wear. Do I stick with lightweight training/racers to help me keep up with Patty, or use something more substantial to help keep my feet a little bit warm and dry. While the snow plough had been down my street already, I was sure we would be slogging through at least six inches of powder out on the trial.

And the shoes had to big roomy enough to allow for two pairs of socks. OK. Final answer: my battered old pair of Nike Air Pegasus trail shoes. These are very old. I think they were waterproof once. Now they just have the idea of being waterproof. The grip is not too good, but in today's conditions -- nice crunchy powder -- they are just right.

It was exhilarating being out in the white stuff. But we soon found ourselves in white-out conditions, unable to see where the trail went. What few tracks there were to follow disappeared too quickly to be of any use as the snow filled 'em up. Neither of us could see very well. Patty tried ordinary glasses; I tried those orange tinted ones that make things brighter. Both equally useless. Maybe a running-adapted pair of skiing goggles would work? I am going to investigate what the x-country skiers use.

Easing into my cool-down walk at the end of the run I started limping. My left Achilles felt swollen and the back of the shoe was catching it. Hmm, methinks. Better take the scalpel to it when I get home. The shoe, that is, not my tendon.

Then I had a closer look: it was a big chunk of ice wedged between the shoe and my tendon. In fact, there was ice all round my ankles... I guess that was deep-frozen sweat. Hmm, how delicious!

Phew! Survived injury-free to run another day.