Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

As we usher in the month of December, we are reminded that the end of another year is nearly upon us. With it comes dropping temperatures, diminishing daylight, and the prospects of snow. If you like outdoor activities, all of this requires an attitude adjustment, unless you intend to wait for the spring thaw. To that I say, bring it on. Otherwise, we simply would be stuck in the snow and ice.

Well, this reminds me of a New Year's Day run that I took with a friend several years ago. The holidays were almost over and the consequent weight gain was evident. What else can you do on January 1st, other than sleep, eat, and watch football? Maybe make a resolution to exercise? What a novel idea. On this particular day, the forecast wasn't the most inviting, snow, with a predicted accumulation of a foot or more. For some, this would have negated the idea but not this day. It prompted us even more.

The planned run was for about 4-5 miles, perfect for a post holiday jaunt. By the time we started, we already had 3-5 inches on the ground. Currier and Ives would have been inspired by this wintry wonderland. After trudging through the snow for a while, we wondered, "If anyone sees us, they'll think we're crazy, so what'll we tell them?" After a pause, with the conditions deteriorating, we decided we better tell them the truth. "We really thought that it was going to get worse." That seemed to be a good explanation, don't you? Naturally, we completed our run and enjoyed the holiday that much more.

So, what did we learn from this little experience? Certainly, I wouldn't recommend challenging Mother Nature routinely; after all, you can't fool MN. So, let it snow. Simply by letting the prospects of predicted,"bad" weather dictate the plans, you may miss the chance to commune with Her. Let's run with that, because "that's-no" joke!