Frankenmuth Mich. July 4, 2007

The weather has been typical January in Michigan frigid and snowy. Pete and I ran in the snow on the trail twice this week but it was so cold we kept it short. Sunday, Feb. 1 was 34 degrees in the morning so we went to the park . After 2 miles Pete was dragging, so we walked most of the last mile. I felt good, but Pete is 8 years old, making him almost as old as me. I have to take it easier on him.
We lose runners every year to car accidents, especially in winter. I have seen in just the last few days runners in the road in rush hour, and running with traffic, not against. They can't see if there is a problem behind them. All runners need to run against traffic and preferably not in the roadway.
In that spirit, The Bumper run is Wed., Feb.4th at 6:15 pm at Stoney Creek Metro Park. This race commemorates Don Richmond running there around 13 years ago at night, in the dark, in the road, wearing all black. He was hit by a pickup truck and flew thru the air and landed on the grass - uninjured! The pickup rolled and was totalled! Don believes that was a sign from God, so he puts on the Bumper run every year at his expense to promote safe running. It will be cold and windy so I'm debating if I will go. Maybe.

I ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill Saturday, 30 minutes Monday, and 3 miles at the park with Pete Wednesday. Needed to walk a little.

9 degrees and snow. I ran on the trail with Pete for almost 1/2 mile. He is a standard poodle and gets moody when he doesn't get a walk. With sub zero temperatures, we haven't been out. He likes to run in the winter. He won't run in the summer - he overheats. My legs were freezing.

It was 14 below zero this morning. I know someone was out there running, but it was not me.

I set up the treadmill and ski machine and weight bench Sat. in the spare room. The weather is going from bad to worse this week and I will work out inside until it gets back to normal.

I saw 4 people running on the trail Sunday. 6 to 8 inches of snow over a layer of ice. I told 2 that they plow the bike path at Stoney Creek and salt it. Sliding on the trail can cause injury. We run for our health, not to get hurt.