WAYNE’S WORDS
FEBRUARY 2007
TOPIC: THOSE MIDWEST MIDWINTER CAN’T GET OUTSIDE TO DO ANY TRAINING BLUES AGAIN

I’m sitting here at home on our 3rd snow day of the school year looking out at our 3rd major snow/ice storm of the season and wondering when I’ll ever get outside again to workout.
This year is it seems to have hit harder, those blues. It might be because we’ve had some really lousy winter weather this season, maybe we were lulled into a false sense of serenity because December was so mild, or probably because I’m turning into a grumpy old man.

I’m getting tired of shoveling snow, tired of my SUV being dirty from all the road salt, tired of wearing multi-layers whenever I go anywhere, tied of the mess in the garage from the SUV, firewood, snow, and crap from the roads.
Hell, I missed Marti Gras this year because it was snowing with winds of 30 mph with a temperature of 27°.
Most of all, running swimming and biking outside in the warmth of the sun seems so far far away.
I can almost remember the last time I was out for a bike ride.
I’ve completely forgotten what it feels like to jump into an outdoor pool and feel the sun on my back.
I couldn’t tell you what it was like to go out for a run with just a pair of shorts on.
But, it’s coming. As quickly as I forgot about those long warm summer days I’ll soon forget about this crappy winter.
Soon it WILL be warm enough to get the bikes out and work the cobwebs out of them and my legs.
In a few months, they’ll open the outdoor pool at Crestview and I’ll start swimming outside in the fresh air and sunshine.
Soon, I’ll be able to go for a run and not wear three layers of everything, and not have to plan my run around where they have and haven’t cleared the snow/ice/slush off the roads.
But I guess that’s what keeps us going, when you can still remember what is like to be outside in the sun with a warm breeze at your back.
You can get through one more indoor swim, one more spinning class and one more wake up call before the sun comes up to go out for a freezing cold run.
Keep remembering your best days of training or racing or relaxing outside in the summer sun.
It will all be here before we know it.
Then...we can all start complaining about the pollen count and how hot and humid it is.
And....when is it EVER going to cool off!!!!

Until Next Time
Train Smart, Live Right
Wayne
whuckshold@yahoo.com