Tonight’s run brought to you by Neos.  Not the company, but my pair of Neos Navigator overshoes.  Under which, I wore my most comfortable pair of running shoes.

We got about 14 inches of snow over the last two days, and by late afternoon today, I had succumbed to cabin fever.  I was ready to get out in the fresh air, get some exercise, and check out the snowy scenery.  So, I bundled up for a two miler, with no idea what the conditions would be like past my driveway.  I briefly considered my screw shoes, but decided they would be useless in deep snow.  I went with my Neos.  I wore ski socks over my cold weather running tights.  Excellent choices, as it turned out.

Some streets, like mine, were not plowed.  Some were plowed and had since become a treacherous sheet of ice.  No sidewalks were cleared.

Some crossings almost made me turn around and go home. 

Turns out I got started on my run a little too late, and ended up finishing in the dark.

Running in the Neos–when the conditions allowed for running–wasn’t bad.  Wearing my running shoes on the inside worked pretty well.  In the deep snow, I had to just power my way through, walking one step at a time.   But it felt great to get out.  I enjoyed greeting the few people who were out; most shoveling their drives.  And then there was this very nice snowman at the other end of my street.

More Janathon running blogs:

http://jamiewoods77.blogspot.co.uk/  Ended her Janathon participation the first week of January.  Job and baby made it too tough.  I understand priorities.  Her blog also has a lot of music and band discussion, though, which I love.

http://www.eftmuse.blogs.com/  Lots of concise entries with inspirational quotes and updates on running and road races.

http://icaniwill.wordpress.com/  As of February 12, was on a 45-day running streak.  Awesome!

http://womanoflesssubstance.wordpress.com/  Funny, upbeat posts about running, the weight battle, the weather and more.  Loved this one.

http://runtontorun.wordpress.com/ Fun posts about food, running and coffee.

http://fattipuff.wordpress.com/  Updates on Janathon and life, fun drawings and graphics, including a very cool Running Mojo-ometer.

This was a foggy morning.  I did my 3.5 mile loop (wearing my sweatshirt mittens, now with thumb holes).  These pictures look like it is dusk, but it is actually about 10am.  I got a little carried away with the fog pictures.  It was lovely and peaceful out there.

This also illustrates our drought.  That wide area between the trees should be full of water.  Normally, I can kayak through there.  But right now it is a big mud puddle. 

Someday, when I’m tired of running, I’m going to stop for a game of checkers.  

This dock should be floating.

We had an inch of rain yesterday morning, but it will take a lot more than that just to get the water level back up to Zero.

A little perspective.

Have I mentioned that this is my favorite quarter-mile stretch anywhere?  It is. 

Looking back on a clear day.

More Janathon blogs:

http://castrowilson23.wordpress.com/  Another great job of posting daily Janathon updates, supplemented with alarm clock issues, raising Junior, and shopping for an SLR camera.

http://fortnightflo.wordpress.com/  Fun running updates, and a cat who updates the blog when the owner is under the weather.

http://marathonwidowdiaries.com/  Fun updates, lots of marathon mentions, inspiring pictures, and a banner full of running bling.  And a chance encounter with Andy Murray.  I’m envious!

http://tubbson2wheels.wordpress.com/  Regular Janathon updates from a dedicated biker.  Through mud and snow.

http://runningdanw.wordpress.com/  Another plank goal met.  Kudos!  And lots of fun Janathon updates.

http://hevscampaign.wordpress.com/  Oh my gosh.  Just before Christmas, she got the call that a kidney donor had been found for her.  On New Year’s Day she blogged that the kidney was in and she was sitting up in bed.  Needless to say, no Janathon fitness updates.  And my very best wishes to her.

Here is the full picture.  It might as well have been taken in black and white.

I even tried boosting the color saturation in the image.  There is almost no color to saturate.  Come on, Spring!  I guess that is an appropriate rant for Groundhog Day.

Janathon/runner blogs:

http://confessionsofacarrotkiller.com/  Cute and well organized blog with a running section with regular Janathon updates, reading and music sections, discussion on being vegetarian, and more.

http://womanrunningontheedge.blogspot.co.uk/  Consistent Janathon updates from a new runner.  The last Janathon post was a nice look back over the month.

http://reluctantrunnner.blogspot.co.uk/  Pink background, and fun Janathon updates.  A snow picture possibly as dreary as mine, and her own version of shoe spikes.

http://purlgurlknitsandruns.wordpress.com/  Fun talk about running, and (OMG!) a hand-knit running top!   That is awesome!

http://runningmatters.blogspot.com/  Daily Janathon updates, with relevant philosopher quotes.  Very interesting perspective on exercise and fitness.

http://thebassitts.com/  Janathon effort was cut short, but there are some stunning winter snow photos to click on and view in full.  And I mean stunning.

I learned about these through this site:  http://www.competitiverunner.com/screwshoes.html

And through Runner’s World:  http://www.runnersworld.com/trail-running-gear/screw-shoes

(Both sites provided excellent step-by-step tutorials.)

Early this month, after trying to run and not fall down on the New Year’s snow, I decided to made a pair of screw shoes for myself.  I used an old pair of running shoes, and 3/8″ hex-head machine screws.   Then the weather warmed up drastically, so I had no conditions for testing out the shoes.  But then Wednesday (day before yesterday) morning I woke up to snow that became icy, due to the bitter windchill.  So, I tested out my screw shoes on my usual 3.5 mile loop.  They were great!  I only felt a bit unsteady at one point, when I was going downhill on icy surface, with a strong wind pushing me.  Still, despite my nervousness, the shoes worked.  I could have used these years ago!

What other Janathon bloggers are talking about:

http://neonanonymous.wordpress.com/  A chance to read what another runner thinks about during her run.  And lots of cool, organized running stats.  And a truly badarse bike.  This is a dedicated runner-blogger.  Good reading.

http://todkehrli.wordpress.com/  Ran the Key West Half Marathon this month, and is training for the Marine Corps Marathon in October.  A dedicated runner-blogger, with regular “plank streak” updates, and other interesting updates and pictures.

https://dynamodigbyswife.wordpress.com/  Regular Janathon runs with some fun thrown in, and updates by a busy person.

http://fitartist.wordpress.com/  Running updates with lovely outdoor photos of scenery, snow animals, and a collection of discarded Christmas trees.

http://linswoo.wordpress.com/  Fun Janathon updates, and a Janathon cat doing the treadmill.  Something for my Buddy to aspire to.  No, that won’t happen.

http://marathondog.blogspot.nl/  Fun Janathon updates and pictures.  And Odie the marathon dog.  Something else for my Buddy to aspire to.  No, that won’t happen, either.

SUCCESS!

This is the last day of Janathon.  There were quite a few days this month when I couldn’t run or update my blog, but in the end, Janathon worked!  When I got on the scale this morning I was back to my pre-holiday weight.  Woohoo!

This has been an extreme weather week.  Monday I did a 5-miler in the sun with the temp 73F/22C.  Two days later, I did a 3.5 mile loop, wearing my screw shoes on a sheet of snow and ice, with a windchill of 12F/-11C.  Some then-and-now views:

Yesterday

And, a look back at last Summer’s drought.

JANATHON

Working my way through more interesting Janathon blogs.  I thought I would get through a lot more of the blogs this month, but alas, my day job intervened to interrupt my other pleasures.  As long as life permits, I’ll continue to explore the Janathon blogs and mention them, right up to Junathon.

http://livingfortheadventure.wordpress.com/  I can identify with this one, having a busy work life that interferes with daily workouts.  And Millie the dog sounds like a super running companion.

http://wonkywanderer.blogspot.co.uk/  A nice journal about how she has recently discovered that she loves running.  She is now working toward the Reading Half.

http://kate167.wordpress.com/2013/01/  Daily Janathon updates, until about January 9–the same time my life got in the way of my progress.  I’m betting she is fitting runs and cross-training into her routine, but just can’t blog about it.

http://www.genesoboleski.blogspot.com/ A very thought provoking Top Ten List, and a review of a virtual running coach app.

http://fitlesley.blogspot.co.uk/  A cool goal of 12 races in 12 months.

http://www.petergroves.co.uk/  A morning porridge eater like me (oatmeal); and not afraid to mix imperial and metric distances.  Take care of that potential injury.

On to February!