Hello Saturday Long Runners!
The board and I have made the decision to cancel SLR tomorrow morning due to current trail and road conditions and forecasted snow overnight. This is not a decision we take lightly or make often: according to Nate this is the third weather cancellation in the last 20 years. But there are a few large ice patches surrouding North Meade Park and with us getting up to two more inches of snow overnight -- which might well still be falling at 8 am -- the risk of even safely making it to the park, let alone safely running, is too great.
So what are your options, dear Saturday Long Runner who's thinking "How could you, this is a travesty, I absolutely must get my long run in this week"?
1. Get your long run in today! Custis between Rosslyn and W&OD, W&OD East of Falls Church, Bluemont, and Capital Crescent from Georgetown north are all wonderfully plowed. Each have a few icy patches (specifically around road crossings) that today without fresh snow over top of them are quite visible and easy to avoid. Many bridges, roads, and sidewalks in the area are still untreated and have become very slick. Be mindful of those areas when getting to the trails, but once you on them they are mostly cleared aside from a few patches. Tomorrow morning that may not be the case, get some sunlight and get your long run in early to give yourself a full two day weekend!
2. Treadmill it tomorrow. Yes, it sucks. Yes, I personally hate it just as much as the next person. But you won't risk slipping on ice and you will have a chance to watch as many episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" as your legs will let you.
3. Take the day off and cross train or rest. As I've been learning lately, there are actually other sports out there that will let you push your body, get your heart rate up, and not require you to hear the mindless "cathunk cathunk cathunk" of the treadmill. Go for a swim, hop on the stationary bike and explore Watopia, or recognize that a single day off or one missed long run isn't going to ruin the fitness you've been building this winter. Flexibility trumps perfection in every training cycle.
... I'm sure there are some more options between these ones ...
1000. If you insist, brave the conditions, but please be careful. Running outside on fresh snow can be great, but it can also be an excellent way to get spectacularly injured. There are a lot of icy patches that you will no longer be able to see. Balancing and focusing takes mental and physical effort that you do not normally have to put forth on a normal run. Play it safe and understand weird muscles may be more sore than usual.
I hope everyone stays safe and warm this weekend!
Anna
