winter runnerland.

i have a love/hate relationship with running during the winter.

i love the way it makes my body feel (when i'm not actually engaged in the activity itself); i hate the way it makes my body feel (when i'm entering that last home stretch and my muscles are THISCLOSE to completely giving up the ghost). i love being up that early in the morning, and seeing what the world looks like before the workday begins; i hate being up early enough in the morning that i am out on the road before the sun has risen. i hate the burning in my lungs during that last mile; i love the rasp in my lungs as i cool down, as my body adjusts to deeper lungfuls of frigid air. i love running in the snow; i hate worrying that i will slip and die on a patch of black ice.

i hate that my i can't leave the house without wearing all of the following: tights, leggings, pants, two wifebeaters, one tee shirt, legwarmers for my arms, wool socks, a fleece jacket, a fleece scarf, a bandanna and a hat. while warm (and necessary), the uniform is almost too complicated to deal with at a half past six in the morning.

i love watching the steam rise off my hands as i peel off my gloves; i love untying my scarf as i walk the last block home, feeling the cold air rush in and envelop my scalding skin. i love that i am now more in tune with my body, at least to the point where i can tell if i am sickening, or if i am pushing myself too hard by how difficult the first half of my run is. i love running on sundays, arguably the only day of the week where i've had enough rest. i love the quiet time. i love that i get a half hour three days a week that nobody can encroach upon.

i love that i can chase a bus four city blocks at top speed and not be out of breath. in heels.

while it won't replace wailing on a punching bag (which is something i need to look into doing again), i think that running is helping me find a certain amount of peace.

p.s. i am in desperate need of new running music--fast, poppy, catchy. suggestions?