Last night I slept in a cashmere sweater. It’s cold. This week marks the beginning of winter and an enormous storm has swept into Mammoth to welcome the season. As I type this we have already received eight feet and we are expected to get four more. Cinnamon rolls are in the oven in attempt to warm the house more quickly.

You can say I have a bit of “cabin fever”, but last night I got ready for bed and without thinking grabbed my favorite sweater. Cashmere. I got into bed thinking, “What an indulgent way to embrace winter!” I started making a mental list of other ways to enjoy this time of year. I can jump to material items that should make your Christmas wish-list like Gel-Arctics to run in the snow, a new jacket to train in, a GARMIN to track your training or a copy of The Spirit of the Marathon to motivate you on a stormy day. But I’m talking more about benefiting from mere experience. I decided that I wanted to enjoy more of this winter spirit, so tomorrow I am going up to the lakes basin to snowshoe under the full moon, that is if the moon reveals itself.

There are so many ways to embrace winter with the merriment and joy it deserves. Download some holiday music on your MP3 player for your next run. Invite some friends over to run through the neighborhood and look at Christmas lights followed by peppermint hot cocoa at your house. Put jingle bells on your running partners’ shoes if you think it won’t drive you insane. Start a snow-ball fight after practice. Break out your grandmother’s China after your run even if it’s just for a lousy piece of fruit cake and a cup of coffee. Sleep in a cashmere sweater and dream of running through eight feet of snow! Winter is here and we should make it the most indulgent, fun and playful one on record.

Happy Holidays….

I have joined Andrew in Las Vegas for a Road Runners Club of America coaching clinic.  It was an easy decision since it is 22 degrees and snowing at home in Mammoth Lakes.  After an unpleasant run on pavement under hot, buzzing lights I decided to visit the GARMIN website to find a better place to run the next day.  On http://connect.garmin.com we found Red Rock Canyon.  We hit the trails and had a great time in the early morning. If you are ever in Las Vegas, I recommend running here.  The $7 charge is a small price to pay for the experience and it contributes to the conservation of this beautiful canyon. (continue reading…)