A Passion for Running

Welcome to the home of Mark aka The Running Blogfather – a 40 year-old dad, husband and marathon runner who's beaten injury and is on the comeback trail!

semi-silent running

passion for running category: running on Thursday, November 18 2004

Other than my heavy breathing and clomping feet, today’s half hour run in the river valley was hauntingly quiet. I know, I know – those are big “others”. Anyway, I’m 99.9% sure Chris will be nodding his head after he reads the rest of today’s post…

As fall and finter fade and are replaced by our 5 hours of sunlight per day winter, running in Alberta becomes a pursuit of unmatched stillness.

Ironic statement huh?

I think I’d better explain! In the fall, the birds fly away. We think they go down south to the U.S. but, frankly I’ve never followed them so that might just be a fable. Anyway, they leave for presumably warmer climates. Other animals slow down, hibernate or dissappear altogether. The only critters I see regularly in the winter are cute little bunny rabbits and they are pretty quiet little creatures. Wooded trails without birds and other creatures are quiet trails. Last but not least, a lot of people stop running in the winter and where people aren’t, quiet IS.

So, that’s why it was quiet today.

But guess what (I’m getting there Chris)? It snows here in Alberta. It snows a lot. You know what running in the snow is like? It is so very quiet. It’s like the sound of running on down-filled pillows. It’s like talking in room that’s been insulated but not dry-walled.

It’s SOOOO quiet.

Have you ever had the pleasure?

Dianna, you asked me why on earth someone would wanna come way up her in the cold cold north? This is the answer. You gotta run in a deep, fresh snowfall at least once. It is a truly miraculous experience.

I can’t wait!




7 Comments

1601

Comment by Chris Brogan...

Thursday November 18, 2004 @

For the first little while during the marathon, it was *so* quiet. Even with lots of people around, the snow was falling, what was underfoot was still fresh. It was soft. And I can’t *wait* for the deep snow to hit my trails.

1602

Comment by Jon in Michigan

Thursday November 18, 2004 @

Ah yes. That does sound very nice. I’ve spent most of my life in snowy climates and I do like the quiet, especially after the the biggest heavy snowfalls, first thing in the morning, when you could go outside, make the first footprints and knock the branches to make this big clumps fall onto you. :)

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow…

1633

Comment by Deene

Friday November 19, 2004 @

Snow is good. I also like to run on sand dunes – much drier and warmer than snow.

1634

Comment by Pamalamadingdong

Friday November 19, 2004 @

I LOVE running in the snow. LOVE IT. Expect during a blizzard that loses it’s magic real quick.
It’s completely different than summer fall or spring running…LOVE IT.

1637

Comment by Dianna (RCOH)

Friday November 19, 2004 @

How exactly does one run in DEEP snow? I mean, I can hike in it…and I can run in some snow…but deep snow? How deep are we talking here Mark?

1638

Comment by Mark

Friday November 19, 2004 @

That’s a good question Dianna. I’ve run in snow that is between 3 and 6 inches deep. If it is fluffy, dry snow you hardly notice it but snow that is heavy and moist, then it it really tough going. Luckily, most of our snowfalls are of the first variety. Fresh snowfalls are what I love most. 2 or 3 inches is alright but any higher and it starts getting hard.

Capiche?

1643

Comment by Oliver

Friday November 19, 2004 @

Running in the snow! That sounds really cool. During the last years, I think, I can count on one hand how often I was running in really “good” snow, I mean not this heavy and wet snow… Really nice one… Mark, you are telling so nice things of your area, maybe, I will come over and you have to prove it ;-)

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