Flu Strikes Marathon Hopeful

Wouldn't you know it. I announce November 27th as a my official training start and then I'm struck down by the flu. While I've run through some nasty colds, even I had the sense to realize this morning's run would be impossible, if not suicidal. I've got that awful, achy flu feeling from head to toe. The good news is that I have been getting in 13K runs for the last three Sundays. I know I'll have no trouble doing the distance next week. Alison and I ran a speedy 10K steady this past Wednesday evening from the Running Room. And Frederica, Terry, and I ran an incredibly frosty 7K along the river very early Friday morning. Many, including us, think we are insane by beginning our run at 6:15 in the dark, but I've figured out that you have to get up pretty early in the morning to experience the beauty of the black Ottawa River juxtaposed against a fresh snow and the predawn sky. The very best view of this is had when running on the path from Tunney's Pasture, just at the point when you can peer under the driveway bridge to see the river and across it the Gatineau shoreline. It would have been even more magical if I had had the sense to put my long underwear on before leaving the house. Well, I've got at least three more months to get winter running right.