Snow run (or, Man in Tights)

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Home, sweet, home. I took this while standing upright.

There is not one person who has been more supportive of my growing running addiction than my wife, or as most people will attest who know her and me, my Better 99%. She’s done crazy things like race our family around Richmond to see me at every party zone in my first marathon (which even involved a hostile face-to-face with one of Richmond’s finest) and groan encouragingly as I’ve gone out early on Saturdays for a long run. Because she’s so supportive, I was a little taken aback when she laughed at me before I went out to run on the snowy streets the other day. “You’ll fall and break something,” she giggled, obviously feeling a deep sense of concern for my well-being. I tried to convince her that I wouldn’t, but she kept bringing up the numerous near falls during the Great Snowball Fight of 2010 a few weeks ago, and of course, I had nothing.

Even blurry, you can tell this is a nice hill to run up in slick snow.

She was so convinced that I was going to get hurt, that she insisted on before and after pictures, apparently so she could document for all time that she was right and I was wrong. I obliged, but kept wondering if she would lose her B99 status if I really did get hurt and she took the time to take a picture before calling 911. Surely that would drop her to something like B60, or B40, wouldn’t it? Anyway, we documented my physical condition at the start of my run (I believe the technical term is “hot”) and I went out for one of the more relaxing runs I’ve had in a while. There is absolutely nothing better than running in the quiet of snow. The peaceful feeling is even strong enough to overcome the occasional terror one feels at the sound of approaching cars sliding on the slick spots.

I got home intact and forced my B99 to snap the after picture. For the record, she didn’t really want to, either because it provided evidence that I was right or because she was disappointed at the lack of blood and protruding bones. Yep. She’s reeeaaaall supportive.

Before and after the run. My B99 insisted we take them because she thought I would break something on the run. I didn't, which means I'm still ready for a lead role in a Peter Pan musical.

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Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.