Long Walks On Leafy Streets

1/9/2014 Harlan St, NW Washington, DC
Here in the Washington, DC area we are just wriggling out from the grip of bitterly cold weather caused by the so called polar vortex. Apparently because of climate change the polar area is warmer and so the cold air that normally stays around the North Pole is moving south a little bit. Last Thursday we had 3 to 4 inches of snow. I went around taking pictures of my snow-covered neighborhood and one of them is on this page. I had to cancel the hike I had scheduled on Saturday in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the Sierra Club Potomac Regional Outings Program. I was told there was half a foot of snow in the area of the trail.
Then on Tuesday we had truly arctic weather, with temperatures around 10 degree Fahrenheit and wind chill making it feel even colder. I had never experienced that kind of weather here. I normally go running on Tuesdays and wondered if I should go. Nicole was strongly against it.
Finally I decided to go because I really wanted to run and also really wanted to experience that weather. I promised her I would dress appropriately. They say it is never too cold to go outside as long as you wear the right dress. I also told her that, if there were any problems, I would return home quickly. If I am not mistaken it takes at least an hour to get frostbitten.
So on Tuesday around noon I put on my long johns, knit cap, gloves with a layer of liner gloves inside and the trusty PolarTec windstopper hat that I use for extreme cold weather. I ran up Kansas Ave and then through Takoma Park on Poplar, Lee and Maple avenues for a total of 3 miles, in about half an hour. I love how they have the streets named after trees. The first mile was difficult but after that it was bearable. The body felt warm although the toes still felt numb and a bit painful. Probably should have worn another layer of socks. It felt great afterwards and the last few days I have been feeling very energetic and peaceful. Today the temperatures are in the thirties but feels like it is in the fifties. I went running again today but didn’t wear the PolarTec hat or even gloves. When it is in the thirties even though it is close to freezing your body warms up quicker and the toes don’t go numb.
Yesterday I was in my office briefly. Classes don’t start until Monday so the campus was very empty. I could see a flock of gulls sitting on ice in the MacMillan reservoir through the window. About a fifth of the lake was frozen. When I first came to DC I would say the lake would almost completely freeze over in January or February. But these days it never stays cold long enough for that to happen. It is supposed to be in the fifties again this weekend. All the snow has already melted.
On Sunday night I was up late. It was completely quiet in our neighborhood. The last metro train just clattered past in the distance. I love the sound of the train in the quiet of the night. It has almost become like a clock for my life. It gives me a certain connection to life in the city, to know that there are people going about. It also tells me that time is passing by and reminds me to use every moment the best I can.

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