if you can't go outside

you have to make it happen inside, right? the past few days have been brutal. seriously brutal. we aren't talking teens. we are talking -19 air temperature. windchill -30. this of course sounds lovely. but perhaps not for running. contingency plans had to be made. and they were. i appreciate the treadmill. sometimes i even enjoy the treadmill. it removes some of the thought from intervals and just allows me to punch in a number and go for my allotted time. but recently there has been a bit of tension between me and the treadmill. i just want to be outside. i crave movement. actually wind in my face, ground moving beneath me, change of scenery movement. and that can't really be accomplished on a machine. between the sun rising so late and setting so early and hanging with the kid i pretty much am guaranteed two runs a week there anyway. but a long run, please make it not be so. luckily i have a gym membership. i don't use it all that often. i could insert any number of excuses here but will refrain. the gym has a track. it's a tenth of a mile around. small but nice. it circles around the floor where there are machines and weights and the like. so you are somewhat on display but everyone is already plugged in to what they are doing with their ipods, tv viewing, and working out. anyhow. this was the plan. 17 miles. ~170 laps. it was -14 degrees on sunday morning. but not inside. so i ran. and ran. and ran some more. it was a bit boring. and my legs felt tight. but it had to be done. and it was. i stopped for water and a couple walked over and said "you have been running for almost 2 hours". and we proceeded to chat for a few minutes. and then i kept running until i was done. all in all it was an interesting experience. not the most fun i have had. but good to get in the miles.
4 and a half weeks to Surf City. it's still cold. 19 miles this weekend.