I got about 300 words into an email message to a more experienced trail runner than I, asking for advice on whether I should plan on a 25k in April – in Minnesota, when I decided to just suck it up, pick a first race and a plan, and get out running.

Complaints that got me writing included “it’s too damn slippery,” “yo my lower limit is positive double-digit degrees, factoring IN wind chill” and “the idea of watching the Mississippi freeze is more attractive that that of 2 hours on a dreadmill.” They’re all valid but they enmire me. I just have to figure out what I want to do.

So, I went out and I ran yesterday, over lunch. It helped that it was 25 out, and sunny, but it was plenty slippery in spots, and plenty of work. Still, so much fun. A nice jump-start to my 2008 run plans. A great justification to the tasty pasta dish we fixed for dinner, later.

The Trail Mix race looks fun, but I may have to alter my April vacation plans, to do it. Hmmm. There’s a half-marathon out near where we’ll be traveling, at that time (in a warmer part of the country I might add). Maybe.