A Frosty Winter Run

A rare weather system has brought the Pacific Northwest relief from the typical low, grey skies, drizzly rain, and perpetual sogginess, instead revealing blue skies, snow-covered volcanic peaks, and foggy puffs of breath in lung-searing cold air. Most Portlanders root for a comeback of "50 degrees and rain," but I, for one, enjoy the taste of real winter minus the snow.

I packed smartly for my trip this week, anticipating a need for running tights, gloves and hat. So yesterday I decided to take advantage of the no-wind conditions in Pasco, Washington for an extended running adventure. I waited until the sun was high in the sky (or at least as high as it was likely to get; this time of year, it slinks low across the southern sky in the narrow space between sunrise and sunset), warming the air to low twenties rather than the teens. All skin covered except my face, I donned my iPod and trotted down the busy street toward the Columbia River.

Washington's Tri-Cities don't seem to offer much in the form of recreation, but a well-constructed path along both shores of the mighty Columbia make it a decent place to run when the wind isn't howling. On this day, I opted to break out of my usual counter-clockwise routine and run the 8-mile "Bridge Loop" in reverse. Just before joining the path, I passed a flock of geese taking refuge in an empty (brown) grassy lot. Where the path runs adjacent to a park, I looked up to see a bald eagle sunning himself in a bare tree top, non-plussed by the cold. He calmly surveyed his surroundings, noting me with mild interest when I stopped to admire him.

Laboring up the incline of the cable bridge, I distracted myself from the noise of close traffic by admiring the calm water of the river. Ducks floated in the sun and ice formed in the shadows.

Despite the serene beauty, I had the trail all to myself as I shuffled alongside dilapidated barns from antique farms enveloped by modern trailer parks and gas stations. I was brought back to reality by the noise of traffic as I crossed the blue bridge, then escaped again to weave through quiet neighborhoods back to the hotel. A perfect day for a run.