Still getting out there

[Decker]

Just a few photos from some recent long meandering solo runs. The temps have dropped and the lockdown has doubled down, but at least the trails are still open. I hope you are able to get out and do your running thing, whatever that may be. Short or long, slow or fast, near or far. No explanations needed.

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

Wonderful Decker. Thank goodness for running. 🥰

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky. Yeah it’s really been a lifesaver!

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon]

Beautiful photos! It’s great that you are keeping up your long runs and enjoying nature. It must be so peaceful on the trails.

Running outdoors has helped with getting through the lockdown and the winter. I’ve done more of it than in previous winters. Not doing long ones though. Before the restrictions tightened I was getting out once or twice a week doing 5k distanced runs with a couple of people running in various parks around the city.

The weather had been super cold here in Montreal the last week or so with temperatures with the windchill in the - 15 to - 25 C range. I must admit I did use the treadmill instead of venturing out a few times!

It’s always great to read your posts and see you photos. 😊

[Lazyfrog Half Marathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Wow Lavender1962 your post puts things in perspective for me - I realised I have been complaining about not being able to run for one or two days because of the snow and ice here in England but the coldest I have had to deal with so far was 2 or 3 degrees, not - 25 🥶😅 I think using the treadmill is totally justified 😁 and I agree, running has been helping me a lot to survive life in lockdown too 😊

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to Lazyfrog]

It is beautiful and calming running in the snow as long as it’s not too icy. I’m glad your enjoying your first winter running outside! 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Thanks Lavender. Yes I really look forward to my weekend runs ( as long as it is above -15 We’ve only had a couple of -25 windchill days so far. I’ve discovered the magic of hand warmers which made a huge difference on my last long run. I think I have a mild case of Raynaud’s syndrome as my fingers sometimes get white and tingly after a long time in the cold. This last run was fine though with the warmers.

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

I’ve never tried the warmers. The coldest temperature that I have run at this year was about -18 I think. We had a big snow storm today but the temperature is much warmer now. 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Lavender1962]

Yes the snow seems to warm the air just a little. I love running in snowfalls. Shoveling it, not as much 😁. Hope you manage ok with the Montreal weather.

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon]

Such beautiful photos as usual Decker. I had to make an unexpected trip out to BC early in January because my mom needed emergency surgery and they weren’t sure she would make it. She pulled through but has a difficult road ahead of her. I’ve been getting out most days for a run or a walk in the beauty of my hometown but am missing my family terribly. It is hard to stay away from my family for so long but as hard to try and make the decision to leave my mom. Ugh. Thank goodness I packed some of my run gear and there is a beautiful forested trail a couple blocks away from my mom’s house.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

That's so tough Sask. All the best to your mom. My mother is ill too - the news has proved better than we feared but she still faces major surgery next month. Getting out to BC from the UK is a nightmare - hoops at both ends. I also realised my passport had run out so I've just got that and my ETA renewed, but the rest of the paperwork (which needs lawyers input!) I will hold off on and see how it goes I think. Hopefully there will be enough improvement for some of these restrictions to be lifted soon.

[Deals1 Metric Marathon in reply to linda9389]

linda9389 and SaskAlliecat 🤗💕 hang in there and take care. its difficult times at the moment. sending positive vibes

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Deals1]

🙏

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Oh thats a logistical challenge. My folks are only a half hour away and some days it’s so hard to watch out for them. Hope you are able to manage it alright

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Sorry to hear you are going through a similar circumstance linda. My thoughts are with you as well.

[Lazyfrog Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Wishing you and your mum all the best SaskAlliecat ! It's nice to hear you find some comfort in your runs though x

[Lavender1962 Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Sending you and your mom positive thoughts! It’s hard when you live far away from parents. Hopefully, the trail runs are giving you the opportunity to clear your head.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Heres hoping your mum is ok SaskAlliecat - keep running when you can.🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Oh thats a tough situation Alie. I hope your Mom recovers well enough for you to get back soon and I hope the runs and walks help manage the stress for you. Nice to have the trails so close to home.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Looks lovely! I can't wait to run in Canada again (though hopefully all snow and ice will be gone) 😊

[SaskAlliecat Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

When I first got here January 9, the grass was so vibrant and green. It rained for the first 12 days! Then I bought a rain coat so then the snow came and stayed 😆. I'm getting all the seasons while I'm here! I was glad I packed my winter coat and bought some great hiking boots before I came.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

If you are running in BC you should be safe Linda, unless you head to the mountains :). The trip I made to BC was well before I started running. Would love to get back there again!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Decker]

My parents live on the Okanagan Lake. They've had severall snow clearing days this year already, although nothing on your scsle I'm sure!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Well its been that kind of winter I guess. Anything goes now!

[Lazyfrog Half Marathon]

Beautiful photos, running in nature is the best thing 😊 this is my first winter running outdoors instead of on the treadmill inside and I wouldn't go back now! ❄️❄️❄️

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Lazyfrog]

Thank you and yes “ Once you go off track you never go back” or something like that!🌲 🐿

[Stephen_UK Half Marathon]

Amazing shots, Decker. Thank you for showing those.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Stephen_UK]

Thanks Stephen. The runs have provided many photo opps lately

[Grannyhugs 10 Miles]

Aren't we lucky we have running giving us a degree of freedom. Great photos. Happy running 🤗

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Grannyhugs]

We are lucky. It sounds cliche but I feel very thankful to have found this running thing when I did

[CBDB]

Gorgeous photos! Happy running!

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to CBDB]

Thanks CBDB you too!

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Ah, Decker - I do love my running thing🙂😍🏃🏽‍♀️!Stunning photos too, as usual!🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Thanks Sandra I hope we are able to keep doing our thing in the months to come

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Decker]

Speaking of which, my marathon race is ON!! Yeeeeeeeeeha 😁👍🏃‍♀️Got the email this morning I deferred from last year so it’s paid for. Present to myself for my 64th birthday

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Awesome!!! Let the training begin!

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Decker]

Done two ten Kms since 👍🏃‍♀️

[Deals1 Metric Marathon]

cool pics. Yep, we are lucky we can still get out there and run. def helping to keep me a little more sane at the moment

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Deals1]

Yeah I think so too. I’ve had a lot of ‘mental floss’ long runs lately

[Deals1 Metric Marathon in reply to Decker]

Mental floss. Like it

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

You have taken 4 good photos for us to look at, thanks for sharing, that's great news that the trails are still open for you to at least run short distances despite the weather conditions.

The weather in the UK is full of contrast temperatures from +14C in the south of England to a very cold - 12C in parts of Scotland, there is a battle of cold a warm air going on, the forecasters say the cold air will win by next week making the whole UK very cold.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

We had quite a dumping of snow yesterday but torrential rain got rid of it during the course of the day 🤗 My local footy match, which I’d cued up on telly, was postponed ☹️ But at least I can run today. It looks fine No frost.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Thanks for your report misswobble.Last Saturday I ran my slowest 5K because during Thursday or Friday night sleeping in bed I had a stitch or twinge in my right leg, however, the soreness has almost gone and this morning I went a short run, I used run 1 of week 1 of C25K to see how my leg would be, no problem, so I should be able to run a 5K, that will be my 34th (not) parkrun this Saturday, the weather forecast for Saturday is snow, I can run in that.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I’m surprised when something isn’t postponed these days 😁

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks AlMorr. Yes the weather is not in our control so it seems best to just roll with it at this time of year 🙂We have a polar vortex on the way with even colder temps coming. -18 windchill this morning was cold enough thank you. Some of the recent pics posted by users lately look very wet in the UK with some flooding.

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

What we called in the UK back at the end of February 2018 "The Beast from the East" a very cold east wind blowing all the way from Russia, the next week in the UK will have a modified version of easterly winds but not as severe as February 2018.

[Hidden]

Beautiful photos Decker! It so good to get out running isn’t it.? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Hidden]

Yes it really is. Nature helps me make sense of all the rest of it

[misswobble Marathon]

It’s good to get out and run, be in touch with the outside in nature Better than medicine 🙂

Long run, photo stops, snack or two. Just lovely 👍🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Can’t beat it!

[RunBrianRun Half Marathon]

Stunning photos as usual Decker 👍😀 even though it’s officially a rest day I still got out and had a lovely walk just to see other people and enjoy some fresh air. And then I spoilt it by running up and down my stairs 10 times. I’m going stair crazy here on my own. 😂

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to RunBrianRun]

😂😂👍🏼 haha I can sympathize!

[SlowLoris]

When I was in Toronto we stayed in Scarborough. I had no idea that trail was so close.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to SlowLoris]

Yes the Scarborough Bluffs is somewhere I’d been meaning to visit for years. Its a beautiful spot. And the Rouge park is right next door too.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

I love your photos! I know I've asked before but indulge an old lady with a fried memory and remind me what you take your photos with?

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

Haha you are not alone there! Its actually an old iPhone 8 that I use right now. But I do some edits and adjustments in Photoshop Express as well.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

I've heard about iphones taking really good pics - I WANT ONE!!

of course, it's the person behind the camera too...

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Curlygurly2]

I think the new IPhones have amazing cameras. I have never tried them though. The Samsungs take really nice shots too and have better zoom quality than mine I think

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

I've got a Huawei, it's alright but not brilliant