Running Memory

For the last week, we've had mostly nuisance weather, beginning last Wednesday when an inch of snow turned into ice that remained on the roads for several days. And then yesterday afternoon, 6 inches of new snow fell and that has mostly been left unplowed on the streets I run on.

I went for my first winter trail run back in late December of 1963. I was in the 8th grade and our junior high basketball coach decided that it would be good training to take us running in the woods. No trail running shoes back then, just winter hunting boots with heavy wool socks and I probably wore my red-plaid wool hunting jacket. And not much in the way of trails, either. Mostly old logging roads that hadn't been used in years or the occasional deer trail winding through the hardwood forests surrounding our town. And hills!!!!!

I'd love to say that that run inspired me to become an Olympic-level cross-country runner or an NCAA Division 1 10K record holder. Neither happened, and outside of further running in a gym as part of formal basketball practice, I didn't go out for the exclusive purpose of running until the summer of 1964. Only this time, I was able to shed the hunting boots for a pair of Converse canvas high-top basketball shoes. Where was Bill Bowerman when your feet needed him back in the early 60's?