it "feels like" -27 out, time to UNPLUG and RUN

The beautiful state of North Dakota blesses its residents with cold temperatures every winter.  After residing here for almost a year, it seems as if every person forgets how cold it gets in the winter, and then frigid cold fronts blow in and everyone talks about how cold it is.

North Dakota alone hosts 3 of the top 25 coldest cities in America, with Grand Forks at number 2, Bismarck at number 3 and Fargo at number 4.*

running in last winter's cold temps

I enjoy the frigidly cold weather.  Each morning I've become my wife's car starter.  Today, I got to run outside.  I hope to start biking to work again.

Some call me crazy, but nothing is more thrilling than running in frigid temperatures and surviving.  So far, my survival rate is one hundred percent, lets hope that doesn't change.

Running to Orange City in frigid temps  on the Awake My Sole Iowa journey.  Post by Awake My Sole.

Every time I go out and run, it's like this little expedition I conquered.  Starting and finishing at my house, with the journey being wherever my feet take me.  In these frigid temps, I see less and less foot prints in the snow, allowing me to feel that I was one of the few who journeyed out today.

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Here are some thoughts from today's "feels like" -27 degrees run:

I should have worn a warmer hat.  Each gust of North Dakotan wind froze the sweat from my head underneath my hat.

Running is simple.  You don't need much to run.  A pair of shoes, some clothes, two hats.

Running isn't punishment.  Its such a freeing activity.  Too often, people correlate running with punishment, when in reality it should be distanced far from punishment.

Wearing plastic bags was a good idea.  Base layer wool sock, plastic bag over it, cotton sock over that, then place the shoe on.  Perfect way to keep your feet warm by keeping gusts of wind out.

Unplug and run.  I didn't run with my music today or a watch.  I love music, and I love running to music, but today I really tried focusing on my surroundings,  on the outdoors and what I was running by.  Also, with so much ice, I didn't want not pay attention and slip.  Also, when I run with limited distractions I find I have more ideas pop in my head.  Its great for brainstorming.  When I don't have a watch, or an app whispering in my ear how far I've gone, I find that the time goes by quicker.  For serious trainers this might not be a possibility.

Enjoy the moment.  Don't worry about your speed, just run.  Be free and aware of your surroundings.  Be thankful to the Creator who has you in this moment experiencing this path.

Write down any thoughts.  After a run, writing down thoughts or ideas that popped into your brain.  Many ideas for the Awake My Sole journey were formed while running.

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"When your water freezes, you know it's cold" 

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As a runner, North Dakotan and fellow advocate for ideas that better other people, I found myself inspired by this runner from North Dakota.

Anne Mahlum

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How to simplify your life into a bag

Kingsley Wrap Up

Ran 32 miles to Kingsley on Tuesday (12/11).  Was a cold & windy day.

In Kingsley, got to speak 9 times.  

Here are some pics from the run-to & time spent in Kingsley.   

A cold start to our morning as we left Orange City.  

Paul and Ben filming the promo video for Morningside Lutheran

Mark resting.  He ran 13 miles alongside of Jim.

Beautiful Iowa

KCAU interview by Diana.  

speaking at The Dwelling on Wednesday evening

From last January

Hadn't eaten Ramen for a long time

Food of an ultra runner.  

Got to speak at the Kingsley nursing home on Friday morning.  The last time I was here.  

Speaking at the Pierson Middle School

Got to speak again at The Dwelling on Friday evening

On Saturday, went to Vernon's funeral.  He was an awesome man.  

Sanborn Wrap Up

Our week in Sanborn went by really fast.  

We left Spencer at 11:30am on Tuesday morning (11/27).  We arrived in Sanborn around 5:45p.  

It was a dreary 27-mile running day.  It was cold & windy.  I felt very sluggish due to all the Thanksgiving meals the week before.  However, we endured it, and was very thankful to be in Sanborn.

During our week in Sanborn, I got to SPEAK 19 times.  By far the busiest week on the Awake My Sole journey.  Got to speak at the Christian School, the middle school, the Everly high school, youth group, adult bible studies, and student's bible studies.

The week flew by, and we loved every minute of it.

On Thursday evening, we were able to catch the movie "Rise of the Guardians" in Spencer Iowa, and we loved it.  

To all the people in Sanborn who made our week incredible, we just wanted to say, "Thank You so very much," especially to our wonderful host family.

Some pics from the RUN to Sanborn & time spent in Sanborn

Tuesday morning.  Bundled up & Bright.  

Resting my feet outside of Hartley Iowa.  They were sore after running about 15 miles.  

An awesome windmill pic.  Thought of my friend Roger who restores windmills.  

Sun setting outside of Sanborn.

Wednesday morning at the Christian School in Sanborn.

It was cold in Sanborn on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday evening sunset.

Speaking at the Methodist and RCA youth group.  Lots of fun.  Students were great.  Thanks to Josh for having us come share the AMS story.  

At Everly High School.  This Converse shoe is made out of match sticks.  

pretty neat poster at Everly.

Everly students.  They were awesome.  And yes, I ate the school lunch, it was delicious.  

At the Sanborn Hartley Melvin middle school.  Check out this sweet drawing on the white board. 

Got to share 7 times at the middle school.  Great students and staff.

Sunday evening at the MS and HS youth group in Hartley.  

Parting gifts as we left Sanborn.  Gotta love pickles and diet coke.  Thank you Gary & Julie for hosting us.  We really appreciated you.  

Here is my post from when I was in Sanborn in February

Running Recap #3 - Orange City

Start Time :  810am  End Time : 445pm

Weather : 20 degrees (Not sure what windchill was).  20 mph winds from North-West.

Number of Dogs who barked and chased me:  1 (Most dogs were inside)

Total Mileage : 30.1 miles

Overall, a chilly-windy day for running.  Left my Kingsley host home early this morning.  Ran in wind all day.  It was tough and gruesome.  About an hour into my run all my liquids were frozen.

HERE are some pics from the run today

4 miles into my run and my powerade was already slushy

getting ready to head west for a couple miles.  

cold

on K64

Iowa landscape, AKA cold terrain 

stop at Carnes (Cheryl brought me some hot tea, it was grand)

Water Bottle Mark brought me, already starting to freeze only an hour into running with it.

Hot Tea

Mark joined me for some miles.  Here is a pic of Mark jogging with the stroller.  

Arriving in Orange City.  A good good feeling.

at my host home.  signs and all.  so good to be here. 

I'm safe and sound at my Orange City host home.  My body is feeling great after running 30.1 miles.  Just got done eating some amazing lasagna, gonna head to bed soon.

NEXT RUN will be next Monday.  I will be running from Orange City to Sanborn. 

Cool story from my run :  Like I mentioned earlier, my liquids froze.  I tried calling my emergency contact for the day, but couldn't get a hold of them.  I was a bit worried until a nice elderly gentlemen helped me out.  He stopped me, and I asked him for water, or if he lived close by so I could get some water.  He said he lived near by, so we attempted to load my cart in his truck.  In loading my cart it tipped over.  At first I was a bit bummed, and wished I wouldn't have stopped.  However, he gave me a 4-mile lift to where I was going to meet some friends who had some water for me.  I was blessed greatly during my 4 mile riding with him.  Will be blogging about my encounter with him tomorrow.

Last week's running Recap 

Last week's end of week wrap up

last week's blog post