So winter is really here now. I am sure of it. We have been able to enjoy warm temperatures and great footing for weeks now, but that changed this week. I'll tell this story as a cautionary tale to you if you are out on some of the running paths.
I was on the lakefront path yesterday, and I could tell there was a lot of ice on the path, but I was not concerned. Usually the footing there is pretty good even when it's terrible everywhere else. So it was with that (apparently false) confidence that I went on an easy five miler, paying little attention to the conditions. Well, just east of the Totem pole (about Addison) I suddenly slipped and instantly found myself on my behind. It was pretty funny to watch I'm sure.
So I quickly got up and looked around to see whether anyone was watching. I didn't see anyone so I believe I may have gotten away with one.
Anyway, it reminded me of a much funnier (and potentially scarier) mishap a few years ago. I was running on the lakefront near Oak Street Beach. It was cold, windy, and the concrete was completely iced over in places. The waves from the lake were landing halfway up the path. One of those icy places was at the hard turn, the top of the 'S' curve. The sidewalk is angled toward the lake there, and it was a solid sheet of ice. You can probably guess where this is going.
I slipped and fell on the ice there, and slowly saw myself sliding into the lake, and being wallowed up never to be heard from again. I tried to get back up and there was nothing to grip. It was solid ice. It took several minutes of sort of a walrus crawl before I was able to stand up again and finish the run. But in this case, I was not so fortunate to awoid people seeing it all. There was someone sitting on the top steps of the path there watching everything. He was unable to help me however without probably landing in the lake himself. At least he didn't have a camera.
I know they make several products you can attach to your shoes to improve your traction in the snowy, icy conditions. One of them, I believe is called Yak Trax. I have to admit I've never tried them because I don't think they look very comfortable. And I usually try to avoid running in conditions that would make them useful.
There is a positive to running in poor footing. You end up working some core and foot muscles that normally you normally don't use just to keep your balance. Apparently I need to work them some more to avoid falling in the future.
Anyway, that's all part of living and running in Chicago. And we're gonna keep doing it regardless right. See you on the paths.
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