Wanderer at Rest

Update: Angry and winded — whereupon we take this show on the trail/sidewalk

By Jamie Balke
Explorebigsky.com Columnist

In a previous column I described my recent re-entry into the running world. I’m now distressed to report that my friend and I are still training for the Saint Patrick’s Day Run to the Pub. It’s week five and although I’m less winded, there’s still some anger when I get on the treadmill.

Until last Sunday, my relatively slow pace and buckets of sweat have only been on display at the gym. Then we took the show outdoors. It’s been a long while since I last ran outside, and in my experience this activity has rarely involved snow. As a profoundly uncoordinated person, a mix of snow, ice and running is cause for concern.

It was a beautiful day for a run, and after picking up my friend, we headed to the Bozeman Public Library parking lot. The plan was to run down Pete’s Hill to Kagy, and then return on the Gallagator Trail.

In the interest of maintaining my dignity, we walked to the top of the hill to begin the run, or in my case, the jog. Luckily, the snow was packed down on the trail; however, I forgot about the slight uphill as one travels southbound – I have not yet pushed the incline button on the treadmill.

The mountain views from Pete’s Hill are wonderful, but with my eyes glued to the ground for fear of falling, I wasn’t able to appreciate them. On the descent toward Kagy we encountered icy sections peppered with frozen dog urine. I fell once – yuck! – and my far more coordinated friend left the hill unscathed.

The sidewalk along Kagy was blissfully ice-free, and I was able to pick up the pace. Unconcerned about falling, I finally started enjoying the experience. The air was crisp and the sun was shining as we ran down a tree-lined path through a beautiful park and neighborhoods.

Arriving back at the car, we felt good. In fact, I could have kept running, which was definitely a new development in the training process – until this week I ran on the treadmill until I hit the minimum training goal, and then collapsed.

Does this mean I am ready for a 10K? Definitely not. However, this run did help decrease my level of terror.

Jamie Balke moved to Bozeman in the fall of 2009. She could do without all of this running nonsense.