Feb 4: 5.02 miles, avg 9:19/mi
Feb 5: 6:85 miles, avg: 9:18/mi
Feb 7: 8.01 miles, avg: 8:25/mi
Feb 8: 18.01 miles, avg: 9:11/mi

Winter is a good time to keep still. Stillness is the default measure. The world longs to be barren for a season. Give it a rest, let the winds blow before it’s time to grow again.

Winter makes running a challenge. In a way, it becomes the real marathon. Contending with the forces of nature while preparing for a race leaves windblown eyes, a constant runny nose and more problems trying to take a breath.

This winter has been the most active in my nearly six years in the District. Multiple polar vortexes, goofy snow storms and lots of wind has made training quite the challenge.

But it’s working. I’m getting faster, averaging close to 9 minutes per mile and feel more confident about keeping that pace throughout the course of the entire race.

We start what I call the summit: three weeks of heavy running. Nearly 40 miles a week and the long Saturday runs. I hit 18 miles this past Saturday and while I retired my Buenos Aires shoes and my feet are still sore as hell, it went well.

Rock Creek Trail, straight out of a scene from “The Road.”