What's the weather like? Wait a while and it will change.

We've been riding the weather roller coaster here Indiana. The week of New Year's brought a decent snowstorm leaving this scene out our front window. Needless to say, no running took place.

The following week, we shed our winter layers as the snow melted to the tune of 60 degrees! I got out the flip flops just because I could! Yes, those are my pasty white legs. The warm weather brought plenty of flooding as well as rain and really good thunderstorms.

When the weather was 60, I went out for a four mile run in shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt. About half-way through the run, I stopped to talk to a friend who also runs. We both were kind of excited that we were actually sweating outside in January.

Well, now the thermometer is heading downward. I went out for a four mile run Sunday and was close to my 10-minute mile average which felt really good. I only walked three blocks. A vast improvement on past runs.

Today, I ran 4.5 miles on the treadmill. Four of the miles were at a 9:50 minute/mile pace. The last half mile was at an 8:00 minute/mile pace. I felt really good.

I think I have my Nike+ working again. Over the summer, my receiver was acting strange. I think there was too much salt build-up thanks to all the sweat. Around that time, I needed to get another pair of running shoes because I was getting those aches and pains you get when it is time to give up that worn pair.

Instead of going to the big box sports store, I went to a great running store. I showed the owner my orange Nike shoes and told him about the toenail I lost twice. He looked at me a little puzzled and asked me if I ran a marathon in them. I said, yes, plus another half marathon. Silence. Then he told me they really weren't marathon training shoes. I also found out they were too small for me, hence the lovely toenail.

Anyway, he set me up with a pair of Saucony Pro Grids after trying on and running in about seven or eight different shoes. The only drawback is there isn't a spot for the Nike+ senor. I dealt with it until this weekend when I took a knife to the insole and cut out a spot for the senor in my older pair of Sauconys.

Of course, when I went to try it all out, the iPod wasn't working so I took a run with the senor without the receiver. Still need to do it, but at least there is a good chance that it will all work. Wish me luck :-)