The storm had already shut down Saturday's 10K.
New York Road Runners canceled the Joe Kleinerman 10K because of the severe weather. The PPTC forum filled with reports about wind, low visibility, snow in Prospect Park, and whether it was a treadmill day.
I had run nine miles the morning of the storm.
The next morning, I went back out at 6:00 for seven more.
The wind chill stayed around zero. My cheeks got cold, but the rest of the run worked. I wore the right layers and shoes for the conditions, stayed patient with the footing, and finished at about the same pace as my fair-weather runs without feeling much extra effort.
This was not my first cold run of the winter. A few earlier outings below ten degrees had given me time to adjust the clothing and learn what felt comfortable. By then, outdoor running in the cold had become something I enjoyed.
I still had a place for the treadmill. Cold rain made it harder for me to stay warm, and indoor miles were better than losing the workout. Dry cold and snow were different. If my layers, footwear, and pace were right, I wanted to be outside.
The timing mattered. PPTC's new ultramarathon training group had posted its first three weeks of workouts on New Year's Day. The target was the Rock the Ridge 50 Miler in May. The schedule had started, even if the normal Saturday race calendar had not.
The storm canceled the 10K. It did not cancel the week's running.
Nine miles first. Seven more the next morning.