Every year, at the advent of the first freezing temperatures in Atlanta, I bring out my winter running gear.

Every year, I meticulously go thru the list of things to wear before I go out for the first sub zero run. And every year, I forget something that usually makes the run a bit miserable.

This morning, when I woke up, it was 31 deg F. Brought out all my warm gear. I was determined not to miss anything this year.

Warm cap? Check!
Ear muffs? Check!
Three layers of clothes? Check!
Gloves? Check! (this is what I forget the most)
Put lip balm on? Check!
Nose cover? Nah! Not that cold.

Good to go!!

5 minutes into the run, I realized what I had forgotten! I was not wearing appropriate socks! And the shoes have those breathable material. Cold weather was making its bitter presence felt thru the lower ten digits.

I was too lazy to go back home, takes shoes off, change socks, put the shoes back on and go back to running. Just finished it as is.

Not saying I got cold feet or anything but one of these years, I am determined to get everything just right.

Half way thru the run though, I had to take the jacket off. Atlanta mornings are starting near 50 degrees but going up to nearly 80 degrees.

The gentleman sped past me with ease. I just shuffled along in the trail probably posting around 11 min/mile. A little distance later, I noticed that he had stopped running and was walking. As I got closer to him, he started running again and then eventually stopped and started walking. This kept on going like the old rabbit and turtle story. I think he was doing the “walk-run” routine many long distancers do.

Finally, I caught up to him. He had seen me just as we had approached a fork. I slowed down to give him the first choice to make a turn (I was not sure which way he would go). He started talking to me. I had to take my Airpods out of my ears and ask him to repeat. I assumed he was looking for directions.

“You ran the Original Marathon?”, he asked. I looked down and realized that I was wearing the Athens Marathon shirt – one of the two running shirts I had saved during my minimalism drive.

“Yes sir, in 2015”

“I have run the Berlin, London and Paris. But never the Original one. How was it?”. He was speaking with a distinct British accent. And he was clearly at least a decade older than me. it was also clear he had run a lot of marathons.

We had a great time exchanging stories about marathons (his many versus my one) and even our families. He and his wife have been empty nesting for a long time and recently they have started looking for houses near where we have moved.

We exchanged our names (he is Harry) and promised to run in the trail together sometime!!!

Sort of goaded by those medals, attempted a longer run (8K) today. Also, to relive the old days, went back to Fowler Park trail. The good news is that I was able to finish the course in 80 degree heat without losing a limb or two. More heartening was that the run shaved 30 seconds off my usual pace to 10:53 min/mile.

But the trail itself is a mess. Fowler Park trail is closed on one side. There was only a fraction of the number of people I used to see 4-5 years back. And the trailhead was infested with carpenter ants leaving little space to stretch out.