I've been struggling through my runs in the last week or two. The weather makes it hard to have a "good" run -- I run slower and breathe harder. The footing, the snow, the ice and — most of all, the gale force winds — conspire to make me feel like I'm plodding along, knocking off miles the slow and hard way. I don't enjoy the run.

But the reward for those slog-along runs comes when you get a good day or two. Like yesterday -- when the snow had melted away, the sun came out and I couldn't WAIT to go run fast. No need to watch for black ice or dodge slush-bombs from passing cars. Just flat out running as fast as I could -- because I could.

Days like yesterday are proof that it pays to keep trudging through the winter runs no matter how slow they are because every once in a while, we get a glimpse of spring and a glimmer of hope for summer days when every run is a good one.