The freezing temperatures and grey clouds have broken here in Columbus. Which means I'm running outside again.

My favorite days of the year are those first glimpses of spring when I can hit the street for a good run. I ran twice on Sunday and every day this week. I am a better person when I run.

Running is a great way to see a city. I often use this argument about cycling, but it's equally true about running. I like taking back roads, paths, and alleys where I can see the parts of the city that are hidden behind the facades of front elevations and street-level advertisement. I am never disappointed.

I reminisce when I run. I remember when I started running – I mean really running – in San Diego with my friend, Paul Bowman. Paul had 12 years on me. Which means that I am his age now. We used to run to Ocean Beach the long way around through a housing development on the point, and then back a more direct rout over three hills. The first hill was huge, straight up. And we sprinted it every time. I remember getting to the top and looking over the bay and all the way to downtown. 

Running was harder in Puerto Rico, where sidewalks are in the road and the road is a racetrack. It was like running the Indy 500. I remember one time someone drove by and hit me hard in the ass with a half-full plastic soda bottle. It didn't take me down, but I found another road to run on after that. One lady I knew through friends ran marathons and trained on the same part of the island that I did. She ran 75-100 miles a week. With a 3 1/2 foot long walking stick. If it's not jealous competitors trying to break your leg, it's stray dogs that wouldn't mind some half-baked runners flesh to dine on. I thought she was pretty smart.

The longest I ever ran: I came back from running to Ocean Beach one night, an 8 mile run, and I was still bounding with energy. So I ran to downtown San Diego, around the business district and back. That made it about 13 miles with hills. I only stopped because I had to get up early the next morning.

The 5K. I ran a 5K in San Diego and got second place at 19:30min. I always thought it would be nice at 30 to best my 18-year-old time. We'll see.

Old running partners. I haven't had a running partner since Luke Cassada. First Paul, then Luke. (Sounds biblical, doesn't it?) Luke and I were in SEAL training together. I dropped and I was quite happy with the decision. He was not satisfied with a med-drop, so he went back and became a Navy SEAL. Last I heard he was messing around in Afghanistan and all bulked up and stuff. I remember how he was so shocked that my short legs would easily outpace him on our 6 mile runs. I'm pretty sure that's not the case any more.

New running partners. I think I've found some good folks around the University to run with. This gives me hope.

Here's to a great year of running in 2011.