Last Sunday, Punxsutawney Phil did, indeed, see his shadow, foretelling another six weeks of winter.
It seems as though it is ridiculous to place our weather hopes in the claws of this rodent, who has only a 39 percent accuracy rate.
But wait.
As I write this, I am observing the predicted 1-to-2 inch snowfall, as I measure about eight inches of the fluffy white stuff on my deck.
Let's face it, the television weather forecasters aren't a whole lot more accurate than Punxsutawney Phil. They often seem to qualify more as entertainers than real predictors of the next weather event.
Right or wrong, however, this winter has been rather harsh. Temperatures have dipped below zero during a couple of Polar Vortex events. Storms have been persistent, and wind and ice have filled gaps between the snow and the bitter cold.
Many runners have, for safety reasons, been forced to take their workouts indoors. More often than not, that means logging miles on the treadmill.
Few runners actually like running on the treadmill. Being a running purist, I believe there are few days that we actually cannot run outdoors, as we simply need to be prepared to brave the elements.
The winter of 2013-14 has been a "perfect storm" of dangerous winter conditions, often offering runners little choice if one is to avoid frostbite, treacherous snow-covered roads and concealed patches of ice. Last Sunday, finishing a routine run in Orwigsburg, Lisa Haas' foot struck one such hidden swath of slippery pavement, causing her two chipped teeth and a nasty chin abrasion.
Some runners refer to the treadmill as the "dreadmill," and often with good reason. Treadmill miles are horrendous. There's something about outdoor running, the scenery scrolling by as you run, the undulating hills, the twists and turns, even the people we encounter along the way.
Treadmill miles lack scenery. Every tenth of a mile seems like a full mile. The seconds pass in slow motion. One must exercise discipline in order not to glance at the time or mileage display as it agonizingly records time and distance. Sweat cascades from the body, forming puddles on the floor.
In order to mentally survive the treadmill, I have incorporated a few techniques.
First, one needs to understand that winter is a time for maintenance for runners, and sometimes treadmill running becomes part of that maintenance. Our outside miles are more beneficial, but a treadmill workout is far superior to no workout at all.
An iPod filled with music, or a television close by can be helpful. Even a window to the outside world offers a psychological benefit. I try to run on a minimum of a 1 percent grade for my treadmill miles.
Be sure to hydrate. I keep a water bottle close. Winter is a very dry season, and a treadmill workout will suck even more water from our dehydrated bodies.
My favorite treadmill survival technique is to visualize. I tell myself that I'm running down the mountain path, or I pick a favorite landmark - like the Yuengling brewery, which is one mile from my home. The thought of a cold Yuengling after the workout helps as well!
I always slowly warm up and warm down on the treadmill. Nothing is worse than a "cold stop," and the accompanying "shakes" that stagger you when you disembark the infernal machine.
It doesn't seem as though winter will be leaving us anytime soon, so be prepared for more workouts on the treadmill in the coming weeks.
(Muldowney is an avid runner and local educator)