So THAT'S what "freezing fog" means

This past weekend, my running buddy C (she's awesome!) and I decided to run 3 miles outside on Saturday morning. We have an 8 miler coming up in late February, so we had better get used to the cold.

Saturday morning, the plan was to meet at the park at 8:30am. The weather forecast said 32 degrees and a "chance of freezing fog." What the heck is that? As usual, I ignored it and went on my merry way.

Clue #1: Arriving in the parking lot, I managed to do a 180 just turning into a parking spot. It shocked me - the lot looked wet, so why am I sliding around? Undaunted, I sit in my car pulling on gloves, ear band, etc.

Clue #2: C arrives while I'm still in my vehicle, steps out of her car, and immediately wipes out. She fell so fast it was like she disappeared. Splat!

Apparently, "freezing fog" means that everything was covered in this invisible coat of smooth, slippery ice. We skated over to the trail to check it out, but no luck - the paved trail was an ice rink. Then we hobbled out to the sidewalk, thinking that would be better.

Nope.

After kidding ourselves (and almost breaking a few bones) for a block, we gave up and left. This story does have a happy ending, though; we came back the next afternoon and did our long run -- six miles, ta-da! -- on the same trail, just running the loop twice.

Take that, freezing fog! Thirteen miles this week, not counting elliptical workouts and the general chasing-after-the-kids exercise. So far I've managed to stick to my Runner's World program, but don't get too excited. This was Week One.