Phoenix "seasons" and an iPod rant

We have three "seasons" for runners in Phoenix:

Season 1 - Long Sleeve / Layer season - November through February

This season is when the temps range from 37-49 in the morning and it feels cold (yes, I know it's nothing like the stuff people get across the country, but that's their problem). Pre-dawn runners usually have on a few layers of stuff and may even don the occasional hat and gloves when it gets a in the 3o degree range.

Season 2 - Short sleeve and comfortable season (technically this is two seasons, but it's my blog and I'll do what I want) - March and April, and then the end of September through October.

The mornings hover around 50 to 70 degrees and the sun is just coming up during the run. It's not as dark as an Edgar Allen Poe poem and that tends to add a little spring to your step. Eric and I both agree that 55 degrees is the perfect running temp. Anyway, it is the a great time to be a runner in the valley.

Season 3 - Asbestos suit, nuclear reactor hot - End of May through beginning of September.

You do anything you can to get your runs in before that searing orb of vile heat breaks over the horizon.

Well, the weather today was just about perfect. It's my first day in 4 months running without wearing a long sleeve shirt. What a joy.

Now for my rant of the day:

What's up with everyone running with an iPod???? Running is supposed to have a zen-like quality about it. You are supposed to feel your posture and your breaths as the miles tick away. You aren't supposed to be rocking out or masking the jog in a thick, sugary icing just to choke it down. More importantly, it's not safe! People are not looking out for joggers and to be stone deaf during your run is asking for trouble.

Why do I bring this up? The Ragnar Relay (a 200 mile x 12 person relay) went by my house yesterday and when I asked one of the joggers what the event was (Ididn't know it was the Ragnar at that point) he yelled, "The aid station is over there!" and pointed off in some vague direction. Come on guys, I can understand the occasional use of an iPod, but get out there and feel the run and, more importantly, BE SAFE!

now get back to work...