Palanquin: At some point after the turn-around, this word popped into my head. My legs were saying: hush up and ride.

Snow over ice. Skates switched out for skis. The runners made some footwear switcheroos today, too.

Last week, I’d run scared. This week, I still cared, but something about the cold, about having to move to keep from freezing, about generating my own heat, comforted me.

I am celebrating January by doing this thing that scares me for four weeks in a row. One down and I’m still breathing.