summer racing and winter weather

did you know that there is a such thing as a polar vortex?

polar vortex [′pō·lər ′vȯr‚teks] (meteorology) t he large-scale cyclonic circulation in the middle and upper troposphere centered generally in the polar regions; specifically, the vortex has two centers in the mean, one near Baffin Island and another over northeastern Siberia; the associated cyclonic wind system comprises the westerlies of middle latitudes. Also known as Antarctic vortex; circumpolar whirl; polar cyclone; polar low.

weird right?  well... apparently wisconsin is under a polar vortex right now. 

today and yesterday it was a high of -15 degrees fahrenheit. awful really... can't even go outside for more than a few minutes.  frostbite can happen at 5 or more minutes. 

my poor dog went outside last night to go to the bathroom and when i called him back he was walking so slowly that i rushed out to get him and carry him up the stairs!  then i ran his paws under warm water.  not good.

the good news is that by friday it will be back to around a balmy 23 or so degrees!  that means that on saturday i will be running outside instead of inside and that is a great thing!  that is a glorious thing!  that is a magnificent thing!  almost better than candy i think... almost.

in other news my 2014 race calendar is nearly complete.  i'm just waiting on the milwaukee lakefront marathon to open registration on the 20th and that's the last one on my schedule.  that's not to say i won't throw a 5K in here and there if i feel like it but for all intents and purposes this schedule is complete and i'm quite happy with it.


so dear readers... do you plan your race schedule out that far in advance?  do you have 2014 ready to go?  what is the race you're most excited about for 2014 and why?  what do you think about this "polar vortex"?