On a dark and stormy morning

I woke up earlier than usual this morning with the intention of doing one of the seven milers on my schedule this week. As I reached to turn off my cell phone alarm, I noticed that the weather widget in the corner of my smartphone was red. Red means severe weather, in this case, a chance of thunderstorms, complete with hail and wind gusts.



I don't mess around with thunderstorms. I can handle torrential downpours or snow. That's just water. Add lightning bolts shooting down from the sky to the mix, and I'm staying inside. I'd much rather rearrange my schedule than end up looking like Marv the burglar as he's being electrocuted in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.



I always forget about this flipside to unpleasant winter weather. Sure, you're stuck on the treadmill when the sidewalks are covered in ice, but the same goes for when there's a chance of getting struck by lightning. Thunderstorm watches are even more frustrating, in a way, because it may be temperate outside (61 degrees this morning!) and it may not actually end up storming (no sign of storms yet, an hour later!) but you still err on the side of caution.



Looks like it's going to be 50 degrees and sunny for my run after work, though. That will be more pleasant than 61 degrees and nervous about severe weather.

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