My friend, Brenda, lives where it is cold. Like, really cold. Like -25° cold.

Being that I have spent a great deal of time burying irrigation pipes beneath the frost line in Memphis, TN., I was curious to know how deep the pipes needed to be buried in Michigan, where Brenda lives. I was surprised to find out that it was not drastically deeper than it is here in Memphis. The reasoning that she gave for this is because the snow actually provides insulation to help prevent pipes from freezing, much like an igloo to an Eskimo.

I guess I just found it interesting that the product of cold temperatures was actually what prevented cold temperatures underneath. I was intrigued by the idea that the best blanket to provide warmth underground was a freezing blanket.

This weekend I ran the Sylamore 50K. It is my favorite race of the year. Every year, I am undertrained, ill-equipped, and overly excited about running the race. I just love it. It is so painful. It is so uncomfortable. It is so freeing. it is so powerful. It is so much fun. It is beyond a race, it is a duty. I feel almost like it is an obligation to myself to act as a reminder that I can endure. It doesn’t have to be fast, it doesn’t have to be graceful, it doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to get done. It has a very deep meaning for me personally and I am eternally grateful for those who put it on and volunteer at the event.

At about mile 25, my stomach flipped and I began to vomit. About the time that I had released my last call into the wild my friend Lisa showed up. What a relief! She is experienced, she is badass, she is tough and like everyone else on the course, she was tired.  Her discomfort provided me with a great deal of comfort. I found peace in knowing that the misery was shared between us. I guess you could say that her discomfort was a warm blanket.

Much like the snow provides warmth beneath a freezing pile of ice, I think discomfort can provide insulation from future pain as we learn to wrap ourselves in the adversity and find a way to keep warm underneath it. Sometimes the only comfort that can be found is in knowing that we are all uncomfortable and that we will all be ok. Often the best thing to do is snuggle up underneath the pain and let it know that you will be here when it leaves because you don’t break as easily as it does.

Peace, Love, and all things Beef related,

Beefcake