Oh, did I mention I'm a runner (again)?

Today is the first official day of my training for Vermont City Marathon 2011. I'm getting started a few weeks late because I was in South America getting caught up in civil unrest* and then I got a cold** but now I'm ready to go!

A quick recap of a few memorable runs I've done lately:

• New Year's Eve, Waitsfield: Siri, Jamie and I headed out the door of Renee's house and logged 3+ beautiful, peaceful miles on the Common Road and Joslin Hill Road. We tumbled back into the house and Kim and Renee served up the best breakfast ever. Topped off with hours of sledding at Chez Hosford, a great way to end the year!

• New Year's Day, First Run 5K in Burlington: were we a luge team, or bobsledders? No matter, we won the group costume competition and had a blast. Thank you Erika, Heidi and Beth!

• Grey Glacier, Chile: technically a fast-paced hike and not a run, but ... 8+ miles with some rain and serious wind (I wish I had the pictures!) and amazing views of a blue, blue glacier. Inspired exercise.

• Torres del Paine, Chile: four miles along the shore of a turquoise blue glacial lake in Patagonia, with two stops to commune with a family of wild guanacos (kind of like llamas, with big giraffe eyes and fluttery eyelashes)

Granted, not every run ahead in this training cycle will be as memorable or fun, but I'm determined to make the most of this winter of running.

* Long story short: mass protests in the Magellan region of Chile shut down all roads and ports, and we got stuck for three days in the tiny town of Puerto Natales. Three times we got snared at barricades that protesters set up to stop people from moving around the region, until the Red Cross bussed us out of town to an airstrip and the Chilean Air Force flew us to the regional capital of Punta Arenas. No running was accomplished during this time, but I did get to walk with my luggage for a 1/2 mile or so from one of the barricades towards the town...

** I'm not 100% yet, but soooo much better than last week. Though I did get some grossed-out looks as I was coughing on the treadmill, at least I didn't need a spittoon.