polar vortex

Polar vortex, end in sight?

Yesterday I went for a short five-kilometre run before meeting Tina at Running Room for a three-kilometre walk to my place. Since it was pizza night, I invited Tina over for a movie and to sample my homemade pizza.

Despite the polar vortex still looming over Calgary and the daily extreme cold warnings, I enjoyed my short little jaunt around the Bow River pathways. I had enough clothes on that I was actually sweating before I reached the Running Room.

Polar vortex

We started to walk the short three kilometres to my place. Shortly after we started power walking, my hands began to feel extremely cold. I had two pairs of gloves on so I wasn’t sure what was going on. I was fine when I was running earlier.

We had one kilometre to go when I suddenly felt extremely sick to my stomach and I couldn’t feel my fingers. So we dipped into the Circle K where I tried to (unsuccessful) regain feeling in my fingers. I’m pretty sure the cashier thought I was nuts because I nearly curled up in a ball half crying and half moaning.

I told Tina there was no way I could go back outside. So we called a cab and I was home within in a few minutes. I have to tell you I felt absolutely sick to my stomach. Afterwards I was telling Tina that I can’t imagine how those experiencing homelessness are coping in this frigid weather.

Over the last week Alberta has set more than 20 new record lows. Here in Calgary there were days when it was -40C with the windchill. I looked at my iPhone weather app last night where it showed Kananaskis was -45C with the windchill.

It has not been pretty.

We have been … dare I say … spoiled for much of this winter. It’s just February and we’re now only experiencing the winter assault. I am crossing my fingers that it will be an early spring.

Are you experiencing the polar vortex like the rest of Alberta? How are you coping? Stay in? Going out? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

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