My running log serves as part training tool, part journal. This past week's log serves as a chronicle of surviving the blizzard and making the most of a snowy situation.

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Friday. I marked last Friday's lunch hour run as an uneventful seven miles on one of my regular loops through Saxonburg. Roads were clear and dry and although the sky was gray, the absence of wind made for pleasant running.On my way back to the office I caught what may have been the first flurry of the impending deluge of snow.I drove home from work in a steady downpour of snow. Inches of white had already accumulated on Main Street in Saxonburg and on the back roads leading home.Still optimistic, I laid out my running clothes for Saturday morning's group run. I decided that trail shoes would be in order for the anticipated romp through the snow. Before I went to bed, I shoveled about eight inches of fluffy snow from my sidewalk and wondered what the road conditions would be at 8 a.m. the next day.•

Saturday. Like a kid at Christmas, I couldn't wait to see how much snow had fallen overnight.I got up before the alarm clock and threw open the door to let my dogs out. A two-foot wall of white greeted them in front of the house. I then realized that for the first time in two years, our group training run would have to be cancelled because of bad weather.Instead of a planned 15 to 17 miles of easy running, my Saturday exercise included four hours of shoveling. While not sport specific, shoveling snow is a form of endurance exercise, burning from five to ten calories per minute, depending on gender and size. Shoveling was certainly at least as tiring as my long run.Weary as I was from heaving snow, I felt a burst of energy when I finally reached the road at the bottom of my driveway. The township plow hadn't pushed through yet that day, so the road stretched out clean and white and about a foot deep in either direction — perfect for cross country skiing.Mom and I skied for miles down the middle of the smooth road under the brilliant post-snowstorm sky. We stopped to take photos of farms and fields and stopped to talk to neighbors digging themselves or other neighbors out from under the drifts in their driveways.•

Sunday. The exertion of Saturday gave way to fatigue on Sunday. Since our road was now plowed clean, Mom and I decided to take our skis off road to some of our familiar trails. Although beautiful, post holing our skis through the deep snow proved to be an exercise in futility — with the emphasis on exercise.After an hour of lifting and planting my legs and slogging through knee deep snow, I was drenched in sweat and panting like I'd run a 5K. My shoulders ached from pulling and quads throbbed from pushing.What was supposed to be an easy day of cross training turned into an intense workout. And I still had my daily quota of snow shoveling to do before relaxing in front of the TV for the Super Bowl.•

Monday. Monday is my usual day to catch up on chores before returning to work on Tuesday. This Monday's chores included more shoveling as I cleared a path to my mailbox and Butler Eagle paper box.Still regretting the missed Saturday long run, I fought through my tiredness to complete at least a semi-long run. It felt good to be on the road again, even for a slipping and sliding 11 miles.•

Tuesday. Tuesday's day off from school was a bonus day in my running log. I topped off my hour of shoveling with a gentler five-mile run. The road underfoot was almost clear but clouds were gathering overhead.I rounded the bend to my driveway as the first flakes began to float down and knew I'd be adding more shoveling to my log book as Blizzard of 2010, Chapter 2.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.: Elite Runners and Walkers Marathon Training Run, Pittsburgh. Run from various locations. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Training for Pittsburgh Marathon or just run for fun.724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Second Sole Group Run, North Park. Meet at Boat House for various distances. 724-772-2808Saturday, 10 a.m.: Cupid's Chase 5K, Pittsburgh. Run along Riverfront Park on the North Shore. 412-431-7079 or bridget.haney@comop.orgSunday, 7:30 a.m.: Running Wild and North Park Runners Group Run, North Park. Now training for Pittsburgh Marathon. 724-444-5311 or www.runningwildpa.comFebruary 27, 10 a.m.: Spring Thaw 10, 15 or 20 Mile Run, North Park. Choice of distance with perks, post race pizza and soup buffet. 412-490-0881 or www.eliterunners.comMarch 6, 11 a.m.: Ellport Borough Winter Wonderland 5K, Ellport. 724-758-2506 or bonnherb@yahoo.comMarch 7, 8:45 a.m.: Mill Creek Classic Half Marathon and 5K, Youngstown, OH. 330-727-6070 or http://ytownrunners.orgMarch 13, 9 a.m.: Shamrock Shuffle 10 Mile Run, 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Run/Walk, Harmony. Held on Strawberry Ridge Golf Course. Bring your golf clubs for longest drive and putting contest. Refreshments include soup, pizza, hot chocolate, beer. 724-321-4265 or joella@zoominternet.net

Frigid Five, January 10: Jacob Morrida, 1st Overall M, 28:00; Chris Geddis, 2nd Overall M, 28:17; Richard Goodright, 3rd Overall M, 29:08; Beth Shutt, 1st Overall W, 32:56; Dorothy Moxie, 3rd Overall W, 36:59; Holly Bauer, 1st 30-34 W, 38:12; Stephen Diantonio, 3rd 50-54 M, 39:24; Mary Jo Sanks, 1st 40-44 W, 42:02; Kristine Poloyac, 2nd 35-39 W, 44:47; Tom Murray, 3rd 65-69 M, 45:02; Beth Winhold, 3rd 35-39 W, 45:34; Gineen Jarnevich, 2nd 40-44 W, 46:19; Mary Morgan, 1st 50-54 W, 46:25; Anne Semmler, 3rd 50-54 W, 57:14; Ken Elias, 36:31; Bill Geddis, 39:44; Mike Suvick, 39:46; Brian Kile, 40:31; Erin Nicotra, 41:18; Todd Trofimuk, 42:58; Ron Hartle, 44:36; Christi Novak, 44:39; Rachel Salisbury, 45:16; Carl Hill, 46:04; Heather Cianfrocco, 46:23; Michelle Metz-Foley, 46:37; Valerie Jacobs, 47:27; Heather Slater, 49:16; Alice Wiesner, 50:10; Kenneth Tack, 50:12; Barb Spreng-Volek, 51:40; Kim Bell, 51:54; Maria Mager, 52:33; Nicholas Comack, 55:56; Dawn Cancilla, 57:34; John Nicotra, 59:50; Jim Mirasola, 1:00:23; Eric Kerstetter, 1:05:38; Michael Dilworth, 1:09:23; Rebecca Hodkin, 1:09:23Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.netPat Neubert is the running columnist for the Butler Eagle.