"Be careful what you wish for — you might get it."

I've said that a million times. This time it applies to me.

I consider cold rain the worst of running conditions. After last week's drenching and a weekend of sleet and fog, I longed for some real winter weather — let it snow!

Monday dawned with a hint of real Pennsylvania December in the air. The previous day's fog had been pushed out by a gathering of mackerel scale clouds rolling in from the west on a chilly breeze.

Mom and I took a midday break from Christmas decorating to take an easy run. She had 5 gentle miles in mind while I had a 14-miler penciled in on my schedule.

Dressed in identical red- hooded sweatshirts and reflective vests, our hunting season garb, we looked like teammates or twins of some strange lumbering species. Our thick mittens swung back and forth like fuzzy yeti paws.

We adjusted our pace to accommodate the thicker clothes and colder air. Comfortable with our winter pace, we settled down to complain (as we do every December) about the hardness of the road and the seeming lack of oxygen since the cold set in.

We laughed when we realized that this frigid 28 degree temperature in February would seem like a heat wave.

I dropped Mom at her door and headed back out for the solitary portion of my long run. I promised I'd report in when I returned home. (I'm 55 years old and my mom still worries about me.) But it's always a good idea to be accountable to someone when running alone, especially in stressful weather.

The first 4 miles clicked off in no time. I was deep into my second wind and lulled by the rhythm of my own footfalls and steady inhale, exhale. It seemed I was the only human alive in the valley. A few yard dogs gave a halfhearted warning as I passed and a straight line of geese honked overhead.

At the turnaround point, I stretched out some kinks and prepared myself for an uneventful if more fatigued run home. But that's the idea of a long run. You train the body to call on different reserves, both mental and physical, to adapt to the stress of longer time and distance on the road.

Light snow began to fall. Soon I was in a snow globe of swirling flakes that stuck to my face and clothes. At least I'd remembered to apply a layer of protective cream to my face.

Suddenly, the sky darkened and a fierce wind whipped the snow into a white whirlwind. The fluffy flakes turned to stinging balls of horizontal ice.

I pulled the drawstrings of my sweatshirt tighter, leaving a tiny opening for my eyes and nose and leaned into the wind. Still, the sleet stung my face so hard I had to turn backward and walk against the wind for relief.

The sweatsuit that minutes ago had been cozy provided little insulation against the gale. I was reminded of the advice I've given in this column many times but had ignored: to dress in layers with a windproof outer layer and to run against the wind on the first leg of an out- and-back run. I felt my muscles tighten with the cold and struggled to maintain form.

Then as suddenly as it came, the winter storm passed leaving blue skies overhead. I shook the snow from my hood and eyelashes, shortened my stride on the slick, snow-covered road and headed home to call my mother.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Jingle Bell 5K and mile walk, Greensburg. Music, food, holiday costume contest, benefits Arthritis Foundation. Dogs on leashes welcome. 412-566-1645 or ccapra@arthritis.orgSaturday, 9 a.m.: Santa Trot 5K Run-Walk, Wheeling, W.Va. Run along Fitness Trail in downtown Wheeling benefits American Red Cross. 304-242-4314 or hikewell@comcast.netSaturday, 9:30 a.m.: Christmas Charity 5K, Somerset. 814-445-6213Dec. 16, 9 a.m.: Toys for Tots 5K and 10K Race, McDonald. Bring a new unwrapped toy. www.eliterunners.com

<B>Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, Oct. 20:</B> Eric Anish, 1st Overall M, 1:13:02; Jeremy Cornman, 3rd Overall M, 1:17:43; Jocelyn Smith, 1st Overall W, 1:26:49; Melissa Shaeffer, 2nd Overall W, 1:27:31; Julie Porter, 3rd Overall W, 1:30:17; Jerry Maher, 1st Masters M, 1:18:28; Sabine Kane, 1st Masters W, 1:30:49; Tara O'Brien, 2nd Masters W, 1:40:47; Patricia Neubert, 3rd Masters W, 1:43:52; Joel Shaeffer, 1st 30-34 M, 1:19:10; Jeremy Powers, 1st 25-29 M, 1:19:52; Corey Steinhagen, 1st 19 and under M, 1:21:04; Brian Forester, 2nd 35-39 M, 1:22:16; Timothy Wyant, 3rd 35-39 M, 1:23:08; Bradley Cubbage, 1st 20-24 M, 1:24:23; Leslie Perry, 1st 45-49 M, 1:24:34; Rich Makin, 1st 50-54 M, 1:26:53Robert Eccles, 3rd 25-29 M, 1:29:09; Bonnie Lathom, 1st 20-24 W, 1:30:35; Chuck Amadee, 2nd 50-54 M, 1:31:29; Jeff Wiley, 3rd 50-54 M, 1:31:33; Josh Lundgren-Dolan, 3rd 20-24 M, 1:32:01; Mike Covert, 2nd 40-44 M, 1:32:18; Lawrence Ross, 1st 55-59 M, 1:33:59; Michelle Heinz, 1st 30-34 W, 1:35:32; Todd Roberts, 3rd 40-44 M, 1:35:57; Robert Walker, 1st 60-64 M, 1:36:00; Kevin Hendricks, 3rd 30-34 M, 1:37:28; Kelly Check, 2nd 30-34 W, 1:38:22Richard Conroy, 3rd 55-59 M, 1:38:32; Ashley Brooks, 2nd 20-24 W, 1:38:46; Lou Alaksin, 2nd 65-69 M, 1:39:39; Jill McMillen, 2nd 25-29 W, 1:40:43; Amanda Byers, 3rd 25-29 W, 1:41:48; Justin Shumaker, 2nd 19 and under M, 1:42:21; Dorothy Moxie, 1st 40-44 W, 1:44:25; Ashley Mangone, 3rd 20-24 W 1:45:10; Wendy Recio, 1st 45-49 W, 1:45:17; Rita McClelland, 1st 35-39 W, 1:47:03; Amy Amadee, 2nd 40-44 W, 1:47:27; William Stroup, 2nd 60-64 M, 1:47:31Nikki Antoszewski, 1st 19 and under W, 1:50:57; Deborah Fugate, 3rd 40-44 W, 1:47:34; Bob Graham, 3rd 60-64 M, 1:49:42; Amy Bair, 2nd 35-39 W, 1:51:39; Dana Longwell, 3rd 35-39 W, 1:51:42; Darlene Hudak, 2nd 50-54 W, 1:59:10; Diane Brooks, 1st 55-59 W, 1:59:17; Lou Lodovico, 1st 70 and over M, 1:59:57; Ann Cheman, 2nd 55-59 W, 2:00:01; Elizabeth Gadsby, 2nd 19 and under W, 2:01:53; Mary Ann Hazer, 3rd 55-59 W, 2:03:43; Suzanne Leonberg, 3rd 50-54 W, 2:05:00; Marcia Semple, 1st 60-64 W, 2:41:28Robert Hellgren, 1:29:23; Mark Colenbrander, 1:30:18; Phil Rogers, 1:31:51; David Fugate, 1:33:02; William Geiger, 1:33:15; Jon McCullough, 1:33:39; Tim Fager, 1:34:06; Todd Ashbaugh, 1:34:11; Phillip Westlake, 1:35:15; Jared Malcolm, 1:35:29; William Chappel, 1:35:32; Stephen Hepler, 1:36:18; Larry Lutz, 1:36:57; Ed Movic, 1:37:42; Donald Kirkwood, 1:38:39; Joseph Vasil,1:39:11; Sean Dolan, 1:39:21; Bob Miller, 1:39:42; James Beck, 1:40:13; James Mayuric, 1:40:43; Chuck Wiedrich, 1:40:50; David Fair, 1:40:58; William Grech, 1:41:00; Bill Swanik, 1:41:09; Patrick Walsh, 1:41:21Christopher Cutone, 1:41:30; Chris Skocik, 1:41:47; Charles Huth, 1:42:17; Steve Russell, 1:42:59; David Crowl, 1:43:41; William Marsh, 1:43:48; Kevin Check, 1:44:04; Steve Diantonio, 1:44:54; Andrew Green, 1:45:01; Ryan Leonberg, 1:45:14; James Carnahan, 1:46:03; Jason Sleosky, 1:46:04; Ed Saxman, 1:46:13; James Gascoine, 1:46:13; Scott Shick, 1:46:24; Don Amadee, 1:46:28; Madeline Spigler, 1:46:35; Eric Ripper, 1:46:46; James Partridge, 1:47:06; Gregory Teamann, 1:47:07; David Schramm, 1:47:58; David Jungling, 1:48:03; Benjamin Frederick, 1:48:06; Shawn Love, 1:48:16; Tom Williams, 1:48:26; Arthur Torok, 1:48:33; Joe Tedesco, 1:48:44Eugene McClain, 1:48:52; Andrew Taylor, 1:49:33; Nuria Pastor-Soler, 1:49:45; Jerry Heinz, 1:49:59; Neil Bassi, 1:50:20; Jeffrey Anderson, 1:50:34; JoDell Harvey, 1:50:35; William Axtman, 1:50:40; Nicole Williams, 1:51:05; Ryan Williams, 1:51:05; Carrie Smith, 1:51:48; Michael DiIanni, 1:52:02; Cliff Thornberry, 1:52:10; Carl Hill, 1:52:21; Lindsey Walsh, 1:52:24; Cyndie DeLucia, 1:53:32; Wendy Krug, 1:53:33; Julia Murray, 1:53:45; Tish Beltz, 1:54:05; George DeEsch, 1:54:18; John Harding, 1:54:20; Kristie Bennett, 1:54:53Henry Spreng, 1:55:04; Dan Haney, 1:55:06; Bill Cloonan, 1:55:10; Christie Niggel, 1:55:15; Marilyn Fisher, 1:55:19; Diasmer Bleo, 1:55:25; Kristy Tully, 1:55:49; Chris Tully, 1:55:49; Alan Cubbage, 1:55:52; Kathy Nilles, 1:55:59; Emily Frankhouser, 1:56:08; Jeff Geibel, 1:56:08; Wayne Toy, 1:57:38; Gerald Pawlak, 1:57:42; Kelly Komorowski, 1:57:45; Christine Cassidy, 1:57:54; Brooke Ewing, 1:58:06; Joe Zboran, 1:58:07; James Leeper, 1:58:25; Laurel Carbaugh, 1:58:55; Charles Tanner, 1:58:57; Melanie Glenn, 1:58:57; Randy Lindberg, 1:59:16; Patty Connors, 1:59:56; Pamela Kristoff, 1:59:57; Dannielle Ann Ripper, 2:00:12; Lisa Brienza, 2:00:17; Buddy Turner, 2:00:48; Miroslava Angelova, 2:01:06Lauren Mills, 2:01:45; Larry Mills, 2:01:46; Jennifer DeSantis, 2:02:15; Brooke Anderson, 2:03:55; Dave McFarland, 2:03:55; Nina Bernstein, 2:04:15; Leah Manino, 2:04:22; Joseph Mascari, Jr., 2:04:23; Drew Ecklund, 2:04:50; Kevin O'Toole, 2:04:50; Barbara Spreng Volek, 2:05:09; Austin Hornyak, 2:05:25; Brian Reuter, 2:06:20; Donna Zukas, 2:06:27; Veronica Trettel, 2:06:29; Debbi Rowe, 2:06:35; Gwen Brogan, 2:06:41; Meghan Brennen, 2:06:47Pamela Black, 2:07:01; Steve Frein, 2:07:28; Matthew Callihan, 2:08:24; Larry Bettencourt, 2:09:44; Judy Litzinger, 2:10:02; Andrew Gero, 2:10:19; Rebecca McClintic, 2:10:43; William McClintic, 2:10:43; Katherine Vargo, 2:10:57; Patty Kitt, 2:11:27; Melissa Jungling, 2:11:29; Dan Miller, 2:12:30; Shauna Zukowski, 2:12:40; Barbara Schweitzer, 2:12:43; Kristen Magdelinic, 2:12:57; Heather Clark, 2:13:00; Michelle Minjock, 2:13:28; Vickey Haney, 2:14:32; Allen Coccia, 2:16:06; Kathryn Bates, 2:16:15; Barbara Schwarck, 2:17:47; Jennifer Cadamore, 2:17:58; Heidi Christy, 2:18:01Jill Hamlin, 2:19:04; Emily Spencer, 2:19:04; Georgia Richardson, 2:21:25; Angela Passerelli, 2:24:14; Sara Powers, 2:24:53; David Dylewski, 2:24:53; Sandi Hellgren, 2:25:27; Amy Lassiter, 2:28:22; Robert Totten, 2:28:23; Alanna McWilliams, 2:31:47; Alice Fraser, 2:33:33; Wendy Emley, 2:33:34; Jason Fay, 2:36:48; Gregory Miller, 2:37:41; Glenn Lang, 2:38:14; Christina Loper, 2:38:21; Bobbie Skwarla, 2:41:14; Ellie Carter, 2:43:19; Dan Dranko, 2:43:20; Priscila Baker, 2:43:25; Marcia Papale, 2:48:23; Susan Chase, 2:48:25Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, PA 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.net