Sunday, January 27, 2013

Who Runs Outside When It is Below Zero?


That would be me!  It's not the first time but it is the first time this winter.  First I ran on Saturday. T and I headed out when it was minus 3 with just a little delay for me to find my face mask.  It felt cold but not unbearable.  My hands and feet have definitely been colder on other runs.

  When we turned around 4 miles into the run we were running into a colder wind.  But it wasn't the cold that was bothering me.......it was that the bathroom was still 2 miles away. Why do our bodies betray us when we are trying to make them healthier?  Eventually got to the church with the clean bathroom and continued on. The sky was a brilliant blue today and the river was a deep gorgeous green so our surroundings were beautiful in spite of the temperature.


This is my first week of training for my half marathon in April.  I had a long break from a training schedule and it feels good to be back on one.  I had a great speed workout on the TM and one other treadmill workout this week that was also quite splendid. It can also be nice to have a bathroom a few steps away!  The gym has a couple new treadmills I like so it isn't as bad as when there seemed to be only one I really liked at all.  There are some months the gym membership seems worth it and this was definitely one of them.  I don't like running outside in the cold and dark after work.

 I ran outside again on Sunday. It had warmed up and was -2!  Truly though I was never that cold and the day was just gorgeous.  We went on a new route as I was thinking of my daughter telling me I always ran the same route (a route  she thinks is dangerous) and I had a lot of other routes I could take. Well, yes.  BUT they all involve hills.  But for some reason today that sounded okay. It would be a little shorter than the 6 I have been doing on Sundays but more of an effort for sure. I tried to take pictures of the hills especially the one that goes on forever and I do mean forever.  My pace was seriously slow but it really was a very nice change.  Most of the time when I am on these hills I am on my bike and MOST of that time I have done a loop which ends up with me going down these hills. But I do ride up them some and  was thinking today I should add them in on a regular basis as it would be such great hill work! 
Starting up the first big hill

Another hill...

The beginning of the one that goes on forever.....

......and on and on.......

......and on and on.......

Here I am coming up  it.

Another face mask day....


Getting closer to the top but....


.just when you think you are there there is one more section


.Beautiful views all around.


We've turned and are headed down toward home.




I definitely want to try that route again both on my bike and as a runner! Who knows?  Maybe I'll even try to find some other routes I never go on in my own home town!




17 comments:

Darlene said...

It's looks beautiful. As you know, I'm not a fan of the cold or the hills.

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

Who runs in negative temps? ME!!

Looks like you had nice surroundings on your run. And I'm sure simply by making use of it, you find the face mask helpful in the cold temps, but I have to ask your opinion on it anyways.

I've been debating on using one, but I fear the mask getting too wet from my breathing.

Ransick said...

Beautiful pics! I'll run if it's below zero if it isn't windy. Luckily it doesn't get below zero too often here but we do get a lot of wind.

Char said...

That's one long, sneaky hill. As much as I don't like running hills - I despise ones that trick you into thinking that your at the top only to have to continue further. Good on you for getting out in the sub-zero temps.

Unknown said...

Beautiful countryside. I must admit though I am not sure I would be running in temps below zero. Actually, I have never been in weather below zero ever. I even spent some time in the Aleutian Islands, but it never got that cold while I was there. You are a hardy runner.

Kate Geisen said...

Your winter pictures are postcard-worthy!

I'm with Mike on the temps. And I'm definitely more willing to run trails in the cold than roads. Too cold and windy!

Fran said...

I'm guessing you mean Fahrenheit? In that case I haven't ever experienced minus 3 because it never has been that cold in my country.

I did ran at -5 (23 degrees) the past 2 weeks but it doesn't get much colder here and I thought that was cold.

You're hardcore!

Johann said...

Well done for getting your training done like that. The photos are really beautiful.

Anonymous said...

I don't have a serious winter wardrobe like folks in the Midwest and Northeast do, however if the wind is not too bad, I have no problem in single digits - positive or negative.

Kandi said...

That sounds frigid but your photos are amazing!

Liz said...

Wow - I'm really not sure I could force myself out in those temperatures. Good luck with the Half training!

Unknown said...

Not.Me.

You are hard core!

HappyTrails said...

-3??? Ewwwwww!!! Did you fall and bump your head when you were a child??? :-) You are one dedicated and tough cookie - I admire your tenacity - outside workouts ARE MUCH BETTER than indoor workouts, though, I agree. Beautiful pics, too!

Teamarcia said...

I think you get the badass of the week award. I was seriously considering VCM but now you show me these nasty, hideous hills.
My biggest complaint of running in super cold is my booty freezes.

Giorgio said...

I wouldn't mind that icy running path. Beautiful environs!

Molly said...

Lovely running route, especially in those temps! You should do another post in August, to compare! : )

Lindsay said...

Brr! But gorgeous photos. I always worry about slipping on ice in the winter; not sure why this is the South!