Who’s up for a little adventure?
Lat week I ran The Snowman Stampede Half Marathon which started at a relatively warm 23 degrees with snow and ice. This one was more challenging. Another week, another half-marathon. Bring on the adventure!
Fitness Insider’s Tip: ( I just realized how cheesy that sounds but I am leaving it in.)
I sign up for races 6-9 months in advance with the understanding that I will run regardless of the conditions. This is a great way to stay in shape, I always have something coming up in the future.
I especially like running in conditions like this because a lot of people freak out and stay inside. This is a great way to work on your mental toughness. The truth is if you have an idea how to dress and what shoes to wear, this can actually be a pleasant experience. The big key is to have zippered layers. Most people think the problem is staying warm. That really has to do more with the initial discomfort of being cold. Your biggest issue is getting rid of excessive heat before your clothes get sweaty. Once your clothes get wet, you will be cold and miserable.
Shoes
My plan was to wear my Altra Superior trail shoes to get a little extra grip. The trade-off is that that they don’t have a lot of padding, so the concrete is rough on the feet. As you can see, not a lot of concrete to deal with, so I think it was a good decision.
Clothes
- Short Sleeve Performance T-shirt
- Long Sleeve performance shirt
- Blue Columbia running jacket
- Saucony wind jacket
- Hat
- Gloves
- Alpaca socks
Everything worked like a charm. What I didn’t count on was my camelback freezing up. But then again, my phone also froze up.
How cold was it?
I had to hold my energy gels in my hand to thaw them out before I ate them.
How did I Do?
About a minute per mile slower than last year. Last year was memorable because we had to run the last 2.5 miles on top of the dam going straight into a 40-50 MPH wind that never stopped.
For me, getting a PR is great but having a new adventure is always better.
Here is the Key. Get your Head right.
- You signed up for it so you are going to do it.
- Yes, it is going to be uncomfortable, deal with it.
- You may never see these conditions again, so enjoy it as a once in a lifetime adventure.
- Celebrate like hell afterwards.
Cold weather running can be enjoyable or miserable. These are products I recommend for cold weather running.
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