It seems that Mother Nature has entirely skipped over the Autumnal season this year. The weather went from 70 degrees and humid, to 40 degrees (as a high for the day!) with a frost on the ground. I do NOT do well with the cold weather. On my run yesterday morning, I had to wear fleece-lined tights and my Sugoi hooded top with built-in mittens. The sign along my route that flashes the temperature periodically (which, oddly, is in front of a strip club) read 34 degrees. My breath hovered in front of me the entire way. Some guy walking his dog called "It's not that cold out here!" to which I haughtily replied "I am really sensitive to the cold."
And it's true. Some people would have overheated with all the clothes I was wearing. Some people would probably be comfortable wearing a lot less - like the guy working on his car wearing shorts and a t-shirt (wtf!?!?). But I was completely comfortable with all my layers on. I didn't get hot at all.
That got me thinking. How on earth am I going to train through November and December for a marathon in January? If I'm putting on my warmest, thickest clothing mid-October, I'll have to come up with some sort of insulated, personal heater-type suit of armor in order to run outside in the coming months. I have a $25 coupon to Fleet Feet, but I don't think they sell suits of armor there. Maybe I can pick up an extra jacket though.
Now, I know that I was running outside up until January last year, but somehow I still can't fathom doing it this year, especially when it's incredibly hard to force myself out there in the Fall!
But, I will have to carry on. I will be running both an 18-miler and a 20-miler in December, and I'm sure as hell not going to run those on a treadmill. I shudder at the thought of my frozen toes and fingers, my frostbitten nose and ears. Next year, I'm picking a spring marathon.
I have some suggsetions!!! It doesn't get as cold here as it does say, in North Dakota, but we spend a fair amount of time in the teens/20s and even some below 0 days throughout the winter. For socks, look for Smart Wool at your running or outdoor store (or their website) they're a thin wool sock, but they keep your tootsies warmer than cotton! I also have some really thick Adidas dry-fit type socks that I break out when it's really, really cold.
ReplyDeleteFor tops/bottoms, try layers! I have tights that are cold tested down to 20 degrees, and when it's below that/wet/windy, I'll layer a pair of sweats over them for some added warmth. On top, I'll wear a running tee with a fleece or hoodie over the top (depending on if it's wet, windy, etc). I also like layering an under-armor long sleeved shirt under my tee (so layers would be sport bra, under armor, short sleeve, and then either LS shirt/fleece/hoodie).
For hands, this winter I'm going to get a pair of mittens and wear my running gloves under the mittens on extra cold days :)
Don't worry, your body is probably also shocked by the cold now...and once you've had a few weeks like this, it won't be as noticable!