Saturday 22 November 2008

The "F" word ..... FREEZING!

EY CA RUMBA!!!

This morning's temps were freaking COLD! In Canada it was -15C, in the USA it was 7F, Holy Freaking COLD....

I layered up and headed out for a nice crisp, cold, windy 8K run. Honestly I had forgotten what it was like to run on frozen shoes, icy pavement and snow covered roadsides....but it all came back to me quickly:
  • take shorter steps

  • run at a slower pace until you warm up

  • put your sports drink UNDER your jacket

  • dig out your thermal drink bottle from the closet

  • plaster your face & hands with Vaseline to prevent frostbite

  • wear your gators to keep your ankles and the tops of your feet warmer

  • carry you cell phone ~ just in case

  • head into the wind at the start of your run

  • loop your run route, again, just in case

  • wear something to cover your mouth, breath through your nose to avoid rapid dehydration

  • tell someone where you are going and how long you expect to be out for

  • layer, layer, layer, it is easier to remove clothes than to be too cold

  • have a wind jacket that can fold up into a pouch with an waist belt attached that can be added or removed as necessary

  • cover your head, even if its a vented running hat and cover your ears

  • run safe, be smart and take it easy!
Life's fun if you don't weaken!

Lily

(your other Mother)

39 comments:

Unknown said...

Great tips. You sound prepared.

You forgot one...check the temp. If below 10deg F, go back inside.

Hahahah

Aka Alice said...

OMFG - I can't even imagine. You completely have my respect and admiration.

BeachRunner said...

Hey Ma, stop sending the dang cold weather our way. Stop it right now. Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Brrrrrrr....
Sounds like you're more ready than I am...

Marci said...

Its freaking cold! Thats OK though, better cold than hot. I got the book as well, so thanks!

Judi said...

no way -7? for real? my rule is i only run outside is it's over 10. if it's not, i go run on the treadmill. or ride my trainer in my nice warm livingroom. you are hard core lilly! i love the pix too. what are those cute things on your ankles?

Anonymous said...

oy! you gotta want to do it - and it has barely started getting cold.

-11C tonight! so a tad chilly in the morning. Plug in the car tonight!

HUGS
Ter

Anonymous said...

oh hells no! I will stay in SoCal. This poor desert-rat girl would die from the cold. How would that be good??

*hugs*
~ b

Mel-2nd Chances said...

thx mama :) for the lovely comments on my blog today! and for the winter running tips! Glad i wasn't the only one that was out there today -- i got a few funny looks :)

Kim said...

Brrr...rrrr girl!
Great job for getting your booty out there.

Bob - BlogMYruns.com said...

wow Yikes I thought it was cold here tonight it's 55!! I know I am such a wimpy FL boy ...Stay warm Hun And good list!

bluecolnago said...

nice post, mom! ;) it gets cold like that around here too, but whatcha gonna do? certainly not going to sit in the house and vegetate! keep running, girl!

be safe!

RunToTheFinish said...

very good tips! I was just thinking I need a few more warm clothes.

Chris said...

Sounds like a good day to run on the treadmill to me.

C said...

Thanks for the great tips, Mom. :)

ECrunnergirl said...

Awesome cold weather tips Lily! Some I had forgotten about. We are having a wicked cold snap here on the East Coast and whoa......it stinks!!!

Good job going out and beating old man winter!!!

Carly said...

Nice job braving the cold. I have yet to do that. I love the list. I wonder if people in the south laugh at us cold weather dwellers having to put vaseline on our faces prior to running?

Amy said...

It's 1° C here today and when we did our run, we were saying, this is what it feels like to be a runner in Canada - I guess not, though! It's actually way, way worse!! Thanks for the tips - I never heard of Gators.

Steve Stenzel said...

I LOVE winter running!! For me, the big one is to start off slower to just get used to it. And then, it's a GREAT run from there!!

TNTcoach Ken said...

It was 65 degrees in Miami yesterday, too bad I'm in Michigan! Great tips for running on frigid days....

Bert said...

That sounds like treadmill weather, brrr. Some parts of the US were nice; it was 77F with 56% humidity when I headed out here at about 1100A...

Vickie said...

Yeah that vaseline tip works in more ways than one! Great way to keep the skin soft and not all dried out in this horrible life sucking weather!

Marcy said...

Holy shiz, I'm coming back to this post LOL. You know, I NEVER even thought of wearing those Gator dealys for ankle warm. It makes sense!

Marlene said...

Thanks Mom! You're always looking out for us. :)

THEY HAVE THERMAL WATER BOTTLES?!

Aron said...

omg i dont know how you guys do it... i thought it was cold this morning and it was in the forties. negative?!?! EEK - you are awesome!!

Anonymous said...

That is cold!! Thanks for all the tips. I never thought about putting the sports drink under my jacket...smart.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Laurel. You really put our wet Washington winters into perspective for me! I bought Goretex shoes and new gloves this fall. I'm good to go!

Groover said...

I can't believe you are running in those freezing temps. You are the brave and gutsy one ... :-)

Wes said...

ROFL!! No.Way!!!

Bandobras said...

Boy I can't believe all these weather wimps. When I was young it got so cold the biggest problem was your breath cloud would freeze instantly and then drop on you feet as a big chunk of ice. But we liked it that way.
During winter breath froze so fast we couldn't hear what people said. You had to take the chunk of ice and put it in a frying pan and melt it to hear what was said.

Tanya said...

Holy freakin cow, that is cold! I would not survive-not even 5 seconds. Seriously, we think it's cold at 50 degrees here in sunny California-we pull out our sweaters and coats and turn into weather wussies! You have my complete admiration!

Unknown said...

OMG, I'd be using the other F-word about 20 seconds in. I'm with Tanya, anything below 60 is harsh.

Chic Runner said...

OH MY! my little body would FREEEEEZE! you are my hero

Viv said...

ummm, I think that would officially make it a movie day for me. You are tough! Thanks for the list so when it suddenly gets to .30F for one day.

Runner Leana said...

-15 deg! BRRRRRRRRRRR! I've only been out in -6 and it was nice and sunny so didn't feel that bad.

Those tips were fantastic though, thanks!

Unknown said...

I have huge respect for you for going out in this kind of weather. I am now mulling whether to move to Palm Springs, California or Phoenix or Miami !!!! I am just praying for a shorter winter !!!

Legs and Wings said...

Same business in NS. Winter adds certain challenge eh. I believe it really helps build stamina for the spring racing season.

TRI Vortex said...

I know, it is cold, I'm in Southern California. I almost needed a sweater today....Freezing. I don't know what I'm going to do. hehehe. I have no idea what its like to be in that kind of cold. Much props.

P.O.M. said...

Holy Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap That's cold. And you still got out there! Awesome!