Wednesday, January 11, 2017

WWU - Running in Freezing Temps!

We don't see a lot of very cold weather here in south Texas, so when it does hit, it's an event.  Everyone is talking about the temperature, plants are being covered or brought inside, soups are being made - seriously, we enjoy the novelty of freezing temps.

However, running in them?  Not so much.  We had plans to do our Gump run on Saturday morning, but when the predicted wind chill temp was going to be 12 degrees, we called it on Friday night and decided to hold off until Sunday, when the wind was supposed to die down and it would be 25 degrees.  As it turned out, that was an excellent call, because the feels like temperature ended up being 6 degrees:
SIX DEGREES.  Where were we, Antarctica?

I'm sorry - wait, no, I'm not sorry.  That is just too dang cold to get out in if you don't have to.  And we didn't have to.  Oh, funny story - I read on our local online forum where someone posted Saturday morning complaining that he didn't have any water at his house and had a call into the city to see what was wrong.  Turns out, his pipes were frozen!  This kind of weather happens so infrequently here that you forget about that kind of thing being a possibility.

Anyway, we planned to run on Sunday - a smaller group, but we were ready to get out there.  Until we woke up and saw that it was 22 degrees - I let one of the cats outside and quite honestly, I was not at all excited about running in the cold, dark morning.  A couple of texts later (there are very few people who I could text at 5:15 am who would answer right away, but runners are usually up that early), and we all bailed on that run, too.  Jeff and I did manage to meet up with Cary and Brian at Blue Baker around 9:00 am, so we still got the fun part of our day in, complete with some brownie edges, courtesy of our baker.

********************

This being Texas, we are already back to morning lows in the high 50s/low 60s, so I ran yesterday and I'll run again tomorrow.  I guess I got some extra good tapering in for our upcoming half marathon on Sunday - unintended, but it's fine.  Really, I'm just sad that we haven't been able to do our Gump run yet!

********************

Speaking of the half marathon, right now I'm excited about it.  I'm sure the race anxiety will come, but I've already factored that into my super-technical race plan, which will go something like this:

Mile 1:  Inwardly freak out, calm self down
Mile 2:  Run
Mile 3:  Run, walk, whatever.   Have fun.  
Miles 4 - 13.1:  DITTO

So that's the plan for half marathon #10 - here's hoping that my experiences from the previous races will help to make this race one that I will feel good about when I'm finished.  That's not asking for too much, is it?

24 comments:

  1. You know I'm dying laughing about you guys bailing on that second run. Firl, it was 20 degrees in my garage when I ran on the treadmill Monday morning hahahahaha! I guess 50's probably feel cool when you're used to at least 70!

    I hope this is the race you just get to enjoy, I truly do. I say no anxiety!!! JUST SAY NO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I knew you east coast peeps would get a laugh out of us bailing on the 22 degree run, but seriously, that's a good 45 - 50 degrees colder than what we usually run in! We need to ease into that kinda cold.

      So on the race anxiety, what I'm hearing you say is to take the Nancy Reagan approach to it? ;)

      Delete
  2. Your weather is crazy. At least here it is usually cold in th winter with occasional fluctuations.

    It was 15 on Sunday when I ran but sunny and 20 on Monday (in the evening). Monday felt colder!!

    I hate the cold but I have no choice.

    Hope you are perfect weather for Houston this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And speaking of our crazy weather, I'm going to have to turn on the air conditioning today - nearly did yesterday, but it's suppose to get to 78 degrees. Hello Texas.

      Delete
  3. I feel for ya with the cold weather you had! We are used to it here, but if you're not....Dang its cold :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess, like the heat and humidity, I would get used to the cold if I lived in it long enough. But luckily I don't - my parents have been shoveling snow for weeks now...seems like that would get old after a while.

      Delete
  4. 20's and 30's is my perfect run weather when there's not crazy winds. But it's been CRAZY windy here this winter (like 10mph+ winds daily) and I live in the middle of nowhere without tall buildings to block the wind. So I definitely understand sitting that weather out last weekend!

    Good luck at the HM this weekend! Your tenth is definitely significant :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - I hope this race will be memorable for good reasons.

      Delete
  5. I can't believe your Houston half marathon has come up so quickly!! I like your race plan.

    I'm with you on not killing yourself in that cold weather. When you're not used to it, its even colder. But I'm glad you made it to BB :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Okay, so I fully expected you to say that 30 degrees was your freezing temperature But 20's, teens and single digits really IS freezing. I'll give ya that. I wouldn't even go out in that and I am from the East coast where it is usually cold in winter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, thank you! See, that means something coming from an east coast person!

      Delete
  7. My brother texted me that it was 17 in Austin last week when he was going to work, and actually had to scrape off ice on his car! Meanwhile, fast forward to yesterday, when I was walking in 25-30 mph winds in 40 degree weather, Charlie sends me a beautiful video of his walk in 74 degree weather :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, it's very warm once again in Texas...our winters are so strange.

      Delete
  8. Good luck lady. In the end mental toughness is as important as physical so you got this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Kris. I will work on remembering this. :)

      Delete
  9. That's the good thing about where you live. The cold doesn't last long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure didn't. Today's run was in 70 degree weather...with 88% humidity, ugh.

      Delete
  10. That is NOT asking for too much. This is your TENTH race! You know you can do this. You are an experienced runner and you got this! Pump yourself up! Get a positive mantra to repeat when you feel anxious!

    That is so cold for you guys! Like others, I look forward to temps like 22 (without wind) now, but why would you run in it in TX?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I may go with what Kris said above, about mental toughness, for my mantra. Ack, it's Thursday, I've run again, and I'm getting nervous! Maybe I'll get it all out before Sunday??

      Delete
  11. Well ... if we have those temps here in Holland we definitely agree with you that it's cold. If it's daylight I would go out for a run but in the dark: no way.

    Good luck next Sunday but most of all: have fun. I'll be cheering for you from across the ocean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think if we went out to run later in the morning, when it was light, we might have made it - well, on the 22 degree day. Not on that feels like 6 degrees, no way, haha.

      Thanks for the international cheers!

      Delete
  12. Good luck Shelley! You'll be great in your half!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I won't laugh at you not wanting to go out in the 20s - that is a bit chilly! If you're used to it, no problem, but it sure feels cold if you aren't!

    ReplyDelete

Comments are now moderated to prevent spammers from leaving, well, spam - but rest assured that as soon as I read a real comment, I will publish it. So please, comment away, even though the blog is officially closed. Thanks!