Usually on Thursday evenings I go to a group run. This past Thursday the predicted weather was supposed to be in the low single digits with a “feels like” temp, well below zero. My friend Amanda had posted about the predicted temps, just making sure people were aware, and the people who said they were going, were actually going to go.
I reply “Yes, I am in!”
We ran the week before and I can’t remember the exact temps, but it was very cold (I think maybe 15 degrees with a “feels like” in single digits), and it really didn’t feel bad at all once you got moving (although when I stopped, my sweat froze and I had icicles in my hair, lol).
So this week I had it set in my head that I was going to bundle up and go. I was honestly just curious because it always seems bad until you get moving and are warmed up. I wanted to feel what below zero felt like, so I could know in the future if I was ok, or if that was my limit.
The morning of the run I was taking the kids to school and the wind blowing was terrible, I was holding my breath because it hurt to breathe. Could I really run in this? Well, probably wouldn’t be as windy on the trail and I would have most of my face covered.
So all day I was going back and forth in my head with should I or shouldn’t I. I really wanted to, but was it safe? Could the inside of my lungs freeze? I would probably slip on ice and fall. But I had never fallen on the trail before, was it even icy still? I have never been on a run that I felt like I had underdressed (overdressed, yes, tons of times). Usually I get hot fast, and have found that if the skin is covered, I am not cold. I am pretty sure CARA cancels runs if it is below zero. I still wanted to go, just to see, we could try just 1 mile, if it was awful, turn around and go back, if we were fine, keep going! Then I saw another runner post that she had been out running and got almost a “too much ice cream” brain freeze feeling running in the cold. That got me a little worried. I was emailing my friend Jill all day back and forth, if we should or should not. We were going, then we weren’t, then we were, all day. It literally came down to me being completely dressed in layers upon layers, then it was decided we should go to the indoor track instead. I felt really bad canceling last minute. Especially since I said that I would definitely be there, even with the impending weather.
So we went to the indoor track instead, and sweat our butts off as they had the heat cranked to about 90 degrees.
I REALLY felt bad after they posted the group pic of the hardcore people who went, and said it wasn’t really that bad.
So I still don’t really know what my personal limits are, but I think I will be going outdoors next time to try and see…
Honestly it is always worse in your mind then it really is. You mind makes you doubt what your limits are. I am not a fan of slush. When your feet get wet and frozen thats when you have problems.
Yeah, I was fine before I actually thought about it, next time, no thinking, just do it!!
I decided if it’s not a race and I’m not training for anything, my limit is “feels like 0″ and below. So as soon as the hourly weather forecast included Thursday evening, I decided I wasn’t doing the group run. I’m still impressed by the runners who did show up! But I don’t know if I would join them next time
All that matters is that you got up and went to run!