Friday, February 13, 2015

What Kind of Lunatic, I Mean Runner, Goes Out in an Extreme Cold Weather Warning?




I like to think I am pretty hard-core when it comes to running.  I have been running all winter through this very cold weather.  When people question my sanity for running in the cold, I have been known to say dismissively, "Oh, it's fine as long as you dress for it."

This morning I woke up early and got ready for my run.  As soon as I stepped outside, the cold took my breath away.  "Wow!  That's really cold.  Oh well, I'm sure I'll warm up as soon as I start running."

Well...not so much.  It just kept getting colder and colder.

Initially I tried to stay positive.  I was even thinking in my head about where to take the kids later on in the day (P.A. Day) and I was still considering taking them to see a frozen waterfall.  I thought, "I'll just bundle them up and bring a thermos of hot chocolate - no problem."

Soon enough I began to realize how cold I was, to the point that tiny icicles had formed a row along my eyelashes.

I began to wonder if I was getting hypothermia.

The only thing I wanted to do was run faster so I could get home and to the warmth!

I was happy I was only doing a 5K.

As soon as I stumbled inside, I noticed my face mask and hair were completely white - it wasn't snowing but I assume the condensation from my breath had frozen over everything.

I checked the weather forecast: 'EXTREME COLD WEATHER WARNING - -24 degrees (6 a.m. this morning) with a windchill of -29.

No wonder I froze. On the upside, I am sure I ran so fast to get home that it was a PB! (There are better and much more comfortable ways.)

Still, what kind of lunatic would run in this weather?  That would be me.


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