Yesterday, it started out cold and since I had breakfast planned with friends in the morning, I decided I would go for an outdoor run in the afternoon when it was warmer. It hit 45 degrees yesterday here…practically summer. However, it was really windy all day so I managed to find other stuff to do and never did make it out for a run. The only thing I like less than running in the cold is running in the windy cold.
Today though… feeling guilty about not running yesterday, I was determined. I got up, got layered and got out the door by 8:30. It was in the mid-30s I think, but not too windy. And when I woke up, the sun was shining and the birds were chirping. Sure signs of spring. Still a foot of snow on the ground but the roads were clear, so whatever.
It was a little chilly as I did the walking warm-up part of my run but I had gloves and a headband and several layers of clothes between me and the cold air so I was ok. Once I started running, it got hot. I was probably overdressed. The gloves and headband came off midway through the run and the sleeves got pushed up as far as they would go too.
Since I haven’t run outside since November, I chose my short course (2.5 miles) even though I’ve been consistently running 3 to 4 on the treadmill. I remember going from the treadmill to the road last year; it wasn’t pretty. And I was nervous that this would not be a fun run today.
I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great run; much better than the runs I’ve had on the treadmill. First, being outside just woke my brain up, and my lungs and my legs. When I started running, I could almost hear the muscles saying, “Ahhhh, we’re back!”
I ran the 2.5 miles. Not even once did I think I would need to slow to a walk (ok, well maybe once but I powered through). On the treadmill, I’ve been walking a lot more than I do when I run outside, and I wasn’t sure if my body would adjust back to straight running easily. But it did. And it felt really good. I probably could have pushed to 3 miles. Next week.
No more being a baby and heading to the gym when I can get my run in outside. I may need to use the gym for another week or two during the week while I wait for it to get a little lighter out in the morning, but I know I can brave the cold now. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. And mid-30s isn’t really that cold anyway, although I’ve used it as an excuse in the past this winter.
I’ve realized about myself that I do let fear get the better of me a lot of the time. Because I hadn’t been running outside all winter, I was really hesitant to get back out on the road. I was afraid that I would have the same reaction from treadmill to road this year as I had last year. Last year, though, I was just starting out and this year I have a year of running under my belt. So it was a stupid thing to be afraid of. I actually had a much better run outside than I’ve had all winter on the treadmill.
I’m glad I got out there today. It was a little bit of a triumph! And next year, I won’t let the cold weather stop me.
What I am going to stop is letting the fear (of a lot of things) hold me back. If I set my mind to it, I can do it. That much I have learned through triathlon training.
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I totally agree with your road/treadmill assessment. I run much easily on the road but often convince myself when it turns cold that it is too cold….then I bundle up and head out and I realized all I was doing was making excuses again.
I love and hate the treadmill for the information so easily in front of you. But the road truly is a unexplainable experience for someone who hasn’t tried.
Congrats on the 2.5mi! I’m back on my Couch to 5K, week 3. Hoping to join you very shortly in running that distance all at one time.!
Funny: while reading this it felt like I could have written it myself. I don’t mind cold but I do hate to run in snow. And as we’ve had that for about 6 weeks I couldn’t run much outside.
But today I went, first time without my thermo underwear, felt like Spring, not too cold but very windy (which is normal here) and like you I’ve said to myself: from this point on no more running inside (except for interval training on the treadmill) but outside. Love it!