Wacky Winter

Earlier this week, I ran in a tank top and capris and I was a sweaty mess.  (It was awesome.)  Today I looked more like this:

(Plus gloves)

28 degrees plus strong gusts of wind made for a pretty chilly run.  But I ran at a local park that I don't get to very often, and it was a nice change.  

Not only was I happy to have a good run, but I was glad to be "scoping out" the paths at this particular park, because it's where the Endless Summer 6 Hour Run will be this July.  (More about that in another post!)

I will say, though, that I am glad that this crazy cold snap is only going to be a day long, and we'll be warming up again tomorrow.  I think I may have said this a time or two (or two thousand), but I am ready for Spring! 

I'm also (finally) starting to get excited about the races that I have coming up.  3 weeks from Saturday, I have a 5K and then the next day I have the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler.  I have no business running either of those races, but I'm starting to think that I'm going to be ok regardless.

Broken Record

I am so tired of complaining about this winter - I feel like it's all I ever do anymore!  Wednesday night we got a bunch of snow dumped on us, so I didn't get out for a run yesterday.  Last night, we got more snow, so the kids are home from school again today.  We're supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow.

When. Will. It. End???  I am OVER winter.  Blah.

On the other hand, my husband stayed home from work yesterday and we all cuddled on the couch and watched a movie together - something we rarely get to do all together.  And the kids got to play Xbox with their dad, which they love.   So I shouldn't really complain.  I'm just frustrated because I'd finally gotten back into a routine with my running, and now... blah.  Stupid winter.

But.  It's ok.  Onward and upward.  Or something.

AND! Today is Day 10 of the Burpee challenge and I have not skipped a single day or a single burpee! I did 15 last night, which means I have done 75 since the challenge started.  Only a few hundred to go! =)

Today's cross training exercise will be........ playing in the snow.  It counts, right?  I am NOT a "Whee! Let's play in the snow!" type of person, but .... I have kids.  Therefore, a snowman must be constructed.  I will try not to grimace the whole time.

Do you like winter?  If so.... what's wrong with you?? ;-)

The Polar Vortex Of DOOOOM

Oh, my.  Winter, what did I ever do to you?  Why are you treating me this way?

I live in Maryland.  While it's not really The South, it's technically south.  Under the Mason Dixon, hot sweaty summers, and wimpy winters.  That's what I've gotten used to over the past 17 years.  Oh, sure, we've had a few crazy winters where we've gotten a couple feet of snow.  But even then, I feel like it wasn't really THAT cold out.  No big.

This year?  Holy buggers.  It was 50 the other day here.  Which, honestly, is what I expect in January in Maryland.  A few random days of fairly warm.  50 I can do.  Heck, 30 I can do.  1 degree with a feels like temp of -16? No freaking thank you!

Really and truly, the weather wouldn't bother me if I weren't a runner.  I mean, we have a good heat pump, the kids play nicely with each other, so having them home from school is not a big deal, and it's not like I have a job to get to, so even the conditions of the roads don't bother me.  (Except I do worry about my husband)  But when there is snow covering the roads and it's hardening to ice, when it's so cold that you could get frostbite.... Well, I'm not going running, I'll tell you that much.

I'm a wimp.  I will freely admit that.  Wimpy wimpy wimp.  I am not ashamed.  What I am, though, is a little cranky.  Because no running AND no Starbucks?  Recipe for disaster.

If I'm lucky, they'll clear the roads today and the kids can get to school tomorrow, and I'll be able to find somewhere safe to run.  It's supposed to be a lot warmer tomorrow.  I think it might even get over 25.  (I'm crying  here, people.  I am not cut out for this!)  

At least it's pretty.  

Do you run no matter what the weather?  What do you do when you can't run?  Ever think of starting a Starbucks delivery service? =)