Yesterday was ridiculously wet – it just never let up all day. Running in that would have been no fun so I waited until today.
A lunch break run again – I just can't quite muster the enthusiasm for getting up in the dark and cold. I want to do a steady 5k today and then a longer run at the weekend, but it’s always slightly rushed at lunchtimes.
It was 4 degrees and overcast but at least it was dry. I opted for tights, double lightweight layers on top, buff, buff sun-visor and gloves. This has been fine on recent runs but not today.
0.5k and the zip of my lightweight thermal layer is fully undone
1k and the gloves are off and in my tights pocket.
1.5k and I pull my thumbs out of the thumb loops on my sleeves. Then I try to push my sleeves up, but this only worked on one arm as I had done my watch strap up over the top of my sleeve.
🤦♀️
At around 2k I really want to take my buff off from around my neck, but I can’t do that without taking off my sun-visor. I’m pretty certain I can’t do that whilst I’m still running – for one thing I’ll probably end up pulling out my earbuds. So I just carry on. Boy am I warm today! 🥵
Why? 🤷♀️
There’s loads of traffic on the roads again today. There are two large vans parked up on the narrow footpath at one point, and I have to run in the road to pass them 😡 – thankfully there was a gap in the traffic and I didn’t have to stop. I see several people out walking alone or in couples, with and without dogs. They all move out of my way to let me pass. I say thank you and almost everyone smiles back today. A car is exiting a side road as I approach - they see me coming and reverse back a bit to let me carry on. I raise my hand and mouth a big Thank You. They nod and smile back. People are lovely after all 😁.
By way of contrast, there’s nobody at all in the Leisure Centre car park today and it feels weirdly desolate with no cars parked.
I reach the main road and turning left I run on down to the housing estate behind the woods. I’m nearing the end of my run and as I reach 5k I stop my watch and slow to a walk. I stop my music, turn off and remove my earbuds and put them in my pocket. I manage to take my buff off over my sun visor by stretching it out with two hands. That’s better! Some cool air around my neck! 😅
Probably because I was too hot, this run was not the nice relaxed one I had wanted. It ended up feeling tough and my heart rate was high over a large part of the run. So no great shakes of anything, but it was another sub 40 minute 5k which I was reasonably pleased with in the circumstances.
Written by
Birdlady64
Graduate10
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Congratulations on another sub 40 minute 5K, always difficult to know exactly what to wear when running in colder weather, if you can run near home, although feeling cold to begin with and after the run, at least you won't be cold for long, however, if your run is further away from where you live you will want to put more clothes on not to feel so cold but during your run you will then feel too warm 😀, otherwise a good run for you today Birdlady64 🏃🏾😊👍
Thanks Ian.A 4k walk is a nice trip out though. At least you got some fresh air.
Walking is a completely different kettle of fish isn't it? Although I think I do suffer from the same issues with warming up, albeit at a much slower rate and lesser degree. On my walk last weekend I ended up with my gloves in my pocket and coat undone. Maybe it's just me 😁
I love it when i get hot and take clothes off during a run, but like you it’s not always possible and I sweat under the buff, good speed though and you got it done so be proud
Yes I know you are often quite the demon, shedding layers as you go!
I was quite happy with my run today, it just didn't pan out quite the way I'd imagined. Lunchtimes are always a bit of a squeeze timewise which doesn't help.
Huge congrats on your one year badge BTW. 👏👏👏 Now that is a real milestone. I'm not part of that community so couldn't reply there.
Oh thank you 😊 I expected to feel differently after a year but all i felt this morning was fat lol, a stone if i ever manage to lose it will make my running legs swifter
and I admire you running in your lunch time, i ran before a late shift and sleep in once and night staff didn’t turn up so i worked through the night, vowed either after work or days off only after that
I need to take my chances when I can at the moment. I'm not sleeping that well and getting up early in the cold and dark doesn't really light my fire at the moment.
Don't be so hard on yourself. You have to be healthier for packing in and I think everyone piles it on a bit when they do - I know my Mum did. But she is so much better off for it.
Yes very much better off but i get a bit down at times most the time i’m positive though I now have 8 days off work I’m very excited
Oh well done! You got out and you did it. That’s a win 👏🏼👍🏼😊.
I had a chilly evening run today by comparison - just approaching freezing but I got my layers about right for once. I always find around 4/5 degrees a bit tricky to layer for and end up faffing about a bit with various items of clothing mid-run.
Thanks Delly-dot! I was happy with the time considering.You are right - it is so tricky to know what to wear. This is all stull new to me so I'm learning all the time, but I think I do run rather warm. I really don't mind the cold - I guess layers are the way to go, but then it is - as you say - a bit of a faff.
It's a delicate balance getting the clothing right at this time of year, and weirdly sometimes it can be the same temperature outside and you wear the same clothes but this time it's too hot or too cold 🙄I hate being too hot so I feel your discomfort but also the lovely cool air when finally you got that buff off 😂
I never quite know what to wear - I'm still learning about that but I've come to the conclusion that I definitely run on the warm side. I don't mind the cold - but I do not like wind. It was such a relief to get some cool ait round me neck at the end of my run though
Great run. Like you my HR goes up if I'm too hot. 4deg seems to be my trigger temperature especially if there is no wind. Glad you got your neck buff off to cool down. Happy running 🤗
I think you are totally right about the 4 degree thing - and yesterday there was virtually no wind either! I was so relieved to remove that buff at the end 😁
I got caught out myself today 5 deg but wind chill 1, thin long sleeved top, shorts, very thin nylon jacket, headband, gloves by 1½k was down to shorts and top but wind was biting, should have had tshirt or strappy top so I could keep nylon jacket on. Tricky weather just now.
I must admit there were muttered comments from some elderly walkers, they dont realise when I'm walking I'm just as wrapped up against the elements as they are 🤣
Ummm, interesting, all the talk about layers, usualy run in shorts, tried leggings for first time, last run, i warm up so quickly, every time i wear gloves, i regret it, atm, two thin tops, one long sleeve, i've worn my thin, rain jacket twice, in two months, i'm worrying about the heat, come the summer! 🥵
I always warm up fast but equally don't want to be cold on my warm up walk. Gloves always come off quickly but I don't want cold fingers when I start off. I'm the same when I am walking.The tights are really lightweight but up to about 8 degrees and I have been in shorts and t-shirt
The wind is the worst for me in winter.
I'm still trying to figure all this out.
In summer shorts and vest or strappy too and you will be fine. I have a brilliant buff sun visor that doubles up as a sweat band.
This run I think I would have been ok with one layer on top
I know what you mean about the warm up walk on days it’s really cold and I’ve done that a few times and it’s not fun. I suffer with Urticaria, where my body reacts from going from warm indoors to cold outside. My body can’t regulate the temperature properly and I break out in hives all over my body, which burn and itch until I take piriton. So I’m not to over layer as I heat up too quickly and that causes it too. I think that’s why I get so many colds!
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week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
