It was a beautiful sunny morning but the cars were covered in frost. I've not run since last Thursday, thanks to either a cold or the effect of my covid and flu jabs which, added to the rain and general gloom, kept me from pulling on my trainers. I still have a cough but decided that the longer I put it off, the worse it'll get. A quick 3k along the waterfront was what I needed.
I stepped outside to see just how cold it was. Very, the thermometer showing 1C and a brisk breeze making it feel even cooler. What to wear? Was it time for the winter leggings? I decided not, I like the pocket in the summer ones, but I put on a M&S thermal t shirt instead of the short sleeved t I've been using until now. In deference to my cold, I put a silk scarf round my neck (couldn't remember where my neck buff is stored). What about a pair of fingerless gloves? These were an experiment, it's useful to be able to do things without taking off the gloves. Topped it all off with a woolly hat, hair loose for added insulation. Ready to go.
Oh, the cold hit me! Over 10C colder than my last run. The overwhelming motivation was to run as fast as I could to get it over with, as fast as my little legs would carry me. Maybe running fast is a good idea after all.
I told myself I'd soon be warm but it was hard to believe so I ran faster. Hard work. Suggested to my husband that maybe we should only do 2k. He didn't argue, and turned back at the 1k point, telling me that the wind was now behind us so it'd be dead easy on the way home. Of course, I then said we should do the 3k we'd planned.
After this it all got easier. I suppose I was through the toxic 10, I'd warmed up a bit and was enjoying this beautiful morning. Turned back at 1.5k. Husband was right, it was easier, but it was definitely cold. At one point I had to shield my chest with my hands as I realised there might be some truth in that expression about freezing your bits off.
After 2k something happened inside. Everything sort of fell into place, I was warm, I was in a rhythm, my limbs were moving easily, wonderful (in retrospect isn't hypothermia supposed to make you euphoric? 😂 ). Fantastic, the final part of the run was great, though I wasn't tempted to continue any further.
3k in less than 24 minutes, what is going on??
PS the fingerless gloves worked pretty well. Though my hands were a bit cold to begin with it paid off by the end of the run, no temptation to take them off and I could use the screen of my phone without faffing about. Not sure I'd use them if it was much colder though.
PPS although I feel great that annoying Mr Garmin tells me I'm 3 years older than when I set off!!
). Wonder what happened to them???
Fingered gloves are under-rated
First run of the year
First evening run of the year
