Every Picture Does NOT always Tell The Story

[mrrun]

I always run alone and pick scenic routes for my longer runs. This stretch along London's South Bank is my fave half marathon route. Lots to see, mind is occupied, legs don't complain, flat terrain, what's not to like. Well, I also like to self combust and fail to learn from my previous mistakes. Like, check the forecast and dress appropriately, not just based on my fashion sense (that the rest of the normal world repeatedly fails to see and recognise). So. My car read the temperature of 2C this evening. Along the Thames, whipped by a charming northerly breeze, that was defo lower than that. And there I was, in my basketball shorts and vest with no gloves. 'Idiots' guide to running in cold weather'. When will I learn? Never, perhaps....

Anyways. What was meant to be a relaxing 10K turned into a hardcore sprinter. Man, I ran as fast as I could but it still took me around 5K to thaw. The good part was the scenery that managed, yet again, to keep me marveled, switched on - and alive. Oh boy.... Lol

[nowster Metric Marathon]

Thaw? Yeth it'th thoh cold in these thorts! 😆

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to nowster]

These are long basketball shorts, mate. I’m still defrosting though. 😅

[buzzards]

I'm pulling up the duvet just thinking about your freezing run lol. 🤣🤣 On my regular route there's a guy who wears shorts and a t-shirt, rain or shine all year round. 😯 I don't know how he does it. He seems to run more or less every day and is very fast, so maybe that's why.

Great pic of the Thames by the way.

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to buzzards]

I have a marathoner friend from Liverpool who never wears anything but shorts and a T. Gloves? Pffft. Not for him. 😅

[Frenc Half Marathon]

Lol I’m cold just reading this! Well done for not diving into a coffee shop and your speedy sprint. I have decided to run at lunch today instead of first thing - it will be a balmy 3 degrees I think. Hope you’ve defrosted! 😊

[Blackberrypie Half Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Yes, I looked at the thermometer this morning and thought, no, too high risk of slipping on frosty bits, go out later. Definitely caution rather than wimping out. <hugs hot water bottle a bit closer> Definitely.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Blackberrypie]

A very good call methinks! 😊

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Blackberrypie]

My problem is this. If I have a run pencilled in, I run. Another problem? Failing to check the forecast. Another one? Not having a spare pair of gloves in the car. Actually there’s more but I’ll stop at that. 😅

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Frenc]

I'm still waiting too! Getting colder and colder tho the more I wait 🤣

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Brrrrrr 🧊🧊🧊🤣.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Frenc]

And of course I ended up with too many layers which had to be stuffed into pockets until I looked like a michelin man 🤣

[Blackberrypie Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Me too - I ended up leaving one layer on a post to pick up on my way back - amazing how quickly you warm up. I was doing threshold intervals so that definitely helped turn up the internal heating!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Blackberrypie]

Ooh yes, that would light an internal fire 😀

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

It’s a funny old game! Well done for getting out there and your peeling off of layers 😃. I finished my run earlier and my nose was absolutely dripping so I blew it really hard on my sleeve cuff - a proper old blow, and got such a look of disgust from a lady walking past 🤣.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Frenc]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

I was waiting for your answer, Linda. 😉And no, for once I didn’t stretch after the run. I sat in my car and pushed all the heating buttons right up. Tomorrow evening though I’ll be ready though 😀!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to mrrun]

Whatttt? No stretches? Yourself?Ermm, well... I'd just like to point out that I DID stretch after my run today (whilst reapplying layers), despite it being around 2 degrees. How's that for a turn around 🤣. Then straight back in the car, heater on and peppermint tea in hand! Invigorating though, wayyyy better than in the heat in my book, if not in yours 🤣

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to linda9389]

Hahaha, point taken. I don’t mind either if prepared. Last night clearly not. Late bloomer that I am, I will (hopefully) learn from it. As for stretching, I did my front of telly carpet thing for an hour later on. 😎

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Frenc]

It’s just the gloves, really uncomfortable when fingers are hurting. But, hey, that was a premium cardio effort. Glad I still can pull it of. 😀

[misswobble Marathon]

I got very cold out there last Saturday doing fast intervals at 5 degrees. The breeze made at bone chillingly cold. It took hours to thaw out I had decent gear on at that! I didn’t have a decent view either 😁

It will all be forgotten next time though 😀

I appreciate your subject title. Takes me back that does. My boyf used to love that record and would belt it out while I backed him up Maggie Bell style, from our “stage”, which was the dugout of the local footy pitch 😀🎵🎶

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

And yet, cold or colder, we keep on running! 😀

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

We can’t help ourselves. The call of the wild is strong 😁🥶💪

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

Every year roughly around this time I say that in the summer we'll have a different and yet similar story when the folks start going on about the heat. I then go on about how lovely running in the hot weather is, lol. And the fact is, it's always great, no matter what time of year.

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

Rain, shine, snow or blow 😀👍

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I mean, what’s the alternative?

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

The alternatives don’t bear thinking about! 😀

[RunWillie Marathon]

The last place I lived in London was near Borough Market. I love the South Bank. Don’t miss the cold though 🥶

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to RunWillie]

I forgot the golden rule: there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad running clothes (or their complete absence). 😬

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Shorts are the way forward! I went into leggings for about 3-4 runs and then couldn’t stand it. Back to shorts. 💪🏽 Looks fab too. I’d love to do a run there👌🏽

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to Tasha99]

And gloves, Tasha, don't forget the gloves 😀 !! When it gets even chillier I will stick something over my head to cover my ears (if I manage to remember, that is.....lol)

[Tasha99 Marathon in reply to mrrun]

I only did this once in thick snow at minus three degrees 🤣

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

Oh boy indeed! what a wonderful place to run though

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Impossible to run in fine weather though, so many people make you zig-zag around (knees may not like it). I must have explored a plethora of side roads and streets over the years. Can't tire of that. Get there late instead, or early at sunrise and there are just runners. Crossing bridge after bridge is also on my 'do it often' list and I remember one particular run there when I got caught out in really bad cold winds, again seriously underdressed (I seem never to learn certain things). That time I had to sprint even longer to reach the shelter..... I need a backup crew. Or an analyst.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to mrrun]

Ha ha I rarely start in enough clothes, my favourite runs are round the streets and exploring new ones, although it’s a less dramatic backdrop here, so intersperse them with sea or river views

[misswobble Marathon in reply to mrrun]

Back-up crew. Dream on 😁

[mrrun Ultramarathon in reply to misswobble]

I know. Analyst is more realistic, innit? 😅