Cooooooold

I woke up Sunday determined to get outside for a run.  I had been inside on a treadmill most of the week and Sunday promised to be sunny and no rain or ice.  I assumed it would be chilly, even though this week has been mild by NY winter standards.  By "chilly"  I was thinking 40 degrees or so.  I bundled up, wore two shirts, a pair of running sweatpants from Target over my shorts and stepped out side.  And, whoa, it was cold.  Like really cold.  I looked for my running gloves; couldn't find them. So, I improvised and used a pair of work gloves I bought at Home Depot to help out around the house.  And off I went.

And, boy, was it cold.  Maybe I am just a wuss and don't remember it being so cold and hard to run in the cold.  Maybe I have never really run much in the cold (I prefer the treadmill in winter, when I run at all).  I ran a hard five miles and thought, you know what? at least running in the summer, with the heat and sweat, I feel like I burned more calories and had a tough workout.  In winter, it just feels like survival and trying to avoid frostbite or sweatcicles.  Came inside, and as I showered, I felt my body tingle as the blood worked its way back out to skin.

And then I looked at the temp: 22 degrees.  Oh, ok, so it wasn't "chilly" -- it was downright cold. For those of you who routinely run in frigid climes, my hat is off to you.  I suppose I should have bundled up more.  But, sheesh, it was still hard.

And the Home Depot running gloves worked out just fine, too.

Then I saw The Descendants Sunday night.  Hawaii sure looked warm.