Cold Sweat

Winter is officially here!

We got a big dump of snow yesterday and temperatures highs are expected to be around -10C (14 F) for the next week.  I think that makes it winter.

This is right about the time I would normally call it quits on the running front.  Well, actually, I think the latest I've run in the past was around Canadian Thanksgiving in October, before the teperature gets below 0C (32F)  (I didn't even have to look that conversion up - thank you B.Sc.!). 

I started running again in February 2010, but we had such a mild winter that the roads were clear and the temperatures were comfortable, so tonight was my first real wintery winter run.  It was -12C when we set out from the rec centre, but my body was warm.  I had a pair of long johns on under my pants, two longsleeves on under my jacket, fleece lined mitts and a headband going over my ears.  Add my headlamp and reflective vest and I was ready to go! 

Ack! Harsh wind!  The first road we were on hadn't been plowed to the edges so it was a bit tricky to know where to run.  Right off to the side of the road and you were up past your ankles in snow, but out of the deep stuff and it felt like you were in the middle of a road that was too busy to be in the middle of.  I found a tire track and concentrated on foot placement.  We weren't on that road for long and we were heading downhill on a trail.  No plowing, no shovelling.  It was well-trodden snow, but had hardened with the dip in temperature.  I was worried about rolling my ankle so I just took it slow until we were back on road.  Even then, there were some icy patches so I kept to a comfortable pace the entire time.  On the plus side of slowing down, I had no problem climbing a hill at the end of the run that usually does me in before I reach the top. 

We had a few stops at intersections to keep the group together and it was amazing how quickly I cooled off.  I was sweating, but I was cold.  Luckily, it was never too long before we were off again.

I definitely had the clothes right for this run, but need to get a neck warmer/something that comes up a bit on the sides of my face.  That was the only place that never warmed up and my skin is feeling a bit rough afterwards.  I'm getting screws put on and older pair of shoes over the weekend and will have them back by Tuesday's group run.