Weekend fun! and some weekend not fun

Hello! Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?

Saturday was pretty frigid over here.

I still ran though.

Cuz, I’m crazy.

The wind was BRUTAL! It literally took my breath away a few times. I definitely need to get a balaclava and some new warmer socks and some new gloves.

I definitely should have doubled up on gloves.

Turns out I was a little close to hypothermia. Had a little trouble touching my left pinky to my left thumb. Did you know about that test? Here are some other ways to identify and treat hypothermia. And I was super duper cold.

So, I showered (not in a super hot shower – didn’t want to burn my cold skin) and put on some warm comfy clothes. Got my coffee ready and I was still shivering so my sailor bundled me up in his gloves and down jacket. Molly hopped on my lap to provide warmth to my legs.

I actually sat like that for probably an hour before I started to feel warm.

I think I discovered my cold weather limit when it comes to running. 🙂

Yesterday was much warmer (thank goodness!) and we went to an RV show.

We have a vintage little camper (a 1971 Shasta!) but we’re looking for something that is more suitable for long distances and also has a bathroom.

Neither of us mind using the bathhouses at the campgrounds but….sometimes it’s nice to have your own place to “go” if the weather isn’t cooperating at that moment. Trust me, it’s a whole lot of NOT FUN to battle with an umbrella, puddles, rain, thunder and lightning for a potty emergency.

Campers have come a long way! We saw a few that we really liked and some that we really didn’t. And, we saw some that were utterly ridiculous.

A luxurious hotel on 4 wheels is NOT camping in our books.  But hey, if that’s what you like and you can afford the 6 figure price tag, then you go. 🙂

So,  did you sign up to do the Core Power Challenge with Ericka?

You know I did!

Today was day #1! Whoop!

planking .. like a BOSS!

I kicked my Monday off with a short run and then got down to challenge bidness. 🙂

You can still sign up – don’t let the fact that it’s already started prevent you. Get on it! You can do it! 🙂

Talk to me: Did you do anything fun this weekend?

– jennifer

I said brrrr, it’s cold out there!

Hello, hello!

source

So, are you affected by the Polar Vortex?

It is seriously cold out there.

Lots of school systems in this and surrounding areas have closed or either have delayed openings today and there’s not a single flake of snow falling from the sky!

I understand the reasoning though. It’s unfortunate but many children don’t have proper clothing for these kinds of temperatures.

And, in my area, there are lots of people that live far out in the boonies and have driveways that are at least a 1/2-mile long so these kids can’t just stand by the window and watch for the bus.

I like that the school systems chose safety this morning. 🙂

This polar vortex really caused a drastic change in our temperature.

Yesterday morning, it was 63 degrees and rainy.

By the time I woke up from falling asleep on the couch last night, it was 31 degrees.

Then, this morning –

Holy. Moly.

That’s almost a 50 degree drop in 24 hours!!!

And, wouldn’t you know it, this crazy person actually went for a run this morning.

Oh hey, that’s me!

Yeah, I ran.  Outside.  On purpose.  No, nothing was chasing me.

4 days until the Mississippi Blues marathon and, while I’m in my taper, that doesn’t mean I can skip a running day.

Aaaannd, I don’t have a treadmill, so…..out the door I went!

I layered up (probably could have added one more layer like my lightweight rain jacket), wore my super warm (yet boring) hat, and wished like crazy I had a running scarf or balaclava and some warmer socks.

Honestly, the coldest part of me was my nose.

And that was only when the wind was blowing.

BRRR!

I am glad I got out though. 🙂

And, interestingly enough, this morning Runner’s World shared this article on running in the cold:

Tips for Running in Sub-Zero Weather

Many people can avoid running in the cold (all my Arizona & Southern California  friends can kiss my cold booty right now! Ha! 🙂 j/k) but, not everybody can (talking to you people in the frigid northwest!) so, knowing how to be safe is good.

And, just in case you get caught up in, say, a random polar vortex, you might want to know what to wear outside so you don’t lose your little piggies!

For example, did you know there is such as thing as “cold weather shoes?”

Me either!

As someone who suffers from Raynaud’s Syndrome, my toes and fingers can really suffer on cold morning runs.

I always have gloves but I am definitely going to look into cold weather shoes.  Sometimes it’s really hard to enjoy a run when you can’t feel your toes.

Talk to me: Long sleeve shirts with thumb holes – love or hate?

I personally love them especially for really cold days, as long as the sleeves are long enough. Long sleeves that shrink up a little make the thumb holes a little uncomfortable, in my opinion.

– jennifer

Stay Alive with these running safety tips!

Hello!

Happy weekend! 🙂

So, I totally killed my 10 mile run yesterday.

It was awesome!

Okay, so it really wasn’t super awesome.  My brain is not a nice person sometimes.

It kept telling me that I couldn’t do it.

Psshht.  I told it to shut up cuz my body was in charge.

I whoop whooped every time my watch dinged every mile after 5 miles.

Yes, I’m a dork. 🙂  But it was a huge confidence boost for me!

Now, I’m looking forward to longer runs!

Of course, that means I’ll have to get up early while the weather is still warm so I can knock out as many miles possibly before it gets warm.

So, I’ll be running in the dark,

Which is fine.  I actually like that.  It’s peaceful.

But, it can also be dangerous.

Because, while you may be paying attention, that person who’s up early after not a great night of sleep may NOT be paying attention.

Or, while you’re up early and out running, maybe someone else has been out all night partying (or working – definitely not discounting the graveyard shift folks) and they’re tired.

So, what can you do to help keep yourself safe while you’re out getting your run on?

Well, first, I recommend losing the iPod.  I don’t run with one because I like to hear what’s going on around me.

If you absolutely must have the tunes (which, I totally get, btw), then at least only use one ear bud.  Keep one ear free for listening to what’s going on around you.

Second, run FACING traffic.

If you run with traffic, you’re never going to have the chance to dodge the car that’s hugging the edge of the road.

If I’m going to get hit by a car, I’d prefer to have the opportunity to get away and save my life.  Wouldn’t you?

Third, WEAR REFLECTIVE GEAR!

Seriously, don’t go out in the dark wearing your dark clothes and expect to be seen.

OMG, when we lived in Maryland, I used to see this guy out running sometimes when I was running – well, I would BARELY see him because he would be wearing ALL BLACK, no reflective gear outside what comes on your shoes, and he would run WITH traffic!

Seriously, he must have had a death wish or something.

Me, however, I was usually lit up like a Christmas tree.

I kinda prefer living.

And being seen when I’m out pounding the miles.

There’s LOADS of reflective and safety gear out on the market.

Okay, okay, fine.  Maybe it’s not all the most fashionable and cute stuff but, um, dead ain’t cute either.

Stayin’ alive is the name of the game!

And I give you –

the  reflective vest!

Or, if you don’t prefer the full vest, you can always just do the reflective belt.

Fancy!

Do you remember snap bracelets?  Well, there’s actually such a thing as reflective snap bands!  I wear mine around my arms but you can certainly wear them around your ankles, if you prefer.

I’ve done that.  I have the marks to prove it.  And, that’s why I wear them around my arms.

For Christmas last year, my sailor got me some Knuckle Lights.  I. LOVE. THEM.

They are so easy!  You just strap them around your fingers and they sit on your knuckles.

I used to wear a head lamp.  I had 2 main issues with it – when I sweat (which is ALWAYS), it wants to slide down my head and it’s a limited lit up area.  I have to really turn my head to use the light to look to the sides or anything.  I mean, that’s fine but the knuckle lights give me so much more light and flexibility with what I can shine the light on.

Plus, they’re really bright!

They have 3 settings – super bright, bright, and flashing bright.  The on/off button is on the top of each one, easily reached by your thumb.  I highly recommend them!

Of course, there have been times when I’ve been out running wearing my vest, arm bands, reflective key strap around my ankle AND knuckle lights and people STILL want to try and hit me.

I don’t know if they’re just drawn to me like a bug to the light or if they’re just not paying attention.

You can take all the precautions in the world but you can’t make OTHER people do what they should.

So, my last recommendation is PAY ATTENTION, PEOPLE!

Never, ever, EVER expect that a driver is going to see you and that they are going to do what they are supposed to.

Be safe out there!

Questions:  What precautions do you take to stay safe while running?  What’s the craziest unsafe thing you’ve seen a runner do?

– jennifer