Brrr!!

[surrealestate]

[I posted this back on January 11 at my official runner page but have decided to start mirroring posts here because there's no way to get a feed from there. Given this weekend's weather and the fact that we have another long run on the route planned for Sunday, it seemed especially apt to start with this entry.]

Signs it might be too cold to run:

= Coach starts out with a few words on how to recognize frostbite.

= At the water stop, the water is frozen and the cups of Gatorade are slushies. [And they were only poured minutes earlier.]

= You don't notice the bloody friction abrasion on your ankle until three hours later when your body has finally warmed up enough to feel pain. [The sock came clean but my sneaker still has the tell-tale stain. I should maybe take a picture.]

On Sunday, we met with the John Hancock team for a long run along the marathon route. I ended up doing 12 miles with a very nice woman from Hancock named Fran. Thank goodness for Fran! The run was hard enough, being my longest so far and on the heels of inconsistent training over the holidays, and the company was invaluable.

And it was COLD! Under 10 degrees (Fahrenheit) when we started and *maybe* as high as 15 by the time we were done. Insanely cold. We saw other people running on our way to Wellesley and I thought to myself, "These people are nuts!" Well, it's true.

But hey, I did 12 miles!

Comments

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

This is dangerous! Please bundle up and stay warm!

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I agree, but surrealestate said she would stop if it was affecting her poorly (in person, I was worried, too).

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Remember, this entry was from a couple of weeks ago, so there is strong evidence that I lived through it. :)

As for tomorrow, I will dress similarly to the above-described day, and I have no qualms about dropping out if it's just too much to handle. (That's how I went into it that day, too.)

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

12 miles in an artic tundra!!!!

YOU ARE AMAZING! :)

I expect to be there at the finish line to cheer you on.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yay!

I may post more about this, but you may want to consider volunteering on raceday. It's a lot of fun and if you do something at, say, the start line, they'll bus you over to the end and you'll still be there in time to see everyone cross the finish line.

[clara-girl.livejournal.com]

wow! go you; that's totally awesome, and you're so badass. :)

my motivation to train is that it makes me WARMER (but then, aerials aren't exactly a wintertime endeavor)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

You're one to talk about badass!

But while running is warmer than standing still out there in my gear, curling up on the couch under the covers would definitely be more comfy... ;)

[ampersandy.livejournal.com]

I guess that's why our eye juices are so salty, so they don't go to slushy format in this weather.

The abrasion suggests your feet were kinda numb during the run? Hope not. Ow.

But 12 miles, yay, you should be proud. I agree, you are badass.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

That makes sense about eye juice. One thing I don't have that would sometimes be handy are protective goggles. The glasses help a little, but sometimes not enough.

My feet themselves weren't numb at all (they actually stay pretty warm during runs as long as they don't get wet), but the surface layer of my legs outside the shoe (which included the ankle) were cold enough to not feel much.

[jim-p.livejournal.com]

Does your training route take you past my shop? I've been seeing more and more runner-type people passing by since the new year...

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Tomorrow's will, yes, since we're starting at the starting line! Will you be there?

[jim-p.livejournal.com]

I might be there... normally I'm closed on Sundays but I'm trying to finish up a big job. About when would I look out for you?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Tough call. I'm going to guess based on what I know of the schedule, probably ~11am. If you think you'll be in the store then, I may be able to get one of my buds to text you when we're almost there, too, so lemme know (and make sure I have your cell number).

[jim-p.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'm doing other things in the morning, prolly won't be there until afternoon. Catch you another time then!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

That's okay.. as long you're out there screaming with sign on race day.

Or I'll have to kneecap you. ;)

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

Yikes, don't end up looking like this icon! (Well, clearly you lived through it, or are a zombie...)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Huh. That icon has always looked like some sort of stylized duck/goose-like thing to me. What is it supposed to be?

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

Duck? Goose? Oh my...

It's a harlequin head, vaguely cubist in style.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I polled a few people separately who all said duck (one person said, "a duck made of stone"). (One person just said "an organic thing".) None of us could see a harlequin head even looking for it.

But it's still a funky graphic!

Glad you like it

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

Would it help if I said the right ear is toward you, the left ear shows only a bit of the top, the right eye is nearly vertical, the left, horizontal. Two nostrils (right at 45 degrees, left almost flat) and a mouth with small pointy teeth.

I *think* I see the duck. The right ear as the duck head, pointing downwards?

But if that isn't right, you'll have to show me where the duck is when I get home!

[keyne.livejournal.com]

We saw other people running on our way to Wellesley and I thought to myself, "These people are nuts!" Well, it's true.

It's true that you are too. :-)

But congratulations on the twelve miles!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Sometimes even while I'm running I'll see other runners and think how crazy they are.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Wow. Glad you're OK!