Now this is more like it. The last few days have been pretty cold here in the Windy City to say the least. We went from Indian summer to Deep winter in a day or so. And I, for one, have no complaints! I am including a picture from the Turkey Trot, because it's probably one of the last nice days we will have.
I've been digging out all the winter running gear I've had packed away deep in my closet. The long sleeve shirts, jackets, running pants, as well as gloves and hats, have been sitting there since about March. It's kind of fun to bring it all out again.
I'm not a real big fan of winter in general. It tends to drag on forever once the New Year begins. I was at the Bears game on Sunday, and my feet were completely numb by half time. At least this year, we might have some football to keep excited about around here through early February. In any case, the cold weather is a part of living in Chicago. I spent eight winters in the southwest before moving back here more than a decade ago, and as nice as the weather was year-round, I missed having a change of season. I really believe the frigid temperatures and epic snow storms we have here build character. If we can get through all that, we can do anything.
As a news reporter, I frequently have to stand out in the cold, snowy weather, talking about how miserable it is. The advice we usually offer is to stay inside, and limit your outdoor activities. I admit I usually feel a bit foolish offering that advice, because I don't follow it myself. I love running outside year round! The winter offers it's own challenges for running, but most of those can be met by dressing properly. Running outside in the snow and cold can be beautiful as well. You tend to be more isolated. The crowds are all huddled around a fireplace somewhere, but, that is something I really enjoy.
I've also noticed that the weather doesn't bother me as much during the day when I've already been out running in it. As anyone who runs outside in the cold already knows, it's only cold for the first few minutes until you warm up, then you are fine. And if you haven't tried it, trust me, dress appropriately and you won't really even notice the cold after a while.
It also beats running inside on the treadmill! No offense to my many running friends who love the treadmill, but I can't do it. The treadmill bores me, and it feels like nothing more than a work-out in a gym. That's not why I run. Exercise is just a small part of why I run. The chance to get outside and take in the surroundings makes my run go by much more enjoyably than running in place on a machine somewhere.
My running partners and I also tend to wear our extreme weather running as a bit of a badge of honor. We still remember proudly the day two years ago when we were the only runners in Barrington on a -5 degree day. And several years ago when a holiday snow storm immobilized the city, forcing the closure of Lake Shore Drive, we were loving the fact that we could run on it with no traffic to worry about.
That's part of the fun of running. Doing something most others think is crazy (like running marathons) is fun. So if you are one of those who shuts it down during the winter, I encourage you to get out the door and give it a try. I actually find it much more enjoyable than trying to get through a run in 90 plus degree heat!
See you on the roads.
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