So- I was fortunate enough to attend the high school band concert last night in which my daughter and the 7th grade “Cadet” band performed. I took it as my opportunity to wear heels and fix my hair since these opportunities are few and far between around here. Now, I’m 5’8 and I probably don’t NEED to wear 3 inch heels (especially since my husband is 5’ 10) but why not right!! Why not ????? BECAUSE there is A LOT of ice on the sidewalk and “graceful” is not my middle name. Anyway-I’ll save myself some embarrassment and stop there. So back to the concert…WOW, these kids looked SO classy in their white shirts and black pants and very professional. I was a proud mama sitting in the 3rd row waiting to be entertained! Then...it started………….Ahhhh-dischordant flat unrecognizable Christmas music…. I totally started rethinking my decision to sit way in the front because there was no way I was making it through this concert without at least a small fit of laughter. (I have a history of uncontrollable bursts of laughter in totally inappropriate places like church and funerals) Percussion-HELP!! You are beating to your own drum obviously….. Trumpets, tap your foot or something-you’re at LEAST 3 bars ahead……..Truthfully, these kids did great for only playing their instruments for 4 months. I’m a bit of a music geek…perhaps my standard was a little too high….
I have a 3 hour round trip for Ryan’s hockey game tonight and I am desperately staring out the window hoping that the -8 degree temp. will warm up to at least 0 in the next hour so I can get my run in outside before we have to leave. Yesterday, I ran in 8 degrees but with hardly any wind and light snow coming down. It was just awesome. No mask, just the neck gaiter. Without the wind, this temperature is perfect for running if you dress for it. Nothing hard core about it, just dress properly and you’re golden! I’m VERY brand loyal (whatever) so I wore Mizuno shoes, Smartwool socks, Sugoi running tights with some off brand lightweight pants over top, a Champion sportsbra, a Nike Thermal long sleeve with Asics armwarmers over top, my Brooks ½ zip Vapor dry pullover,a Nike hat and Pearl Izumi neck gaiter.
I do believe I'm about back to preinjury fitness level minus the endurance. I'm feeling quite strong on my good days and a part of me wishes I would have registered for Boston. I didn't think I would be able to physically run a PR race there so I opted not. I'm secondguessing that a little. By no means is anything certain in life and a million factors come into play on marathon day but physically, I now think I might have been capable. I'm working on a race schedule for 2011. The only certainties for now are a 10 mile in March and Grandma's marathon in June. Grandma's is a must if you're from MN and I knew I had to knock this out at some point. I need to BQ at this race (3:45) at least. My intention will be to train and run it as hard as physically possible UNLESS it is sweltering at the start like some years. Heat and me DO NOT mix. Call it a copout, which it may be, but I don't run well in hot temps and have zero desire to beat my body down doing it. Hot weather and I'll likely treat it like a long run and just take the BQ. My major goal race will be whatever I choose for my fall marathon. I've been putting some thought into this as well...We'll see!
Anwyay, I do believe we are now sitting at -1 degrees. I better go get bundled up! Have a good one!
13 comments:
I am 5'8" too and I love wearing heels (they make me taller than billy) but I have fallen so many times in this. Girl, I don't know HOW you run in that weather, really you are a champion. I would have busted up that whole concert.....next time sit in the back:) Yay for back to pre-race fitness! I wish you signed up for Boston. How about we run it together 2012...okay???
“laughter in totally inappropriate places like church and funerals”…I laughed just reading that…but then felt guilty. Still what I’d pay to witness it. Crazy how long the list of clothes gets in the winter…but you’re so right…there is nuthin’ quite like it if you are dressed appropriately.
P.S. I secretly get really sour when you go on about Boston. It’s envy…and I’ve got to get over it. I’m working on it really. I’m setting out my next BQ attempt in May…let’s see if the stars align.
I've been a wuss about running in cold weather and it's not even that cold here! Your post made me kick my butt in gear! Thanks!
Ok...So I have to say that I have only ran in single digints a few times, never in negatives! I do like it, as long as I am properly dressed too. I did have some concerns that possibly the toes might get frostbite or something, but now i think that was just rubbish! It's pretty cool to have your eylashes freeze from the moisture.
I am pretty certain that you could PR at Boston, based on what I have been reading here, but you did what was right at the time. Don't regret your choice! It is still better to get in Grandmas when you've never done it (? right?)and were uncertain about healing at that point. And you will have no injuries to worry about. I am rooting for Cool weather for that race day :)). Maybe you can make Portland a goal race for the fall! Or do you have another race in mind, like NYC...?
oopsies- digits not digints :P
Single digit weather?!?!
Im crying about Texas winters being in the 40s & 50s right now :)
with a husband who is a youth pastor, i have been to my share of middle school "band" concerts. i'm sure you understand those quotes :) I have made a strong commitment to sitting near the back, or looking intently at my program whenever the giggles threaten to strike.
i totally agree. wind is what makes it torture. cold, is fine. wind is evil. all summer long, i would pray for a breath of wind to help cool me down, now i curse it!
i've never thought to put arm warmers OVER the thermal. that's my new winter survival tip of the day. thanks!
Hahaha! I'm so glad I don't have to sit through my sister's HS band performances anymore - it was pure torture!
AND, YES you are hardcore in all the get up with those temps! BADASS! BTW, I'm wearing Mizuno's now, and they are simply amazing.
YOU have to get your BQ this year, so we can hang out again in 2012 ;)
Holy crap you are brave! Waiting for it to hit 0, that's just wrong!
I , myself, have been feeling very reluctant to head out in the teens that we have been having- it's really nasty. But your pain brings winter to a whole new level!
I'm jealous of your height. I'm 5'2" with shoes on and my huz is 6'1" with his shoes off.. I wore 4" heels to our wedding and barely came up to his fricking elbow, GOSH!
Cold weather running here. One question though - why skip Boston just because you don't think you can PR on it. I don't understand that? Of course, keep in mind this is coming from a guy who has not run a marathon yet and is much, much slower than you. Awesome by the way. The way I see it, if I had a chance to run Boston, I think I would do it each opportunity I could.
well you do not want to hear me sing! :) i don't even want to hear me sing...
i'm wimping out down here in SC - this week it's in the teens/low 20's in the morning and barely crests 32 during the day. i've run TWO miles this week. pathetic.
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BTW- I'm waiting for the temps to inch up enough to run without develpoing frostbite. We're facing our firts round of single digit weather- bluuuuurgh....
Bahahaaa... you have to love beginning band! I was a band kid myself, and I have a lot of friends who went on to become music teachers. I give them a ton of credit, because I could not make it through those daily rehearsals!
I guess there's one advantage to my miniature stature (I'm all of 5'3" if I stand up perfectly straight)--I can wear heels and still be noticeably shorter than my 5'10" boyfriend. However, if I don't, then the students in the high schools where I sub TOWER over me.
And BRR. I can't handle single digit outdoor running, but as I'm most likely moving to a Northern Minnesota near you, I'm going to have to move past that, eh?
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