winter credo: eschew frostbite, remain upright
I actually love running in the cold. Many runners do, I suspect because running so readily and consistently warms you up. I'm not so tough as Irene's husband, John, who pronounces 20-degree weather ideal. (Then again, Irene and John thrived living in
Minneapolis for three years.) But give me a sunny morning with temperatures in the 30s or 40s and I'm transported by ecstasy.
When the way before you looks like this, however, I admit ecstasy must be tempered by the sensible use of some well-designed gear.
If merely reading the wind chill on your favorite weather website is enough to make you cringe, covering your ears and fingers is imperative to the happiness of those tender parts. I used to wear fleece headbands and thick gloves, but then I discovered
lululemon running pullovers. I've mentioned
my love of lulu before, and the adoration continues unabated.
Among my favorite parts of their warmest winter tops are the scuba-style hoods, complete with
pony tail holes (admittedly a little silly-looking, at least with my messy pony tail, but so functional), and
cuffins (think of those hand flaps on baby pajamas but for grown-ups). The beauty of these features is that you can pull them on and off without having to carry around extra accessories. Brilliant!
For your hardworking feet? I recommend trail running shoes, something like
these, even if, like me, you run actual trails about as often as Lady Gaga employs subtlety. They come in handy for city or suburban running, too. The traction is somewhat better than regular running shoes; they'll keep your feet warm; and most importantly, they'll keep your feet
dry as you slosh through the giant puddles that gather at every curb after every storm at this time of year.
Finally, for those especially challenging days, when the sidewalks are layered over with slabs of ice and every step seems a gamble, I cannot do without
these. They make quite a racket on non-icy surfaces and definitely make for a less cushioned run, but they also make running on ice feasible when I'd otherwise not venture out the door.
You may wonder whether I truly like wearing all of this stuff. The answer is both no and yes. "No" because I far prefer to run unencumbered, my comfy
ASICS flying (as much as they ever fly) across terrain so dry and even I don't have to think about it.
To clarify the "yes," I first need to share an observation from
Grace, who has lived in Boston for over a decade but previously resided in such gentler climes as North Carolina and northern California. She loves living here, and a major reason is precisely that it's not the easiest of cities. Our roads, the very antithesis of a grid system, challenge the most savvy of navigators, meandering as if they were indeed
planned by cows, and of course, the temperament of our drivers is legendary. Finding housing that is both affordable and not crumbling about your ears can require perseverance, faith, and a sizable dose of luck. And while we're no Minneapolis, winters here, as in other parts of the Northeast, specialize in gray, gloomy, messy, wet days that sometimes stretch into May.
And the good in all of this? Grace believes that because the living isn't easy, because the rewards are a bit harder won, people themselves become more hardy, and they appreciate things more. They're less likely to take things for granted.
With regard to winter running, I think I understand what Grace means. The days when running is difficult make me savor the days when it's idyllic. I appreciate more those fall or spring mornings when I can revel in the breeze on my bare legs, the sun on my face. The sense of freedom and lightness is sweeter because it's not a constant. And as February winds on into March and I hop over icy patches, I can look forward to when those good days come back around.
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