My week kicked off on a great note with an early morning strength class at Rock City Fitness yesterday!
I will be sharing a full review of their personal training program after my last class tomorrow, but for now, just know I’m being pushed.
I signed up for the 7 a.m. Strong class and completed four different circuits using dumbbells, kettlebells, bands, and medicine balls. Each circuit went down in repetitions and up in weight, and my trainer had me doing dumbbell chest presses with a set of 25s at one point. I can’t remember even attempting that before, so it was nice to know lifting heavier than 15s isn’t completely undoable for me.
I’ll be back to share more about my experience soon!
Running in the Snow Again
As much as I like taking classes and getting into a gym, I also miss my time running outside whenever I take a short hiatus from it. It had been over a week since my half marathon, so I was itching to get out there and get my heart rate up on a run again.
As soon as I got home and opened the windows, I couldn’t help but to pout at the snowy ground and dreary looking skies. They aren’t the most inviting sights to “go out for a run” if you know what I mean.
Knowing it might be my last chance to enjoy a “warmer” run in the high 30s, I grabbed Scott, put a coat on Roadie, and set out for a quick two mile loop around the neighborhood.
I almost feel bad for taking Roadie with us in cold temperatures, but then I don’t. He’s been so bored and anxious at home lately. I knew he needed to get out on this run more than we did!
There were ice patches to dodge and slush piles to avoid, but we did our best to stay on the sidewalks and did just fine.
Can you believe how different this street looks in just two weeks time? It’s almost as if fall never even existed.
It just started snowing this week, so it hasn’t stuck enough to really be a problem yet. I am still very much getting used to running in it, so I’ll be sure to share any tips or tools I come across as the season goes on.
It’s always a little more challenging for me to breathe in the cold, but it’s also kind of nice at the same time. If I am dressed appropriately and hide the majority of my skin, I can sometimes run even longer than I normally do. I barely feel a sweat until I get back to the house!
We completed two quick and painless miles in 18:40, which is a pretty good pace of 9:20 with the King of potty sniffs and stops. I asked Scott if this was going to be our last run of the year and he said “nope!” We’ll just have to see how often we get ourselves back out here.
(Look at that mug! So great.)
It’s currently 16 degrees outside, so it might be a couple days or weeks until a run happens again.
Seriously. What happened?
I couldn’t really tell you, so until I find the answers or motivation to do anything but sulk over the sight of snow, I’ve been keeping myself happy with warm meals and things.
Today’s breakfast looked a lot like yesterday’s!
Organic scrambled eggs, Al Fresco chicken sausage links, and cherry apple butter spread on wheat toast.
When in doubt, just keep layering and drinking warm beverages.
That’s my theory!
***
All right. I’ve got to get going and onto a couple of projects, but I’ll be back later this afternoon with the start of this year’s holiday gift guide!
Questions of the Morning
• Have you ever tried to run longer than a few miles in snow? (Any tips?)
• Favorite warm beverage?
I was really good about getting out and running in the snow the first winter after we moved. That one was tolerable. With last year’s Polar Vortex and record breaking cold temperatures AND level of snowfall, I got completely overwhelmed by it and didn’t run for months. I definitely felt out my “normal” self, so I hope that doesn’t happen again! I would appreciate any tips you might have on how to combat running in the snow. Also, my favorite hot beverage is coffee, obviously. Hot tea is the runner up!
![[in our elementary school era] 🚌😭
Skyler did great walking into KINDERGARTEN with a big smile on his face this morning. I, however, was a bit of a mess on our walk home. 🥹
It’s wild how fast these 5 years with him have gone … 7 since we moved to NYC and into our apartment, dreaming of the day our kids would someday go to the *awesome* school right down our block. 🏫
That day is today, and I still don’t believe it — feeling allll of the emotions and thanking God for placing us here and for being able to trust His timing through the journey. 🫶🏼 #hbshinnyc
SO proud of you, SK - you are going to rock your first year at your “big boy school” - WE LOVE YOU !! 🩵👑](https://lifeinleggings.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
I once ran 7 miles in -15C / 5F. My best advice – don’!! Haha, it actually took about half an hour for me to be able to feel how badly my fingers hurt – they were literally 100% numb beforehand.
Although, have you used toe warmers before? The little pads that are sticky on one side and heat up? If you put them across your fingers in mittens they work wonders. 🙂
Oh my goodness! That’s so cold! The coldest I have even attempted was high 20s and I only lasted a couple of miles. I need to invest in toe warmers! I’ve used them once in my boots for walking around outside all day, but never though of using them on runs. Great idea!
I miss fall! This snow has got to go!
Really though. How do I file an official complaint? 😉
Coffee and hot tea are my faves! Where did fall go? I want this cold weather to stop!
Couldn’t agree more!
I don’t even know how you do it! Running in the snow? I’d just say no to it, and try to run laps around my house or hit the treadmill haha mainly because I’d be afraid of falling. But if I was to run in the snow, gloves and pants would be a must! And hot coffee all the way! It’s in the 60’s here in California, and I’m cold, so I’ve been craving coffee a lot lately!
I did too. But then I really do miss it, so I push myself out there anyways. I haven’t regretted going for a run thus far… so I guess I just need to suck it up and go more!
I’m not much of a runner, but have trained for a half in the past. I always found that my legs felt heavy during the colder temps. On the flip side, I also think it’s SO peaceful to run in the snow…as long as it’s a light snow and not sideways whipping at your face. For fave beverage aside from coffee, hot chocolate with marshmallows always does it for me 🙂 Stay warm!
Yes. Running in “puffy snow” as I like to call it – where it’s cute and straight down flurries – not sideways, full force and attacking my face is actually pretty cool to run in. It’s always nice to have a hot chocolate with marshmallows to warm you up! Great choice.
I think the coldest weather I’ve ever run in was the start of the Disney Princess Half Marathon a few years back that was in the 40s in the morning. Now I hardly ever run, so I don’t think I could handle it. BUNDLE UP! 🙂
Ha, thanks Ashley! And that Disney Princess Half is on my bucket list! My mom wants to do it too… I think it’s already sold out this year!
I actually really like running in the cold…to an extent. I woke up this morning and the wind chill said -4 degrees. Um, no. Last year I ran through a blizzard to get my long run in. My fiance offered to run with me, which made me feel safer in case I slipped or fell while running. Definitely layering up and wearing gloves or mittens helps. You may also want to get some handwarmers or something if your extremities get really cold. My new favorite thing is to put my lounge-y leggings and sweatshirt in the dryer while I’m showering so my post-run clothing is warm.
YIKES! That’s just crazy to me. I don’t think negative temperatures should exist where people live. Handwarmers are on my list of purchases this week! Ahh, that dryer trick is genius. Thanks!
I wish I had cold weather running advice! I live in Texas, so I’ve been “freezing” in the 40-degree weather we’ve had. Put the fireplace on, grab some hot tea and make some popcorn. That works for me 🙂
Oh man, you’d think we would at least have a fireplace up here! Definitely a must when we decide to buy a house!
I know how you feel (kind of)! I was born and raised in FL but my boyfriend and I moved to NJ after college and the cold temperatures just kill me sometimes! (Random fact – I think we danced at the same studio – School of the Performing Arts – but you were a few years ahead of my sister and me) Anyway, I’m training for a half marathon in March so I need to get my butt out there and run anyway! As for beverages…I’m loving Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Tea 🙂
What?? What a small world! Yes, I danced there in the company from 10th-12th grade! I love that studio! <3 Best of luck training for your half marathon 🙂
I like snow running! When it’s calm and snowing lightly, and no one else is out…it’s so peaceful. Today was my run day, but when I woke up there were snow squalls and it felt like -20C (-4F says google) with the windchill. I sadly moved indoors to the treadmill.
Yeah… -4 just isn’t an option! I could barely make it a .25 mile walk to the mailbox and back with Roadie today in our 14 degree afternoon wind!
I don’t think I’ve ever gone running in the snow! Here in New Jersey it usually gets pretty icy when the snow starts, which makes it kinda dangerous. And back home in Victoria, BC, it usually starts raining right after the snow stops, so that’s never pleasant either! Maybe one day I’ll get to try it 🙂
Yeah, running on ice is another story. THAT I will never attempt again (after falling several times)… whoops.
It takes dedicated runners to run in the snow. Last year we had two crazy winter run stories. Once we were out running in the morning early. It was fine when we started, but as we ran the sidewalks were getting more and more slip. By the time we got home, all the schools were canceled, and the bread and milk run had started. Second we went to run a half marathon, it was spitting rain when we started, and started sleeting by the time we finished. The race ended up be canceled. The people who flew in got stranded in our town for a couple of extra days. By I got home from the race the roads were covered with ice. I did not leave my house for three days. Running in ice and snow always makes for good memories. http://www.eatallovertheworld.weebly.com
Oh man!! Both of those are crazy stories. You sure have some serious dedication! I hate running in the rain… well, cold rain anyways. It’s just so miserable. Good for you for trucking through! I’m not sure I could have done the same!
I ran all last winter…in Michigan, too! I buy YaxTrax and lots of layers. And I buy cheap-o gloves because my nose runs constantly, and yeah…you know, the gloves come in handy! Also, signed up for a spring half, so that kept the motivation up for me.
Hope it is not soooo cold next week
I need to do a few runs outside before my race