As I rolled out of bed this morning I looked outside my bedroom window. It was a beautiful winter day here in upstate NY. The sun was shinning, light fluffy clouds were in the sky, and the snow was a pristine white. The only problem was that it was only 18 degrees. The old me would have thrown on some shorts, a running-t, and driven to my local YMCA to knock out a boring nine miles on the treadmill watching CNN.
Along with challenging myself to running 366 days in a row this year, I wanted to try my first blog. I also wanted to try running outside more. Even if that means running through rain, sleet, snow or temperatures in the teens or less. So, what the hell do you wear when it's in the teens? Not as much as you might have thought you would need. This is what I wore today: simple cloth hat, fleece face mask, fleece mittens, Nike tights, technical long-sleeve shirt, fleece jacket, Brooks running jacket, wool ankle socks and my new Brooks Adrenaline GTX Gor-Tex insulated running shoes. I've just about owned every piece of running-related equipment out there. I've experimented with brand name vs. knock-off equipment. What I've discovered is that if you have the cash for brand name equipment, buy it and it will last longer than the knock-off stuff. The only exception to this would be your shoes. Out of all of your equipment, this should not be the thing that you skimp on. Minus your shoes, you could reasonably outfit yourself for very little money.
The run today was magnificent! It was a gift to get up, wolf down some Starbucks, Kashi oatmeal and spend about an hour and a half in scenery similar to what you'd see in a Norman Rockwell painting. No, all of NY state is not NYC. Don't get me wrong, NYC is amazing, but where I'm from? You'll find more farms than skyscrapers.
Another day down. 18 days and counting. Go to your local running store, get good shoes. Buy what you can afford and get outside! Whether it's one mile or 15 miles, do something! You don't even need to run. Walking is fine. The point is: I have NEVER had a bad run. I may have had rough days out there. Sometimes, the last thing that I wanted to do was put one foot in front of the other, again and again and again. After a few minutes, that disappears and it is replaced with the magic of the activity. Life can be so much more than sitting on your couch, watching mindless TV. You are capable of more than you think you are. You were made to do this!
Run for your life...
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