Winter Wonderland

When I first got up this morning, I was thinking that I would try to go running around 10 am.  I would let myself get up, have my coffee, breakfast, and just relax for awhile....I am on vacation, ya know ;)  But then I looked at the weather app on my phone.  It was 16 degrees outside....brrrrr.

I looked a little deeper into the details of today's weather.  The high was predicted for 26 degrees.  Hmmmm....it's going to be a cold run today.  I ended up going out around 2:45 pm.  It was actually 23 degrees when I stepped out the door.  I think that was as warm as it was going to get.

I again strapped on my Yaktrax and GPS watch, along with my warm running gear.  I completed 3 miles today and felt good about completing another run.  So far, I'm doing well on my 9 week plan.  I've completed my 3 mile runs for the week and plan to run another longer run on January 1st.  Cool....literally and figuratively :)

As I was running today, I started to think about how I'm learning more as I go along in the midst of this running thing.  I've started to collect the appropriate running gear and know what my body needs depending on the weather.  So today I'd like to share with you a little of what I've learned about my winter wardrobe.  Here is what I wore today, from head to toe:


1.  Windshield Headband - I like to wear my hair in a ponytail.  So a warm winter hat will not work for me.  I like this simple headband that I purchased for about $5.00.  It fits really well, keeps my ears warm, and stays in place as I run along.

2.  Under Armour Dry Fit Long Sleeve Shirt - I like this shirt because it helps keep the sweat away from my body while adding an extra layer of warmth at the same time.  It also works well on a nice fall day too.

 

3.  Brooks Utopia Thermal Jacket - I absolutely LOVE this zip-up hoodie.  It keeps me warm.  It has reflectors.  It has pockets.  It has a place for my ipod.  It even has a little hole in the hood where my ponytail can fit through when I put the hood up.  It's going to be good for Fall, Winter, and Spring running.

4.  Nike Thermal Pants - I also really love these pants.  They are a loose fit in the legs which works well for the braces I wear on each knee.  They are cozy inside and keep my legs really warm....but not too warm!

 

5.  Under Armour No Show socks - So far, I have been wearing socks that sit around my ankle, but I might start wearing taller socks if it gets even colder.  The one thing I've learned about socks is that they need to be snug on my feet.  I have tiny feet, so this can be hard to find.  Snug fit is better though because if the socks are too big, they can move around in your shoe as you are running.  I had this happen once and my socks rubbed on my foot throughout my entire run....not good!  Anyway...these socks work well, for me.

6.  Brooks Pureflow Running Shoes - I purchased these shoes last April and it was one of the best things I did for my running.  I went to a store that knows about shoes and worked with the sales guy.  He was able to look at my gate and my stride and then give me advice as to which shoe to try on.  I picked these ones because they felt best on my feet.  I'm pretty sure that shoes are going to be different for each person, but just so you know...I LOVE MINE!

As of today....47.4 of 500 done!!  Keep moving our feet! :)