Stuff We’ll Miss About Winter Running
Despite a few chilly mornings, it’s probably a safe bet to say winter weather is now in the rear view mirror. Granted, winter around the Charlotte area was pretty mild this year, and we’ll likely pine for some of those frosty mornings come August… but for now, we’ll be more than happy to see high temps that near the age of November’s presidential candidates.
Naturally, there are a few things we’ll miss with the change of seasons. Here’s a six pack of stuff we’re sure to miss about winter running. Not really.
Laundry
Loads of it, actually. Why, laundry is arguably our favorite après sport activity, and a fantastic warm-up. All the folding, sorting, and washing of all the required layers is practically a multi-sport event in its own right. Bonus points if more than one person in your household is also a runner. And wherever this missing sock purgatory is located, it has one of my gloves, too.
Wardrobe Worries
There’s some real voodoo here, between the art, science, and luck of getting your cold weather running outfit just right. Too many layers; and you’re a cold, wet, sweaty mess, with a jacket wrapped around your waist for miles. One too few, and you’re a cold, miserable, wreck. And there’s nothing quite like that pre-run game of hide-and-seek, trying to find that pair of gloves or warmer hat.
Frozen Fingers, Toes, and Boogers, too
As if fumbling with your door key, watch, or packet of GU isn’t trouble enough with the layers and layers of winter wear … frozen digits just make it that much more fun. On shorter mileage days, your nose may do more running than you did. And you’ll notice each and every poorly placed seam along your gloves, just trying to keep all that snot in check.
Slippery Things
Love us some black ice and other frozen stuff underfoot. As if the short days, warm bed, and wind chill factor weren’t enough to keep you indoors… From black ice to runoff from burst pipes to layers of leaves; winter running poses any manner of ground level threats that keep you from zoning out an letting the miles melt away. A few relaxed strides? Forget it. Working the aircraft control tower required less vigilance than an early morning winter run.
Headlamps and Batteries
It’s dark in the morning, it’s dark after work… no matter when you run in winter, it seems it’s always headlamp season. It’s just one more piece of equipment we’re trying to keep up with when it’s winter. Is there enough battery left to last through this morning’s run, and did we even remember to put it back on the charger yesterday?
Up next… getting all crabby about the pollen. First world problems, indeed.
# # #
