$#!+ We Hate About Winter Running
As sure as we’ll grouse and grumble over the ridiculous humidity in July and August, you can bet we have feelings about the yin to this meteorological yang that is winter. Not going to lie. We love us some holiday season with that nip in the air and all; but once the new year turns, we’re ready to rush right through to spring. At least until the pollen falls. While we wait, we’ll be content to while away the miles mulling over some of the reasons we hate winter running.
For starters, it’s just plain cold. We take back everything we said about summer. Well, sort of. Cool is one thing; cold is a completely different temperature setting. The washer and dryer can tell the difference, and so can we. Over the years, we’ve learned to embrace the wind chill factor, but still can’t do the math. We just need Brad Panovich to lay out our running clothes the night before.
Which brings us to all those layers. Is it a tights, vest, and cap kind of day; or more of a shorts, fleece, and beanie forecast? And where do we start with the gloves? Too thin, and our hands never thaw. Too thick, and we’re stuck with swampy digits that are both wet and cold. Even worse. But there’s something nearly magical about getting all this just right. It’s a real Goldilocks moment, for sure.
And can we talk about all the laundry? Summer’s gross and sweaty running gear seems like a light lift compared to the sheer volume of laundry winter running produces. If you’ve got more than one runner in your household, you really know what we mean. We gave up on special laundry instructions, wash water temps, and all that years ago. We’re now satisfied with clean, dry, and ready for the next run.
We’re always squinting. Or at least at sure feels like it. Whether it’s the dry air, the wind, or the low-slung sun, it feels like we’re always peeping our run through half-open eyes. Folks stuck in traffic probably look at our twisted up face and think, “by the look of it, that guy is clearly having no fun at all. Bet he’s got a pile of laundry to do, too.”
Chapped everything. The cold and dry of winter does a total number on our lips and nose. Our hands don’t seem to fare to much better. Once the shower hits our chapped, cracked skin… we rethink our entire moisture management routine. Actually, we don’t even have one. Seems like now would be a great time to look into that. Or we can just wait until summer, when all-new parts of our body get the chance to chafe.
