How I Have Been Surviving the Cold and Snow (Friday Five Edition)

This winter has been unusually cold for us here in Virginia.  So much so that I just don't understand how people live further north where it's like this for 3-5 months strait.  While we do get part of those arctic freezes that come down from Canada, they usually only last a couple of days.  Our normal high for right now is in the low 40's and we probably hit or exceeded that only 5-6 times this month.  My new thermostat will tell me when my auxiliary heat runs for more then 6 hours and my system kicks on the auxiliary heat when it's below 20 degrees outside.  I've had to hit OK to that message every day but 2 this month.  We have also had a few snow storms this year.  None of them more then a few inches, but we don't have the amount of plows cities up north do, so our roads are usually a mess for a few days.  These are the challenges I have when I'm in a training cycle during the winter months and how I combat them.



1.  Not signing up for any race that happens between December and March.  But that's not the best option, especially if running a race in the warmer part of the country.

2.  This is the time of year when cross training is important.  Sometimes I end up cross training a little bit more and run a little less when it comes to the winter months.  This lets you keep up your cardio even if you are not running.  And a great cross training idea is water jogging.  I've done it while I was hurt and was able to keep up my training.  But I have to say it is so very boring and very hard to jump into a pull when it is this cold outside.

3.  The dreaded treadmill.  I don't mind using the treadmill once in awhile, it just seems to be an inconvenience.  Every winter I think I should just chalk up the money and buy one for the house, but I can't see spending all that money for something I would only use a few times a year.  I have a gym membership, where they have plenty of treadmills to use.  But I don't even like to drive someplace to run outside, so to have to drive someplace to run on a treadmill is so unappealing.  This season I've only headed to the gym when there was snow and ice on the road.  I've actually ventured out when it dropped below freezing.



4. Layers, Layers, Layers.  When I do laundry, I usually do one load that is just my workout clothes.  This past time I did laundry, I had so many pieces of workout clothes, I had to do two loads because I wore so many layers.  I've been looking into finding a fleece lined pair of pants, but haven't found one that fits me well.  I'm sure the moment I find a pair I like, it won't be cold enough to wear them.  I guess I should find a pair soon.  It's still a balance of wearing enough cloths and not too many when  going out when it's below 20 degrees.  And also not ending up like the kid from A Christmas Story who couldn't put his arms down when his mom dressed him to go to school.  Though I don't think I could have put on enough clothes to keep me warm on my 10 degree run.

5.  This year has been the first year that I have done more then one run a season in temps below 20 (don't laugh at me northerns!) as I usually op for the treadmill.  But this year I found that I'd rather deal with the cold then go to the gym to use the treadmill.  My biggest issue with running in temperatures below freezing is that I can't breath.  Even if I'm not out there running, the moment I step outside in freezing temperatures I start coughing.  Then I come inside and I start coughing.  My lungs just can't deal with it.  So while digging for running hats and gloves I came across this running buff that I got with a Runner Box.  I've never used it before so I thought I'd give it a try to help keep my face warm.  Well I have to say that it worked.  Though it did get hard to breath with it over my mouth after it started to get wet due to the moisture in my breath.  But it was much better then not having something.

I started looking for something that was made to go over your face and be able to handle the moisture of my breath.  I found one on Amazon that was fleece lined and bought it.  I used it for the first time when it was in the mid 20's and it worked great.  I didn't get the breathing issues at all.  Though with it being fleece lined, it was actually a bit warm, even at 25 degrees.  And the problem with this design is that if I took it off, I wouldn't have anything on my head and it was way too cold to not have something on my ears.  It was only a 3 mile run, so I survived with my head being hot.  I'll have to look for something that's not fleece lined and/or able to separate to hat and face mask.

How have you stayed warm on your outdoor runs?  Any other tips to help out a winter training cycle?  What conditions will get you on the treadmill?  

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0

Swimming Tips and Tricks (Friday Five Edition)

I have been getting back to swimming recently.  It's a great way to exercise, especially if you have a nagging pain when you run.  I grew up with a pool in my backyard, so swimming is second nature to me and something I always enjoy.  That doesn't mean I have an easy time talking myself into getting into the pool, especially in the colder months (even in a heated indoor pool).  Here are some tips that I use to make it more enjoyable.


1. Since I had a pool growing up, every summer my hair would be dry and green (especially since I have blond hair).  We would use all the different shampoos that were made to combat that, but they never really worked.  Nowadays there are a lot more shampoos out there that help and the technology is a lot better today.  But what I have found that works is to prevent it by putting conditioner on your hair (not rinsing it off) and then covering it up with a swim cap.  This is a tip that came from my hairdresser.  I've been in the pool once a week for the last few weeks with no damage to my hair.

2. Swimming laps is really boring.  Really really boring.  Like serious boring.  What I have found to help pass the time is a waterproof iPod.  There are a few companies that waterproof the iPod Shuffle.  I am not a huge fan of the Shuffles, but no one waterproofs Nanos, because the touchscreen is hard to use when wet.  The waterproof earbuds with shorter cords are a must with the iPod.  It's easy to hook the iPod on your goggles and having a short cord means it won't get tangled while you swim.  The earbuds also help me stop getting water in my ears.

3. Have you ever had foggy goggles?  The best way to combat it is to spit in the lenses.  I know this sounds super gross, but I wouldn't do it if it didn't work.  I spit into each lens and use my finger to get the whole lens wet and shake it out.  Do not put it into the water to rinse off.  It works both in the pool and in open water.


4.  Don't be afraid to take a lesson or join a swim clinic.  When I was little, my parents signed me up for all the swim lessons that the rec center offered till we took them all and then they signed me up for diving lessons (which did not go well).  Even though I know how to swim, I did find the clinic very helpful.  I picked up things like I didn't kick very well while I was swimming.  I since have been working on focusing on making my kicks stronger.

5. Wash everything off.  While chlorine is good to keep a pool safe and clean, it takes it's toll on everything we put into it.  I try to make sure that I rinse everything out well after each swim.  It's easily done if you just jump into the shower with everything on and rinse it off with the water from the shower.  Every once in awhile I'll put soap on everything to clean it good, but not often.  I know you are not supposed to put your suit in the washing machine, but I will after a few swims.  I have plenty of different suits and they are all inexpensive so I'm not too worried about that.  But I will not put them in the dryer.

Bonus:  There are times that I do water jogging when I have a pain that won't go away and I don't want to lose too much endurance or I'm in the middle if a training cycle.  The best way to do this is to have a floater that goes around your waist.  I bought mine on Amazon for about $25.  My gym also has a couple for the members to use while there.  The trick to water jogging is to stay where your feet do not touch the bottom of the pool.  At the one at my gym it's hard as that's only about the middle third of the pool so I'm continuously turning around.  I did do the water jogging at an aqua center where they have a whole section that is deep enough to jog.  The other trick is to keep your body as upright as possible to mimic running.  It's amazing what type of workout you can get without straining your legs.

Do you swim as a cross-training activity?  How do you entertain yourself when lap after lap gets so boring?  Any tricks or tips that you have?

I'm linking up with Fairytales and Fitness and Running on Happy for Friday Five 2.0