Festive News

I got a 10k run in on Christmas Eve on my own in -2C still conditions. And over the past 2 days another 2 x 9.8km runs in. The Sunday one (Boxing day) was the coldest start of the winter so far at -7C but the 27th run was a warm 2C! I did both runs shirtless.
I heard a couple of good comments today from other joggers out on their runs as they passed me:
1. "At least you are wearing shorts"! - if only he knew...... , and
2. "I want a running outfit like that"
The snow looks like it will disappear over the next 2-3 days as the air temperature moves up towards 10C by the end of the week. That will leave a lot of water and mud around - could be fun!

Snow still on the ground

It's nearly a week since the snow arrived and it is still lying on the ground and quite deep in a number of places.

I went out for a run on Tuesday and Wednesday morning this week but the footpaths next to the road were very slippery and quite dangerous so it took me around 4 minutes longer to do my normal 7k route. Once you get off the slippery concrete and tarmac surfaces the snow is much easier underfoot. As it is a holiday week I have been running slightly later too and have met up with a few different people than normal. All have been friendly and none have said anything about me being shirtless when out running in the snow. I will run again on Friday and then again on Sunday 26th.

On my run yesterday I did stop for a couple of minutes on the final leg of my run and had a quick, naked roll in the snow. What a great feeling! If you have never done this before you must really try it.

I will try and take the camera along tomorrow and post a few pics of my route so you can all see how pretty it looks - a great inspiration to keep me running.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Snow Fun (It's no fun)

Well, the heaviest early snow and cold temperatures for several years hit the UK and my part of the country over the weekend and I spent most of it away from home and not able to enjoy it.
Hopefully I will get to go for a run in it tomorrow morning and give you all a report back later in the day.

Brief period of warm weather

The weather has been warmer this week (i.e. above 0C) and with 3 runs under my belt including the Monday one it is looking like a reasonable week running wise. The Pond I considered doing a dip in is really looking overgrown and dirty so I have almost given up on the idea of taking a mid-run cold water dip in that for the moment (until we have more rain and it gets cleaner/clearer water in it). There was still ice on the top however so it is tempting for me to break the ice and get in.

The forecasters say there is more snow and cold weather on the way so I will keep you all informed as to how much snow we get and how cold the thermometer drops to (and whether I ran in the cold or not).

Boring week

I was away this past week with very little time to get out and run (early morning meetings and travel play havoc with running, as does staying in the middle of a city landscape with nowhere to run freely). I did, however, manage to get a couple of 1km swims in the pool at a hotel I was staying at and also to get a rare treat in the form of a massage one evening. I love massage and wish I could afford more of them.

I did a 10k run on Saturday morning in relatively warm 5C conditions compared to those I've been running in of late. Today I did a 7km run this morning in freezing fog (-1C) followed by a cold water shower of at least 4 or 5 minutes duration. The forecast is for colder weather and snow later this week so I may get my first snow run in for the season soon.

One of my blog followers wrote me an e-mail saying that he had re-read some of my earlier posts and how my early experiences with cold water were similar to his own. He also noted that some of my observations about how my body reacts to the cold were correct and how exciting that journey had been for both of us. I think I need to re-read what I wrote and discover some of that early enthusiasm again - maybe it will inspire me to do more and to push my body just that little bit further into experimenting with cold water some more.

Cold Running

The temperature on Friday was not as low as they expected it to be but was around-5C at 07h00. It was still at -4C after 08h00. I managed my regular 7km loop in around the same time as usual (37 minutes). My Saturday run was warm in comparison with the temperature gauge in the car on the way to the start point showing only 0C. That 10km run was icy and so a little slower than normal at just over 54 minutes. Some sections of the locks on the Saturday run were frozen over, the first time I have seen that on that stretch of the river. I was tempted to take a plunge into the river, but I think my running mates would just no understand that desire - not yet anyway.

Always looking for running mates that would understand the need to take a quick dip in ice cold water and continue running - any takers?

My weight seems to be relatively constant nowadays - hovering between 65.5Kg and 66.6Kg, depending on what I have been eating and drinking. I normally weigh myself directly after my run and shower so the timing each day is consistent.

Record Low Temps in the UK

Well, what a start to the winter season we are having here in the UK. Record low temperatures and the earliest snowfalls in several years. Locally we seem to have escaped the worst of the snow but there is still a dusting on the frozen ground.

In a very strange way I am actually getting excited about looking at the weather forecasts and the prospects of some even colder temperatures as it will give me a chance to see how I get on running shirtless in very cold weather and testing my "toughness".

Today it was around -3C (26F) outside air temp at around 07h00 when I set out on my run. Sure it was cold but after a few minutes I got used to it and ran for nearly 40 minutes before getting home again. I could definitely have run further than i did.

The temperature is due to go down again tomorrow and Friday with expected temps of -8C. I wonder what that will feel like to run in shirtless? Anyone want to join me?