Colder Weather coming

I have been taking things a little easier this week after competing in a 10k race last Sunday as the only shirtless runner in a field of over 200.

The race was good for me finishing in the top 20% of the field. I did get quite a few comments from other runners the best of which were:
"Now that I have seen you I don't feel so cold anymore!" and,
"You are absolutely Mental!" which I think indicated that he thinks I am totally crazy!

I may well be crazy but I still ended up in front of him at the finish line.

My two runs so far this week have been a short 7.1km circuit (both in under 37 minutes). The Tuesday one started with the temp at around 5C. Today it was -2C when I left the warmth of the house. It was a great run though - cool and crisp air with a slight breeze. No rain or snow and a great sunrise too.

The weather forecast says that colder weather and snow is on the way so maybe I will get my first shirtless snow run of the winter in very early this year with the thermometer just a few degrees lower.

First Freeze

Today was the first day that the temperature was definitely below zero at the start of my morning run. The signs were all there, white frost on the grass, trees, houses and pavements. Ice on top of the puddles, frozen mud on the paths in the forest that crunch underfoot as they give way under your weight. The occasional slip of the foot from underneath you on the more icy stretches.

Today was also the first day in a long time that I have had vehicles hoot at me as they went past, kids (and their parents) looking out of their warm cars in amazement at me running shirtless on the pavement. I even got a few "thumbs up" signs from older teenagers on their way to school on the school bus as they went past.

It was one of those days it is fun to be a shirtless runner - it certainly brings a smile to my face.

9.8km in 53 minutes. Temp: -1C approx

Colder Weather -

The only thing I like better than running on a cold, wet morning is to stay in a nice warm bed. But then again, when the weather starts turning and getting colder why waste the time in bed? Besides that I find a shirtless run in the cold quite stimulating, sets the heart beating and gets my mind into a relaxed state at the start of the day.

To start a run in near darkness and watching a sunrise on a cold morning is great experience too. Pity that the last 2 or 3 days have not been so good. I still managed around 10km each of the past 2 days.

To finish off the runs I have a cold shower and then gradually turn the temperature up over around 10 minutes. A slow warm-up session followed by a hot cup of tea.

Try it - you may eventually get to like it as much as I do.

Post a comment and let me know.

Sea Swim

Was away at the coast this past weekend and did a 9km run along the seafront and followed it with a short swim in the sea.

Although the air temp was quite low (around 7C) the sea temperature was actually quite warm in comparison (15C I later found out). I was the only person running shirtless - a lot of others were cycling and running but wearing multiple layers of clothing - and certainly the only one swimming at that time in the morning (around 08h00).

I saw few surfers out on the water on Saturday, but no-one was swimming or in the water without a wetsuit. I guess I will have to go back to the beach again in the middle of winter and do the same thing again. It may turn a few heads if I do.

First Cold Days of Autumn 2010

The past 2 days here in the South East of England have been the coldest of the Autumn season so far. Air temps last night dipped well below zero and there was a significant depth of ice (3-4mm) on rainwater puddles in open areas and a heavy ground frost much in evidence. Yesterday was only slightly warmer - just above freezing with the thermometer in the car showing air temps varying from 0.5C to 3.5C when driving to and from the place I went for a run.

I had not planned to go out this morning but as it was cold and clear (and I am a sucker for running when it is very cold) I am glad I did. To feel the cold air on one's bare chest, arms and legs is really quite refreshing after the much warmer temperatures of the summer. Once you get out there and adjust to the cold it doesn't feel or seem so cold anymore.

For those that want to try it - start small and work up. Do a short run of only a few minutes and build up over time. I ran for around 50 minutes today and 1h10m yesterday. I topped the run off this morning with a cold shower - progressing to luke warm after about 3 or 4 minutes. I promise you that there are no lasting adverse effects!

One final thing - I think I may have found a place I can take a dip to cool off mid-run. On one run I did last week I ran along a clean, swiftly flowing stream with a few areas which would allow easy access. I may try that out early one morning, next week. I'll let you all know how I get on.

Back to Basics

I realised a while back that I had moved away from the original intent of this blog which was to explore my relationship with cold water. The blog seems to have evolved to one of my return to a high level of fitness and running as well as how much weight I had lost.

Today I want to get back to basics: cold water immersion.

With the winter months approaching and the temperatures declining slowly, I thought it was about time to test the water and get back into at least one cold bath a week until the really cold weather bites. The thermometer indicated 13C as I ran the water - not too cold but quite a few degrees colder than my first cold bath at 16C around 18 months ago when I shivered uncontrollably after only a few minutes.

I set the timer for 10 minutes as I climbed into the 13C water today. Once fully immersed I was pleased to discover that my breathing rate was not much above normal and nor was my heart rate. I didn't feel cold at all during the entire ten minutes, in fact I was quite enjoying it - even at the end.

I take it from this that I am still acclimatised to the cold water experience and am looking forward to when the water temperature gets into single figures so that my skin goes red and numb after a few minutes immersion.

I really do have to find a place that I can try swimming in cold water this year. Maybe a few trip to the sea and a cold water swim there would be good for a change of scenery and a new experience. Any suggestions of places to go on the UK South Coast? Anyone want to join me?

10k Race time

I did a 10k race a few weekends ago. I managed a time of 46m 51s on a course which had a 1km steady climb at the start and a steady descent on the way back cos the course ended along the same road that it started on. I was hoping to do better than 5
minutes per km (which I did) so I am quite pleased with the time. Weather was overcast but quite warm (around 18C at the finish)and humid. The best part was I did the run shirtless (as usual) but did not see any other runners shed their shirts at the start or during the race. I guess being shirtless will become my "signature" for future races.

We had a short cold spell this past weekend with the air temp on Saturday morning down at around 5C. It made a change to get cold on a run instead of too hot. Bring on the colder and wetter weather, I cant remember the last time I ran in the rain.

Finished my 55 minute run today with a 10 minute cold (14C) shower. Water temp gradually creeping down to single figures - just how I like it. All I need to do now is to find that elusive pond or stream to take a dip in mid-run!

No, I am not giving up posting - just taking a summer break!

I now know from one or two e-mails that I received that people are actually reading this and want me to continue it. If you just started to read this blog now here's a quick update.

Posts will be difficult over the next few weeks but as the autumn and winter weather kick in I want to get back to the original theme of this blog - Cold Water Toughness. For that you need cold water (for me this is anything under 9C)

Being physically fit helps too of course, which is why I started to run in the first place (as well as losing a bit of weight).

Today my weight is steady at around 66Kg (145lb) with around a 1kg (2lb) variance over a day or two. I regularly run from 4 up to 10 miles 3 or 4 times a week. I always run without a shirt - whatever the weather and temperature.

I recently competed in my first half marathon (13.1 miles) in a time of just under 1h 53m. I ran a 5 mile race earlier in the year in 36m33s. More races are definitely in the pipeline over the winter too.

I hope to do some cold water swimming this winter in local rivers/lakes and I may even try and enter a competition or two. Let's see what develops.

If you have a question write to me and I will post the answers on here.

I hope all my readers enjoy the rest of the summer, have fun but have more fun in the cold when it comes.

Last Post?

To those of you that have read this blog from the beginning:- my heartfelt thanks.

Personally, I think my blog has become a little boring, more like a training log than personal experiences which was how I think I started it. The Blog will stay online for posterity and maybe to inspire the occasional reader who finds it. I will maybe post an occasional entry but I have decided to make this the last entry (for the moment anyway - I will post my half marathon time at the end of July).

Since I started my journey to get fit, albeit in a little unusual fashion, I have had many experiences. Swimming in water as cold as 9C; taking 20+ minute baths in 3C water; long cold showers on winter days; playing naked in the snow; and always running shirtless (and sometimes shortless - i.e. naked - too) in any weather (summer, winter, dry, rain, snow, hail and wind)! The coldest temp I ran shirtless in was -12C and the hottest around 32C.

My fitness level has increased from being able to run barely 100m to the point where I feel I am ready to run a half marathon in July without walking any of the way. I took part in my very first road race a few weeks ago and despite coming 287th out of a field of 1600+ runners managed a respectable time of 36m33s for the 5 mile distance.

My longest run to date is just over 10 miles and in the past month alone (May 2010) I have run over 100km in preparation for my first half marathon in July. I consistently run a circular trail route of 7.1km from my home through the local woods and with some steep gradients in approx 36 minutes.

My weight has come down from just over 75kg in January 2009 to a consistent 67Kg now with a fluctuation of up to 1kg either way on a daily basis.

On a different, mental, level I feel less stressed, able to cope with a variety of stresses and situations that come along both from a work and personal perspective. I have made a few new friends and am starting to explore the limits of my body in other ways too (pain control for example).

I don't have any before and after pictures to illustrate the difference but I can assure you that it is real.

Right now, I want to sit back and enjoy the summer sun (which finally arrived in the UK), get a good tan (not a politically correct thing to do, I know) and enjoy myself. Maybe do a bit of camping swimming and cycling in the great outdoors too.

I hope all my readers have a really good 2010 summer season.

All the best.

Volcano interruption!

I have been away in the USA and delayed by an Icelandic volcano spewing ash and preventing my returning to the UK until today.

Unable to sleep, I thought I might as well update this blog with some of my running activity whilst I was away. The place I went to in the USA was fairly flat and devoid of many hills so fairly easy running at a relatively fast pace was in order. I think on the whole I managed, when I was on my own, to run at around 8 minutes per mile or 5 minutes per km. I wasn't really paying attention to the times as some days I was running with new friends or a work colleague and they couldn't keep up to my pace. Still the distance I covered was roughly the same as I would have covered in the UK. Some runs on roads, some in parks and on cycle trails alongside roads running through public parks.

I did all of the runs shirtless.

It seems that the Americans also have their fair share of people that do not appreciate or want to humiliate runners (rednecks?). I was shouted at once from a passing car and hooted at a couple of times. So this phenomenon is not restricted to the UK. However, I did see quite a few more shirtless runners there in the parks than I have in the UK. Maybe the spring weather being sunny and in the 14C to 20C range had something to do with that.

I also managed to get a good massage on the first Sunday I was in the USA - just the thing to sort out tired muscles and the stress of flying. Come to think of it, I could do with a massage now to relax me and get my internal time clock back on UK time!

I managed to keep my weight under control too - tipping the scales at 68Kg this morning. Not as bad a gain as I had expected given the size of food portions in the USA and the amount of food that was on offer.

Till the next time - and hopefully not at 5h30 in the morning!

A quick catch up

Sorry for the infrequent posts - business trips interfere with blog postings! I am feeling better and did a little cycling and running over the Easter weekend. Friday a 6km bike ride and then a timed 1.5 mile run in 11m35s. the run was slightly downhill with an uphill return which I found quite tough.

Saturday was an equally tough and hilly 8.8km run in a relatively slow 55 minutes. It was with my normal group so understandably slow - but enjoyable nevertheless. Monday was another group run of 10km in just on an hour - again slow but over a cross country course with a few obstacles. Again, enjoyable and fun albeit a little muddy.

Will run tomorrow and then probably try and get some runs in when I hit the USA this weekend and during the week too. Maybe even try swimming in a cold lake if i can find one. Keep watching this space for more updates.

Weight is up again - must really be careful about what I eat when I am away and keep up the exercise. It will be very tough.

Being sick is no fun!

Last week was a business trip starting Sunday afternoon. So in-between work, entertaining clients and my Boss being with me the whole week not a lot of time for a run at all. I did manage a short 30 minute (5km) shirtless run along the banks of the Seine in Paris at 06h30 on the morning of the 24th but then nothing till my normal Saturday run with my mates (10k; 8C). No record breaking times either.

On Saturday afternoon I started to feel off colour and by Sunday night I had a raging sore throat, high temp and fully blocked sinuses. I must admit that I have not felt like doing (nor have I done) any running yet this week.

My brain is saying you should be exercising but my body is saying lay off till you feel a little better and can breathe a little easier. At the moment my body is winning that particular fight.

I guess the warmer weather of the past few days and now a short, sharp, cold spell is not helping matters either. I am still braving the cold showers - at least at the start to wake me up and shock my body into a state of alertness. I will finish with warm water these days till I am full recovered from being ill.

I am thinking of running tomorrow (Thursday). If I do I will write it up here.

I hate feeling ill and this is the first major sickness I have had since starting this fitness/toughness/cold regime nearly 14 months ago. I think that's a pretty good record actually.

A weeks worth of postings

Now the cold weather seems to be departing and making way for spring (nothing is certain with the UK weather at the moment) it seems a bit crazy to report temperatures any more. So, I guess this will turn into my shirtless running/swimming blog and log for the foreseeable future - unless something unusual happens of course. At the start of my runs last week the temperature was hovering around 0C, by the end of the week it was around 3C.

Last week as a little hectic with work. As you know I got the standard run in on Monday and then was away. No run Tuesday or Wednesday but by Thursday morning the lack of exercise was doing my head in so I did my standard 7k run on Thursday and again on Friday. Both days were less than 37minutes.

Saturday was a group run with my running buddies. Just over 9km on a relatively flat course in just over 49 minutes (could have been a lot faster). This run tends to be a bit slower as we chat along the way and generally try and keep together as a group.

Today I left my watch at home but the standard 7km run was a pleasant one with the sun shining for a change. My weight these days seems to be stable at around 66.5kg with fluctuations up or down by 0.5kg to 0.8kg depending on what I eat and drink. Is that type of fluctuation normal?

A week later!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I was away last week on a business trip.

Last Saturday (9days ago)I did a 9km run with some mates and then nothing again till last friday. That was the normal 7km run in around 37minutes. This past Saturday I ran on my own on a different route in the late afternoon in sunny conditions of around +5C. A full 10km in close to 51 minutes (my best time for this distance so far).

This morning was a little tougher with an air temperature of -4C but with sun in the sky back to the standard run of 7km in 36m20s. You could just feel the sun hitting and warming your skin on some segments of the run. However, my hands did not feel the benefit of that and were quite numb by the end of the run. I really must remember to wear gloves on such cold mornings (however, I think that wearing gloves while running shirtless looks even more strange than just running without a shirt).

My weight has been up a little these past 2 weeks (nearly 67Kg) but that could be because I have been entertaining clients and eating a much larger breakfasts and richer meals than normal when away. This week it is getting back to the normal 66kg level. Also no running time when I was away, although I must admit that I should have taken a run on one morning last week when I had the opportunity to. They always say that it is the runs that you don't do that you regret.

I still keep getting the odd comments shouted or spoken to me when people pass on these colder days. Comments like "Put some clothes on, Man!" or the more common one from other runners: "Your'e brave!" are quite the most common. Anyone else have any common remarks of note that people shout at them when running without a shirt? Let me know.