Thursday Thoughts: Icy-Hot Running

Thursday Thoughts, Inspiration for Women Runners, Female Athletes

The gauge on my car read 19 degrees. It made sense that it was mid-January in Central New York on a sunny day. 19 degrees might stop some people from exercising outside but not me. I grew up with a single mother who taught ski lessons on the weekends to earn extra money. My sister and I had to go with her every Saturday and Sunday no matter the temperature or conditions. I think the coldest we ever skied was during a 20-degree below-zero wind chill day. My sister and I drank hot chocolate more than skiing that day but we did ski.

The winter conditioning on my face and in my soul lasted through all 21 years of growing up in that house and then was tucked away inside while I raised my sons and found myself with more free time to exercise again. This time, skiing wasn’t the sport of choice, it was running. At first, I started to run to lose weight after my last son was born, but then it became one of those feel-good addictions that I did daily. But for many years, I ran inside on a treadmill during the dead of winter until 2017 when I started training for the Boston Marathon. Then I needed to hit the roads, hills, ice, and winds to be truly ready for this historic outside run.

A funny thing happened, on April 17, 2027, when I took to the streets of Boston with 110 other women and the fearless Kathrine V. Switzer, female running icon, the temperature was in the low 60s rising to the low 70s that day. Instead of being cold, I was sweating during the 26.2-mile run even stopping by an open fire hydrant to cool off.

After signing up for the New York City Half Marathon which occurs on March 17, 2024, it became apparent my training sessions would be in the middle of winter on days like today. Instead of dreading the run, I embraced it but limited myself to a smaller run distance to protect my lungs. No need to get sick and stop my training altogether if I get bronchitis, I thought to myself.

As my feet hit the black pavement next to the sparkling blue lake with a brilliant sun and water lapping on the lake’s shore, I easily settled into my stride, thankful, as always for being able to run. It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be because I dressed for it even leaving my scarf in the car. As my cheeks felt icy over time running, my back had sweat running down it hot as ever. It was a dichotomy of temperatures a non-runner might not imagine happening and is enjoyable. As my back reminded me, I was in good condition and warm enough to run, my cold face reminded me not to push the limits even though my heart wanted to.

After finishing my run, I got in my car looked at my face, felt my heart beating, sensed my warm legs, and was grateful for another healthy run and proud I didn’t allow the weather conditions to sideline me on a gorgeous winter day.