I got up early to watch the NASA rocket hit the moon. (It was a little anti-climactic for me, but sounds like it was a success for science. Nice.)  As I was waiting for the plume, I rummaged around in my closet looking for my running hat and gloves. I put those things away in April. I didn’t think I’d have to bring them out so soon.

Turns out, I really didn’t need them for a little run this morning. That 34 degrees had a little more bark than bite. By the time I hit the trails, I was feeling OK. It’s amazing what a some sun and no wind will do for you. It was such a pretty morning. I should have taken a picture but ultimately decided breakfast was more important.

While I nixed the gloves and hat this a.m., I have been wearing pants and a fleece sweatshirt all week. I don’t mind it. I actually kind of like the colder weather because I sweat a lot. It’s gross. I think 30s, 40, and 50s are just fine. It’s the 10s, 0s, -10s that really bum me out.

I decided last winter that 10 degrees (with the wind chill) was my outer limit for working out outside. That’s insane. I never would have said that two years ago. But desperate times call for desperate measures. First, it keeps me sane to have that hour or so outside every day. Second, I can’t have a repeat of the 10 pounds I gained last winter. That’s not a joke. I did gain 10 pounds last winter. It wasn’t pretty.

One of my esteemed colleagues, Tom Aviles (pictured below on the left during the Republican National Convention), gains 15 pounds every winter. He starts packing it on right about now, hits his peak in the spring and then loses it all during the summer.  He says it keeps him warmer. He also says it’s easy, that he doesn’t have to work on because it just happens depending on how much he bikes. Man, I sometimes wish I were a dude.



So, with that, I will head to Target tonight for Winter 2009-10 hat and gloves.  As long as the wind doesn't whip in my face, I'll be good. It's all about layers. Remember, it's not the cold. It's how you dress for it.