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.
