Robyn
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
About a week ago I saw highlighted on a local news channel and upcoming event in Denver called the Jingle Bell Run. My interest was piqued and then I found out that the beneficiary of the run is the Arthritis Foundation. As some of you may know my mother has battled rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years. I grew up with my mom in severe pain, wearing all sorts of braces, getting gold shots and just never feeling very good. I decided that this was an event that I wanted to support so I signed up.
What I didn't know then was that a frigid arctic storm would descend upon Colorado and the weather would be less than optimal. On Friday they were saying snow and 19 degrees which would be chilly but not unbearable. I went out and bought some YakTrax so I wouldn't slip and get hurt. When I awoke this morning temps were a bit cooler than expected. 3 degrees with a wind chill of -11 to be exact. So I gathered an extra layer, added my balaclava to the mix and headed on down to Washington Park, fully expecting the run to be canceled. But it wasn't and turnout was pretty good. After picking up my bib and timing chip I stayed warm in my car until about 15 minutes before the start when I headed out to the start line after checking the temps one last time and learning it was currently -1 with a feels like of -15.
People were starting to gather, bouncing up and down to try to ward off the chill.
Just before the start time the announcer came on and told of us a woman present that has RA and who's entire team had bailed on her but she was there. Knowing what the cold does to my mom I cheered loudly for her, quite impressed with her fortitude.
The run was only a 5k but at such cold temperatures it definitely took it's toll on me. Especially since I realized just before the start that I'd left my inhaler at home and cold air really has an effect on my asthma.
But, in the end, I did the run, in a slow but not horrid time (and I wasn't last!) considering the 2 weeks I had to take off for being ill in the last month. More than that, I realized that rather than being afraid of running events as I have been in the past I now enjoy them. And, finally, I realized that as I walked away that I could have kept doing my run/walk rhythm and I was not spent. My legs wanted to carry me further and faster than my lungs did on this run but given the lack of an inhaler and the frigid cold air I'm not surprised.
The only real unfortunate part is I think the cold weather running had a bigger effect on my poor legs and I'm more sore than normal this evening so I'm cutting out my spin tonight.
What I didn't know then was that a frigid arctic storm would descend upon Colorado and the weather would be less than optimal. On Friday they were saying snow and 19 degrees which would be chilly but not unbearable. I went out and bought some YakTrax so I wouldn't slip and get hurt. When I awoke this morning temps were a bit cooler than expected. 3 degrees with a wind chill of -11 to be exact. So I gathered an extra layer, added my balaclava to the mix and headed on down to Washington Park, fully expecting the run to be canceled. But it wasn't and turnout was pretty good. After picking up my bib and timing chip I stayed warm in my car until about 15 minutes before the start when I headed out to the start line after checking the temps one last time and learning it was currently -1 with a feels like of -15.
People were starting to gather, bouncing up and down to try to ward off the chill. Just before the start time the announcer came on and told of us a woman present that has RA and who's entire team had bailed on her but she was there. Knowing what the cold does to my mom I cheered loudly for her, quite impressed with her fortitude.
The run was only a 5k but at such cold temperatures it definitely took it's toll on me. Especially since I realized just before the start that I'd left my inhaler at home and cold air really has an effect on my asthma.
But, in the end, I did the run, in a slow but not horrid time (and I wasn't last!) considering the 2 weeks I had to take off for being ill in the last month. More than that, I realized that rather than being afraid of running events as I have been in the past I now enjoy them. And, finally, I realized that as I walked away that I could have kept doing my run/walk rhythm and I was not spent. My legs wanted to carry me further and faster than my lungs did on this run but given the lack of an inhaler and the frigid cold air I'm not surprised. The only real unfortunate part is I think the cold weather running had a bigger effect on my poor legs and I'm more sore than normal this evening so I'm cutting out my spin tonight.
