The phone call was errant but well timed. To go back to sleep or not, that is the question. Suddenly I remembered the new running schedule that I planned on implementing… that is one of the new schedules that I was thinking of implementing. Still, I was awake and enough so to pull on one of the not-so-new running shirts and tights that I start to grow familiar with.
I stopped asking myself if I look funny in these black tights, somewhat due to repetition mostly due to being thankfully warm during these last few runs. It was 70 degrees 7 days ago, wasn’t it? (I might still ask a friend if the tights are …)
Some lessons learned for winter running:
- I need about 1 layer per 10 degrees F below 50F
- Lip balm
- Head and ear cover in the form of a cheap cap from the local 99 cent store.
So I headed out and woke quickly in the 15 degree’d wind-chilled air of a crisp New York morning. I decided to go into Riverside this time…incorrectly thinking that it would be less windy. I tried to focus on nasal breathing, to help the air warm and humidify a bit before hitting my lungs like sandpaper. Also all that jazz about nitric oxide being good for you (another upcoming article).
My face burned from the wind before I got too far. I pulled the black cap down a bit further and dealt with feeling good that my ears didn’t freeze like the other night. Thoughts strayed to my late dog Lena – a Samoyed that never truly lived in the moment unless she was out in the park on days like this. The thick white fur coat and huge smile that she brought everywhere with her still makes me smile every time I think of her and the nickname I gave her. “Hostess of the park” I used to call her as she would grin and greet almost everyone that happened across her path.
Those reminiscenses got me through the first mile – as I turned by the empty tennis courts. I looked out over the Hudson and saw the white breakers – if memory served that meant winds in excess of 12-15 miles. Somewhere in my past there was a NYPL book that outlined little signs of what milage windage caused what. Light leaves rustling? 2 to 4 miles per hour. Branches moving? then 5-7 miles, etc.
The wind chill and frostbite table would have prepared me better, as I didn’t know till much later that it was “feels like” 15F. I did decide to cut the run short as I got winded trying to pass a young coed that raced past me. She was finishing her run as she circled the Dinosaur playground and exited. I fed my wounded ego by running past her and back up the hill towards the north. Thankfully it wasn’t windy in this section. I could see my breath as I worked my way up the little hill.
A few minutes later I was home and warmly under my most comfortable comforter. The post run nap was splendid.
The Asics running tights and Brooks top were keeping me warm enough, yet not too much with another thin long sleeve TShirt. It felt a little colder than the first run which was around 50 degrees F. Its darker much earlier and I’m not used to seeing so many other runners in Central Park this far after sunset.
Past the first hill, I’m breathing really hard, but otherwise feeling great. I think its about 45F, since I’m not sweating at all and I don’t see my breath. Down the hill now and things are starting to fall into sync. Not having run enough the last month, I convince myself to take it easy.
Ahead of me I hear some horses, and they are majestic, with their loud hoof beats and nostril flares of white smoke blowing out in front of them. Its a couple of New York’s Finest and one of them are trying to get his horse to go into a gallop.
I can’t resist the urge and I run faster. The trailing rider and her horse reluctantly speed up here and there, just enough to make it interesting for me, as if they know I’m trying to catch up. I run with them for a quarter mile or so. The hoof beats are thunderous now – I try to entrain to their beat. The two horses are not quite in sync and I can’t quite ‘feel’ the rhythm.
Out of breathe as they take the turnoff, I slow down near the south end of The Lake and I am pleased. To turn back or keep going now? I decide its not that cold after all and keep going down to Columbus Circle. As I hit that last hill near Sheep’s Meadow, I see that its 29F – I was totally off about the temperature. The way back home was more quiet and cold without my 4 legged running partners.
There’s 44 days left in the year, and the weather seems to finally decide that it is winter. Just yesterday we were blessed with 65 degrees and a last chance to show off those late summer fashions. I think I saw more miniskirts than ever before during a quick walk thru lower Chelsea.
Overnight, and I was up all night, the cold came in around 4am. Suddenly my block is filled with fallen leaves while just a few days ago I wondered how long my tree lined street would remain verdant. Like the markets lately these leaves lingered but when they were to fall, they fell quickly.
I like to observe society and do things just a bit differently. Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I am making a couple resolution due by year’s end.
- Learn winter running.
- Lose those last 10-15 pounds.
- Arrange my life so that I have those 2-3 hours daily to start and finish what I’m passionate about.
This way you hit the ground running January 1st.
It was finally cold enough to give my new running gear a test flight. The Asics running pants or tights were perfect in the 50 degree weather as the sun was setting. The wind just cut through them as I headed out walking, but as I picked up the pace, they proved to be very comfortable.
The leaves were falling in Riverside and made for a slight obstacle course as I headed down the hill and didn’t want to hit a wet patch and suddenly slide. The setting sun made for some colorful hues as the choppy Hudson waters sparkled and danced for me. Too bad I ate too recently and couldn’t hit my stride just right. A couple miles was all I was good for today.
Still it was nice to be out there, not inside on these darkened days and nights. The 20 minutes was enough to raise my spirits and put in another payment on my health mortgage. These days that end so abruptly take their toll, so I’m trying to make it a point to be outside more under the sun. That and the full spectrum bulb over my computer take off the edge of winter.
