As an in-season runner for the entire school year (Indoor and Outdoor Track, Cross country), I love racing. On the other hand, I also understand that training during the winter can be a pain,especially if you live in places that can get -10° F or colder during the winter. Here are some of the struggles runners experience when running in winter:
1. You look out your window and instantly feel 10 degrees colder.
http://giphy.com/gifs/snow-cold-bill-murray-g2YvIlpgTMlc
2. What possessed you to run outside in this weather?
http://giphy.com/gifs/s3VsGYlEYkgP6
3. You can’t tell the difference between an ice rink and your street
http://www.barcelonablog.net/643/ice-rinks-in-barcelona.htm
4. When it starts to rain/snow, you hair can freeze in place, suddenly become its own helmet.
http://students.iam.colum.edu/~michelle.burke/wordpress/?tag=frozen-hair
5. If there is a breeze, anywhere, and it’s coming your way, be prepared for your eyelids to freeze shut.
http://www.oddities123.com/dogs-who-like-to-travel-feeling-the-wind/
6. Your favorite weather app is sometimes a bit shady…and you can’t decide if what you’re wearing will keep you too warm or if you’ll turn into an icicle.
http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/361bm7
7. When it gets into the negatives and you’re forced to wear a face mask, but can’t really breathe because there’s all this snot coming from your nose and tears running down your face that are getting in the way.
http://bostonbiker.org/2009/11/30/winter-riding-in-boston-pre-winter/
8. That’s another thing. The snot. You didn’t even know you had such vast stores at your disposal.
http://giphy.com/gifs/funny-fun-amazing-o5ZsRE3imGbSM
9. So many layers! You are like a double, triple-layered chocolate cake. Sometimes you have to wear multiple pairs of running tights under sweatpants. On top of that you wear: a hat, scarf, gloves, sweatshirt, long sleeves, etc. Basically, you’re a mobile winter clothes store.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F2YCrsQbMhNk5qhT9Jhi6Pfl78eSJfkGmNHjml8VpkQ/edit#
10. Your poor shoes can only take so much salt, compacted snow, and ice before they start to get holes in them.
http://likeafinewino.blogspot.com/2014/07/clueless-cher-speaks-truth.html
11. If you don’t wear long enough socks, say goodbye to that 1-2 inches of skin between your pants/tights and shoe.
http://giphy.com/gifs/despicable-me-minions-goodbye-9eM1SWnqjrc40
12. Cars can skid on ice, and so can you! If you have to shuffle, do so in the most elegant way.
http://giphy.com/gifs/iyroqm8BIWje0
13. You need to take a long, hot shower because you first need to defrost your entire body before you can get the hidden sweat layer underneath all the ice.
http://giphy.com/gifs/capybara-GDmYAI8zwKTNm
14. Remember that running clothes that look great on you are not necessarily going to help you stay alive in this godforsaken weather!
http://giphy.com/gifs/sailor-moon-cold-snow-qPxSNx0LsSsZq
How badly do you want to race? How badly do you want your running to look effortless during the spring and summer? Running in the winter can be a pain, but getting through it will only make you faster and stronger, as I’m sure you already know. So get out! We’re cheering for you with every stride (along with snowmen everywhere).