My planned 6 mile run just happened to occur on the coldest day of the year to date. The temps hovered at 8 degrees, with a windchill of -8. Yikes, that’s cold.
I wore a knit cap, polypropylene thermal underwear, and layer 8 thermal tights. On top I wore a thin long sleeved wicking shirt, a layer 8 thermal top, and a New Balance thermal zip up running jacket. I also wore cotton gloves, and 2 pairs of wicking socks. Per my wife’s advice I also slather vasoline on the exposed parts of my face.
The first two miles my face was really cold. I was really concerned with frostbite, but I thought that I could at least manage on 3.3 mile loop at the West Hartford Reservoir. After about 1.5 miles I felt warm and toasty. I was sweating, but not uncomfortably so, and I was neither cold nor hot. I felt like as long as I kept running I would be in that nice toasty spot.
The first loop went well. I had no pain or soreness at all. Once I got warm my heart rate and breathing normalized, and I managed a 10:10 average pace with a 151 HR.
By the end of my run, my hat had accumulated a ring of icy frost from all of my head sweat. Just goes to show how cold it was, brrrr.
Between a mile and 1/2 a mile or so from the end of the second loop I started feeling a weird twinge on the outside of my left knee. It reminded me of my IT band issues, and it made me really nervous. I sure hope that doesn’t flare up again. That would make me miserable! This week is a light week, no runs over 3 miles or so, so I’ll hopefully be able to recoup, and if all goes well my next long run will be great!