Cold Weather Running

I have never been a big fan of the cold weather. I remember when I was a
young boy playing outside after a fresh snowfall, only staying outside for a
short period of time. Being cold was never one of my favorite feelings. As I
grew older my feelings for being cold have not changed.

For years my running schedule would end right after enjoying the five
miler in downtown York. I would put my running shoes away and not bring
them out until the break of spring and warming weather. My memory is
not the best, but I believe that I had been talking to my good friend Carolyn
Daugherty after the York five miler. Carolyn had encouraged me to continue
my running into the cold winter months. I decided that I was finally up for
the challenge and would give this cold weather running thing a try!

If you are an early morning runner like me you know that the first two miles
are the worst part of running in the winter months. Let me back up, the first
obstacle is getting out of your warm bed as you probably can hear your
furnace in your house running. In addition some mornings you can hear the
cold wind blowing outside as you are putting on all of your winter running
gear.

So after those first couple of miles you realize that this cold weather running
is not too bad. And if you run with a group like I do, it makes the miles fly
by so much faster. I have enjoyed some of my best runs right after fresh
snowfall. Everything looks nice and clean and you can enjoy the crazy looks
that you get from people shoveling their sidewalks or cars. You know that
they are thinking that these people have lost their minds!

So as we head into winter and much colder weather, please give cold
weather running a try. I think that you will find this experience something
that you will enjoy for several winters to come.

See you on the roads & trails
Doug Barnett