Color me red (with sweat)
It’s a steamy day in NYC! The 12 miler I had planned turned into 10. The temperature was a mere 82 degrees. Dare I say my southern roots are fading? I pride myself on being able to exercise in the heat. I feel it was my one true advantage in a city full of post-collegiate athletes and type-A weekend warriors who detest hot weather.
Humor me by letting me tell you my unscientific and completely made up theory as to why this shift has occurred. Three winters ago the winter blues where kicking my @$$. When I finally decided that the winter was not going to get the best of me, I piled on layers of Lycra infused workout gear and headed out the door for my first run in freezing temperatures.
Running outdoors in cold temperatures elicited feelings of accomplishment that equaled those I experienced after completing a marathon. This was a huge step for me. Seriously, the first few years I lived here I would cry from being so cold. Now after having survived running outdoors through three winters my heat tolerance (which formerly gave me my bragging rights) has disappeared.
My theory is that running in the winter makes you more sensitive to running in the heat of the summer. Do you think it could be true?
I survived my 10 miles today. I even finished 5 minutes faster than last week. The reward was this delicious concoction:
- 11 Ounces of Zico coconut water (thanks to my twitter obsession)
- 1/2 tray of ice
- 1 T My favorite peanut butter
- 1 small frozen banana
- 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries
- 2 Scoops of Vega Smoothie Infusion.
The Zico coconut water has improved my usual smoothie by 100%.
Congrats on doing your 10 miles! I’m totally impressed…I could not run that far to save my life!
WOWzer PURPLE!!! Thats the most beautiful thing I have ever seen
Hmmm, I’m not sure if you’re theory holds true for me. I’ve always lived in NY and running in the heat has always sucked. I try to avoid it at all costs and workout EARLY before the heat sets in. But I have friends from the south who use to live in the scorching heat and after a couple of years they can’t stand the really hot days. I’d say your acclimating.
Last winter was the first winter I kept running regularly and I have to say that I too felt a huge sense of accomplishment! Just getting DRESSED to run felt like I’d already completed half my workout!
Hey girl! 10 miles is still pretty freaking awesome! I think your theory is totally possible! I made the opposite move and now find it easier to run in the heat and much harder to run in the cold!
If you make the shrimp- let me know how you like it
Thanks for visiting my blog!! Yours is so attractive and pretty
To answer your question about the heat sensitivity after running in the cold, I think you may be correct on that one. I used to run a lot more than I do now, but when I did I loved to run in the cold, and I HATED to run in the summer (hot). It could have been been because my body become more sensitive to it, I’d really never thought about that! I think it also had something to do with the Ohio humidity, it’s AWFUL, especially when you are running and sweating, ugh!
Congrats on the 10 miler in this heat! That’s awesome. I’ve grown up in New England all my life (lived in Delaware for one year but didn’t run then) so I can’t compare, but I think your theory has some merit! I feel like such a bad a@@ running in the winter months – I can imagine people in their cars saying “WHAT is that girl doing. She’s crazy.” in their heads.
And they’re probably right.
Thanks for the comment on my post. Your accomplishments and outlook on fitness are great!
just found your blog and love it
Thank you!!!
I totally think running in the winter would make me hate running the hot summer. I am such a wimp when it comes to running in the really hot temps. And humidity? Don’t even get me started!!!
-maria
I’m a northern girl (Vermont) now living in the south(NC) and I have to tell you it has completely ruined my sense of being able to block out the cold. But, I try to run in the early morning or late evening to avoid high heat as well, so maybe I’m just a wimp? LOL!