New Year, Cold Ears
I'm not really one for wearing the race swag on the day of a race. Kinda like how some people have a rule against wearing a band's t-shirt to their concert. I broke my own rule last weekend though, when I ran the first race of the year (doesn't really feel that long since I ran the last race of the year). The inaugural Resolution Run 5k, put on by HMF.
The race began and ended at Connecticut Valley Brewing Company. Only mildly ironic, considering that most resolutions don't involve running... followed by a beer. But hey! Maybe someone made a resolution to try all of the craft breweries in Connecticut, who am I to judge?
Beyond not wearing the race swag, I don't tend to wear hats when I run. But honestly, I wasn't braving it for this one. At least I didn't need to use the port-o-potties before running though (after all, the hat would only keep my ears warm).
One's ears may not be necessary for running, but that doesn't make it any less distracting when you can't feel them. Overall, it wasn't a fantastic run for me. I can attribute some of it to the absolute freeze in the air. Most running advice says to slow your pace below a certain temperature (usually 60℉)... not that the searing cold in my lungs gave me much of a choice. I pulled my buff up around my nose, but it only helped a small bit once the moisture from my breath got to it.
Beyond all that, I started getting stomach cramps before even hitting the first mile marker, which made me wonder if it was a bad idea to skip the port-o-potties before the run. Between the cramping and the cold, I finished about 5 minutes slower than my average time.
I have noticed that my diet in the week leading up to a race can definitely affect how I feel and perform on race day. I'm usually more strict about it before a longer race distance (who wants to be totally miserable for 13 miles, after all), but it'd been a rough week at work, so the food and [adult] beverages I'd eaten reflected that. It was probably a major reason for the cramping... I've found that drinking beer (especially a wheat or particularly hoppy beer) doesn't leave my insides feeling all that great, and sometimes exacerbates my Crohn's. That feeling can last for a little while... in this case, it had been a couple of days since I had a couple beers with dinner.
Thankfully the cramping had subsided a bit by the time I crossed the finish line. I was just as thankful for the fact that the water bottle they handed me upon crossing wasn't frozen solid, and I could actually take a few swigs of tepid water before heading back towards the brewery. I knew that I'd be skipping the post-race beer, but the chili being handed out to runners was calling my name. It was gloriously hot, and I was finally starting to feel my fingers again by the time I finished it. It tasted a lot better than the metallic taste that I get whenever I run in the cold... does anyone else get that? Weirdest thing.
In terms of resolutions, I've made it my goal to run a race every month in the year 2019. I still have to find my February run (unfortunately my sisters and I are skipping our traditional Disney run this year)... maybe I'll luck out and we'll have a mild 40℉ day? A girl can dream!
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| I'm also not really one for wearing hats while running, so this was a momentous occasion. And a cold one. |
The race began and ended at Connecticut Valley Brewing Company. Only mildly ironic, considering that most resolutions don't involve running... followed by a beer. But hey! Maybe someone made a resolution to try all of the craft breweries in Connecticut, who am I to judge?
Beyond not wearing the race swag, I don't tend to wear hats when I run. But honestly, I wasn't braving it for this one. At least I didn't need to use the port-o-potties before running though (after all, the hat would only keep my ears warm).
 |
| It made the 35℉ Spartan run seem almost balmy. |
One's ears may not be necessary for running, but that doesn't make it any less distracting when you can't feel them. Overall, it wasn't a fantastic run for me. I can attribute some of it to the absolute freeze in the air. Most running advice says to slow your pace below a certain temperature (usually 60℉)... not that the searing cold in my lungs gave me much of a choice. I pulled my buff up around my nose, but it only helped a small bit once the moisture from my breath got to it.
Beyond all that, I started getting stomach cramps before even hitting the first mile marker, which made me wonder if it was a bad idea to skip the port-o-potties before the run. Between the cramping and the cold, I finished about 5 minutes slower than my average time.
I have noticed that my diet in the week leading up to a race can definitely affect how I feel and perform on race day. I'm usually more strict about it before a longer race distance (who wants to be totally miserable for 13 miles, after all), but it'd been a rough week at work, so the food and [adult] beverages I'd eaten reflected that. It was probably a major reason for the cramping... I've found that drinking beer (especially a wheat or particularly hoppy beer) doesn't leave my insides feeling all that great, and sometimes exacerbates my Crohn's. That feeling can last for a little while... in this case, it had been a couple of days since I had a couple beers with dinner.
Thankfully the cramping had subsided a bit by the time I crossed the finish line. I was just as thankful for the fact that the water bottle they handed me upon crossing wasn't frozen solid, and I could actually take a few swigs of tepid water before heading back towards the brewery. I knew that I'd be skipping the post-race beer, but the chili being handed out to runners was calling my name. It was gloriously hot, and I was finally starting to feel my fingers again by the time I finished it. It tasted a lot better than the metallic taste that I get whenever I run in the cold... does anyone else get that? Weirdest thing.
In terms of resolutions, I've made it my goal to run a race every month in the year 2019. I still have to find my February run (unfortunately my sisters and I are skipping our traditional Disney run this year)... maybe I'll luck out and we'll have a mild 40℉ day? A girl can dream!
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