Saturday, December 28, 2013

Why I Love Snow Pants

Over time I have discovered something very interesting about myself. I like to run in as few clothes as possible. I have yet to do a naked run (although I’m told these exist), mostly because the thought of seeing other people’s body parts flailing up and down and in circles would cause too much of a distraction. I once went to a nude beach in Greece (actually, it was a gay nude beach, even better) and watching the guys playing volleyball kind of scarred me for life.

Anyway, my new running outfit for when it is 25-40 degrees is this:

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I used to wear capris when it was colder, but now I wear shorts and compression socks. Just more comfy and liberating. I have also started wearing a long sleeved shirt with arm warmers over it and fancy striped gloves from Target (Tarjay). I still like Target even though my personal identity was stolen from there over the holidays (not really, but it could have been).

So, just to prove life is not all about me and my training, we took a family day trip up to Fraser, Colorado (ice box of the nation) yesterday for our annual tubing trip. The two hour drive is totally worth it to experience the best sledding hill of your life.

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Plus, having a lift to pull you and your tube back up is perfection:

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However, what was to be a 2 hour trip quickly turned into a 3+ hour trip due to ski traffic and accidents. I got bored and took pictures in the car.

MFT (Mother Eff’ing Traffic):

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Post-traffic (I’ve got to get out of this shit hole):

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16 year olds need their sleep:

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Bored:

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I was proud of myself for not throwing a tantrum when I saw the sign saying it would take us an hour to go the next ten miles. I did not scream and yell that I could almost run that far in an hour (well, not really, but some people do). Instead I ate mini Altoids and changed the radio station 95 times, which everyone loves.

Once we finally got to our destination, we were ready to roll. We’ve been to this tubing hill many times in the past and have always walked in, paid, and grabbed tubes. Not this time. A couple days after Christmas meant we had to wait two hours just to start sledding. WTF?

Once again, I did not throw a fit. I just watched the other sledders having fun. On a side note, I was wearing those bib-type snow pants. If you’ve ever worn those and farted, then you know how the smell wafts right up to your face (same with overalls). This is what I learned while waiting for 2 hours.

Finally it was our turn. This is what going downhill 50 miles an hour attached to your spouse’s tube looks and sounds like (you don’t want the smell part):

 

I call this picture Me With a Train.

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Here is Sam lounging in the tube. He is wearing my snow pants because he doesn’t have any. It is fun to share clothes with your 16 year old son:

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We stopped at Starbucks for hot beverages on the way out of town because that’s what you do when you’ve been playing in the snow. We were thrilled to find out that there was another major traffic jam heading down to Denver. I decided that today was a lesson in patience. Something I have very little of. I think that is why I started running. Because walking from one place to the next takes far too long. I hate walking.

Speaking of running, today was back to that. Enough family time. I ran 13 miles with the last 3 miles at race pace. Shouldn't have been hard, but it was. I do love my new pack, however.

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What winter activities do you like? I used to ski, but fell and broke bones and had to be carried down the mountain, so I don’t do that anymore. Sometimes I snowshoe. I also like drinking Bailey’s.

Would you ever do a naked run? Maybe. I never say never.

SUAR

26 comments:

  1. I don't think I would ever do a naked run, but I too love waring shorts and compression socks when it is cold outside!

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  2. That looks so fun! I miss snow. All I get is torrential rain here.
    Today I did long sleeves and shorts plus a ball cap for 42-ish and steady rain. I did ten miles and my thighs were NUMB two miles in. Plus the shorts got all wet and were riding up - it was like running in wet underwear, disgusting. I kept thinking about this cozy blanket I own and wondering if I could figure out a way to run while wrapped in it.

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  3. I haven't been tubing in years. I really enjoy snowboarding and hope to make it up to the Poconos this year. Would I ever do a naked race? I was VERY tempted to do a naked bike ride in the city and was talked out of it, so who knows!

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  4. I grew up in a rural part of northern Illinois. We had some giant hills and as kids used to go sledding right out the back door. When my kids were old enough to go sledding, I hated that I had to drive them to a sled hill. It was so crowded! Nowhere to park! They loved it, tho!

    I used to downhill ski but haven't done it in years. I do like cross country skiing.

    And I just wouldn't run naked. Certain body parts need um....support. Just say no.

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  5. I used to ski a lot growing up but now only go occasionally. I like going for walks in the snow though, something cool about seeing everything covered (and throwing snowballs at the unsuspecting people nearby).

    As for a naked run- I don't have much that would be flopping around, but I think I'd be pretty scarred seeing some people that way. I guess I am mean like that, some I would just prefer keep their clothes on.

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  6. Your traffic nightmare brought back fond (HA!) memories of countless trips I took up to the mountain to altitude trail for Leadville and got stuck in that god forsaken disaster in Idaho Springs. Is that piece of crap done yet? Cuz I ain't heading up there again until it is (once I SAT THERE for THREE HOURS while they blasted the tunnel...with a bleeding knee from my infamous far (the one I tore the rib muscle) - shoot me!).

    I remember running the Bay to Breakers in (cough) 1991 and loads of flapping male body parts - gross!

    What are you training for these day? Gah, we need to catch up!!!

    Hope you had a great Christmas...looks like we only got to run together once this year - in JANUARY *sigh*.

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  7. I ran the Bay to Breakers in SF in 2000. Yup. Naked runners, just running shoes, sun hat and a fanny pack. I can't recall where the bib number went....What I could never figure out is how did they get to the start line naked, I mean San Fransisco is pretty relaxed about clothing and all but on the subway? And really why?

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  8. I used to ski back before kids. Now we're trying to figure out how to take all 4 kids plus my husband (I'm the only one who knows how and I was never exactly "good"). I think we need to make a weekend of it and if we can't ski we'll just tube!

    "Naked" and "run" should never be used together. Really. I wouldn't even run naked on the treadmill in my basement with NO witnesses. Maybe I'm more of a prude than I thought...

    Any recommendations on learning how to heart rate train? Did that work out for you? Did you use a book? Did you already post about this? I don't think you did because I read every day but it's possible I forgot. I got a monitor for Christmas and I'd like to give it a go.

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    1. Yes, I did post on it, here is the link:

      http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/08/heart-rate-training-for-clueless-people.html

      I think the theory behind HR training makes a lot of sense, but you have to be very patient. I did see some improvement, but I did not stick with it long enough for it to make a real change. Maybe one of these days.

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    2. I got a heart rate monitor for Christmas last year. I didn't use it for training per se, but it was really helpful in the summer for pacing myself in the heat. When I started to feel really bad, I'd look down and sure enough my heart rate was in the red zone! I'm "older" and I found that the standard heart zone charts were too low for my level of fitness. I still like to base my pace on how I'm feeling....

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    3. I trained for 6 months with one and found 2 things:
      1. The 220-age= max hr is way off for me. According to the formula my max hr is about 175, in reality it is closer to 215 (and no, I don't have a heart condition). I found using the formula I would be walking and already in zone 2 which was of course very frustrating.
      2. Once I got the zones figured out, I found it helped me listen to my body much better. I could see in my heart rate when I was tired, getting sick, not recovered, doing a tempo run on an easy day, etc... that is useful information.
      "Heart rate monitor training for the compleat idiot" by John L. Parker jr. Was a light read that answered a lot of questions I had.

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    4. That is the same book I used and talk about in my post. Pretty straight forward.

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    5. Thanks! I love your readers, Beth! Always so helpful and encouraging!

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  9. I like to wear as little as possible too. Both as a runner and as a mom. But running around naked, I don't think I will be doing. Or maybe when it's pitch dark outside.

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  10. I love ice skating, especially at the open rink in Yosemite with El Capitan in the background. As a Cali girl, winter activities are something you have to go to - I'm not going to walk about my front door and find snow. I've skied once. Mountain biking in mud (if we ever get rain) is my "winter" activity.

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  11. You are a better person than me - sad that in our family I'm usually the most cranky when we have traffic or long waits!
    Glad you had fun!
    And - you are already high on my hero list but running in shorts when it's so cold?! You rock!

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  12. I prefer shorts, too! It doesn't matter how "cold" it gets (the lowest I've had to run in is 40-something), I need to wear shorts or I overheat.

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  13. No way I'm ever running naked, except from my bed to the bathroom! And even less, no way I ever want to see anyone else running naked anywhere around me. Except maybe some really way too hot (straight!) guy!

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  14. Ugh! Seems like so much fun to be in traffic and a big line ;)
    I love skiing and tubing :)

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  15. I just tried skiing for the first time and let's just say.... I am a much better runner than skier.
    Running naked... I'd never say never either.

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  16. Nothing! Freaking snow is cold. No thanks!

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  17. If you haven't already seen/heard it, go to http://jeannerobertson.com/MeetingPlannerVideo.htm and check out her Don't Bungee Jump Naked clip. Hil-air-ee-us! I laughed so hard I cried.

    I don't run in shorts in sub-45 degree weather. My legs get so cold, just above the knees.

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  18. Yeah it's nice fun and i like so much fun to be in traffic and a big line but sometime i have used mountain bike for riding and i like sound.

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  19. That looks like a great tubing hill!

    My favorite winter activity is snowshoeing! I tried snowmobiling for the first time this year and am looking forward to doing that again when the temp warms up a bit. Temps at -19 below with -20s windchills don't make me eager to suit up and go outside when I could stay inside with a book and some coffee or hot cocoa!

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