Monday, March 16, 2015

A few snapshots

Here are a couple from my final hike and breakfast with friends at MacRitchie Reservoir. 

Drowsy toddler was lulled back to sleep.



It's quite a contrast to walking around outside in freezing temperatures! 

Here's one from just after my last outdoor run...

FLEECE TIGHTS. PRAISE BE FOR FLEECE TIGHTS.

Also in this week's news: I've...joined a local running group. (Now THIS is more my speed...well, figuratively.) It's a somewhat counter-intuitive thing to do while 31 weeks pregnant, but I really missed group workouts and having company. They do a speed workout at the indoor track on Monday nights, and the set was 3(1000, 400, 400) - so I simply ran for about the same length of time it would've taken me to do those distances before, which worked out to 3(4:45, 1:50, 1:50). I don't know how much more running there is in my near future, but I'm fine with that. 

Now it's springtime so everything is rainy and soggy. And I've only got one pair of running shoes here...the rest are on their way over in cartons! (Previous cartons held things like, oh, summer dresses and sandals. Totally useful, I know.) So yesterday it was off to stroll on the treadmill in my building's basement... expansion and increased blood flow mean even strolling is quite aerobic at this point. 

The last time I lived in this climate, I wasn't really a regular runner, and would perpetually overdress (tank top, long-sleeved shirt, fleece, woolly neck thing, hat, gloves, long underwear, shorts, wool socks) so I have to re-learn how to layer up in the cold. Trouble is, I'm certainly not going at anything approaching my usual speed right now, so I have to adjust for that (as well as the inevitable walk breaks). 

Oh yeah, and friends who run in cold climates: How often do you wash the outer layers? (eg fleece, hat, long-sleeved shirt you're wearing over a tank top)

7 comments:

  1. Wow, that's from one extreme to another. I'm totally impressed that you've joined a running group at 31 weeks. Actually, I'm totally impressed that you're still running.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well - it kind of resembles running. In the sense that a paper aeroplane resembles a Boeing...

      Delete
  2. I was always told to dress about 5 degrees warmer than it actually is outside (this is in celsius and not pregnant). As for the washing: that depends on whether it rained/snowed during the run and whether or not I fell :) Fleece probably after every second run, trousers still every run (sweat soaks through stockings), hat and gloves during summer, on the premise that I take them off as soon as I start sweating so they do not get dirty. Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Katrijn! Of course I'm trying to avoid falling :) That's what I do too right now - fleece every second run, and my hat and gloves are stripped off when i start to sweat (I only have two pairs of gloves here!). If I've worn shorts over tights, the shorts get washed every second run and the tights get washed every run. Geez, winter laundry is a pain.

      Delete
  3. You are such an adorable pregnant lady!
    It doesn't really get that cold here in California, but when it does, it's all about keeping my upper body and fingers warm. If I know I'm going to warm up quickly, then I'll opt for arm warmers (aka knee length socks from Target) rather than long sleeves. A vest is nice for keep your core warm while letting your arms breathe. And luckily, gloves are easy to stow away when you don't need them anymore. Oh, and having a buff headband that doubles (quadruples?) as scarf/face mask/ear warmers helps tremendously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arm warmers and vests over shirts - good idea! It's going to warm up to 'California cold' here soon :)

      Delete
  4. I totally missed that you'd moved - welcome back to the US!!!! And what Jen said - you rock that bump better than anyone else I know. I looked like a heifer at that point!

    When I lived in the UK and ran in the cold, I only washed upper layers when they smelt. I rarely wear hats when I run but I just used the sniff test to see if anything needed washing!

    I'm so glad you're settling in - you're so brave, moving at 31 weeks!!

    ReplyDelete