Day 4, Week 8: Runner Hassles & Bad Morning Run Outfits

Surprise!  I did a run this morning instead of weights!

Since I had to work super late last night I got up a tad late this morning, so a shorter workout was in order.  Hence, a 3-miler out in the 30 degree (!) weather at 5:35 AM darkness was had by all.  Well, not all.  Just me and the large dog.  Who was obviously quite pleased about this.

When I came inside I got hassled by the hubbs for the state of my running outfit.

The dog is so excited by my outfit he's gone all blurry.

The cat hassled me with his face.

Hyooman. This my "your clothes hurt me" face.

As a runner, I often get hassled a lot about a variety of things.  Let us count the ways, shall we?

1) Running in the cold.  Yes, I run in the cold even though I have a treadmill.  Why?  Because runs over about 8 miles on the treadmill start fragmenting what's left of my sanity.  I'd rather risk losing fingers than lose what's left of my grip on reality.

2) Running in the cold AND snow.  If you're running out in the country like I do and the snow starts falling, it's all quiet and beautiful and one-with-the-universey.  But after that snow has sat for a few days being dirtied up by passing traffic and getting packed into snow speed-bumps on the road, it then becomes a huge pain in the patootie.  But I'd still rather strap on the Yak Trax and get the run done outside than get on the treadmill to nowheresville.

3) Running in the rain.  Yes, if it's raining I go out and run.  I haven't melted yet.  I fact, I've hit some damn fine PRs in the rain.  My first marathon was run completely in the rain.

That shirt came to my waist at the start.  This is mile 25.

4) I'm ruining my knees.  No I'm not.  My knees are stronger than ever, especially since I strengthen the muscles around them.  My curse is shin splints, not bad knees.

5) You run alone??? You're going to get abducted!  Hasn't happened yet, and there's been plenty of opportunity for the cows and horses I see all the time to hatch a plan.  Maybe they're waiting for opposable thumbs or something before they grab me.  I do try to mix up my times and routes, though, to foil any nefarious plans those farm animals may have.

6) Oh-running is why your thighs are so huge.  Seriously?!?  Don't make me come over there.

7) You run?  But you don't have the body of a runner.  Alright.  That's it.  I'm coming over there. 

Learning is fun--here it comes:

• My mother once asked me if I got dressed for running in the dark after seeing me come home from an early morning run.  For reals.
• Speaking of mothers, she's the only one that can say #s 6 & 7 and not walk away injured.
• Really, never utter #6 & 7 to a female runner.  Unless you want to find out how those kickboxing classes she's taking are going.
• Basically, for me running outside > running inside > not running at all.  So quit hassling me about weather already.
• By the way, that running vest rocks (Brooks), even if my tights were all Saggy McSaggerson.

Tomorrow's workout: Weights for reals, I promise.