An Urban Boychick Takes on the Outdoors

My willingness to go out and exercise in the cold is still boosted from my recent visit to the Adirondacks. Yesterday morning I went out for a run despite the 25 degree temperature. I was just so excited to be able to do it. Last November I strained my Achilles tendon and I've been largely avoiding running since except for our monthly 5K's to let it heal. Now it's mostly better (I still feel it when I stretch) and I was happy to get outside for a run - something I've really missed. I'm glad I did this yesterday rather than putting it off until today. This morning's weather (eight degrees, wind gusts to 60 MPH, plus snow and ice on the ground) is a beyond even my boosted cold weather exercise threshold.

Yes, it was time for our monthly 5K. My Achilles tendon is finally feeling better; however, I was worried about my knees which were still aching from my previous day's bike ride. I put a knee brace on one knee. I didn't have a second knee brace and so I wrapped the other knee in an ace bandage, held in place with duct tape. Oh, for the days when my body was reliable and it was my car that was held together with duct tape. Thanks to years of kaizen and aging, these days things seem to be the other way around. Today's run was right here in Arlington, at Pentagon Row. A big, fun race with a Valentine's theme and free bloody marys afterwards at Champs. Hillier than I expected. Still, duct-taped knees and all, I turned in a decent time of about thirty two minutes even. Valerie turned in a personal best, actually running part of the way!

My recent visit to the Adirondacks somewhat reset my definition of "cold". For some reason I've really been hibernating this winter, always figuring it was too cold to do anything outside. But, I figure, if I can go out and have fun cross-country skiing with temps in the single digits, certainly I can get on my bike and ride with temps in the 50's, right? Well, the high was forecast to be in the 50's. I set out in the morning when it was still in the high 30's. The temperature was slow to rise, never actually reaching the forecast high, and the day was grey. No problem - I was well bundled up and, with the exception of my feet, stayed warm. My bike apparently likes the cold even less than I do. The front derailleur was balky, hesitating to shift up due to a sticky cable. I used it as little as possible, shifting mostly through the rear gears. I rode about 25 miles, heading west from the W&OD parking lot at Rt. 28. My original goal had been 30 miles but...

Just like last year, a group of us headed up to visit Jen and do some skiing in the Adirondacks. This year the group was Rob, Gina, Suzanne and me. The first auspicious sign occurred when Rob and I pulled into the gas station in Speculator, New York and realized that Gina and Suzanne were at the next pump getting gas. This wouldn't have been noteworthy had we been caravaning, but in fact the two cars started in two different states and each went to a different place (again in two different states) to pick up its passenger. Early Morning Driving With a cold forecast in mind the four of us raided the gas stations' convenience store for hand warmers - bought out most of their supply. Rob and I then stopped in the liquor store across the street because while he had brought bourbon with him to make his famous Bufala Negra cocktail, it wasn't the right bourbon. Jen had dinner waiting for us and the five of us settled in by the fireplace for an evening of relaxing, catching...