First Outdoor Run of the Year

I totally feel your pain! LOL
I ran my first 5K of the "season" Saturday and my time was less than stellar in my opinion. However, I kept getting reminders from my friends that I ran with that your time doesn't matter. It's the fact that you went out and did it and finished it!

Awesome job!

-35 here still..:( jealous!

krissyreminisce wrote: »

I'm training for my first half in May, too! I did my first outdoor run of the season on Saturday as well as my first 5k. I ended up getting first place in my age group. I wasn't expecting that so I just grabbed my banana and left. Lol. I still need to pick up my medal.

Good luck with your future runs! I did my first long run on Sunday. It would have been better if I didn't get lost and then nearly wet myself in the middle of it. Lol.

Way to go on first place! That's awesome!

I'm training for a half in May and went outside for my first outdoor training run in 2015 yesterday, after being on a treadmill for the last few months. It was really pretty rough. Pavement, dips, inclines, wind, glaring sun, and difficulty pacing myself. It's not like you can just set your legs to some fixed number like a treadmill and off you go. I had hoped to hammer out 90 minutes but only got 60 done before I wrapped it up.

The really weird thing to me is that I ran a half marathon (outside) three weeks ago with only treadmill training. It was definitely not ideal but I think the adrenaline helped push me through the crap that I experienced yesterday. Without any adrenaline yesterday, it was drudgery.

I was told once that "bad runs make good runs feel like great ones!" We all have crappy runs. Mine was Saturday...1/2 marathon that was hilly, windy, rainy and cold. There was little course support, the turn around was horrible because it was not split so basically you were having to dodge people both ways. It was awful. That 1/2 marathon seemed longer than my full.

Good luck with training and remember it does get better!

I love running outside! Got so sick of being cooped up I started running again March 1st and it was coooold out! I found this fun page that gives advice on what to wear depending on the weather and it totally helped me out: http://www.runnersworld.com/what-to-wear
So excited to go run today, its 60 out!!!!

I went for my first outside run of the year too last week when it was about 45 out. It definitely turned into sprinting when there were clear sidewalks and a quick walk/jump/avoid puddles & mud all the rest of the time. But it was a blast and felt so good to get outside and not on the treadmill!! But I should have worn a hat.. the chill got to my ears and then I had a headache for the rest of the night.

JoRocka wrote: »

OCRs (obstacle course races)

I can't believe this is a thing now. OCR. oiy

It's definitely a "thing" lol. And if you haven't tried one you really should. Great tests of strength and endurance (physically and mentally). I've done quite a few over the past two years and this year decided to set some pretty crazy goals. I have a full season lined up starting in about a month. Throw in some friends and traveling, and I am one happy camper =]

esjones12 wrote: »

....um, I've been running outside all winter long training for OCRs (obstacle course races). Southeastern PA here, so not too brutal, but I've ran in some bad stuff this year (snow, rain, etc). Did a 6 mile trail race with temps in the teens and 6" of snow. So all you indoor runners think you are ready for Spring, HA! I am absolutely dying to run in 1 layer of clothing....

Ya know - I never realized this but one of my regular cycling routes takes me very close to the town you have listed in your profile. I start in Downingtown, head south to Embreeville, west all the way out towards Wolf Hollow County Park, then back up through Atglen, Parkesburg, and back to D-town.

glevinso wrote: »

Ya know - I never realized this but one of my regular cycling routes takes me very close to the town you have listed in your profile. I start in Downingtown, head south to Embreeville, west all the way out towards Wolf Hollow County Park, then back up through Atglen, Parkesburg, and back to D-town.

@glevinso‌ I'm like an hour from D-town. Atglen and Parksburg ring a bell as well. I'm like halfway between Lancaster and Reading in the farmlands. I'd offer to ride with you sometime, but umm....it'd be like a super slow recovery ride for you! PS the location on my profile seems to change itself and is never accurate, even though I type in the zip *shrug*

JoRocka wrote: »

negative- I went to a military school- I ran all sorts of stuff like that. I'm not paying that much money to go do that. But thanks LOL.

I just didn't realize we were giving them "names" officially. Guess I'm getting older for real!

Haha, I assume having someone yelling at you while doing it would make it less fun. But I grew up in the country rolling around on the ground, climbing over things, playing in trees, etc. Doing this stuff makes me feel awesome. Gives me something to work towards. People spend money on what they choose. I know people that waste way more money at the bar. But yes, the community is growing and there are tons of sponsored athletes (called "elites"). They are pushing big to get it televised, etc. It's not going to disappear anytime soon =]

I had the opposite problem...was afraid it would get too hot on me this weekend. Ran two half-marathons. The trail course was muddy, especially on Saturday, due to the rain we'd had all week. Much drier on Sunday and I felt fortunate I finished my halfs before the temps got into the 70's both days.

I live in the South, so I run year round outside, except the occasional rain/cold combination when I'm not in the mood. Has been colder than normal here and a lot of rain, so not my favorite winter of running.

I'll appreciate it, though, when the summer heats up and I'm running in the 90's with high humidity.

As for routes, I run at a park that has dedicated jogging trails. If you don't have one of those, perhaps a park where you can run on its roads, where there will be less car traffic? I have a "backup" park I run at with a 1 mile looping road for runners to share with the cars. Low traffic and the cars drive slow. Beats my neighborhood, where I never know what will be in the roads or on the sidewalks.

StephannieL wrote: »

omma_to_3 wrote: »

36 is kind of balmy for a winter run LOL. First and foremost, dress appropriately. Wear a hat, or at least ear warmers. Wear a shirt with thumbholes, or actual gloves. Wear sunglasses, even if it's not sunny (helps in the summer too - bugs in the eye are NOT fun - I wear Trifosi that have interchangeable lenses and one of the lenses is clear). Finally, find a good route where you won't have to dodge obstacles - many of the parks around here clear a portion of their bike paths throughout the winter for runners.

I did a half in February. I trained outside for all my long runs (it gets dark too early for me to run outside after work). There were only 2 weeks I headed indoors due to sub-zero temps. Truly, I prefer to head indoors when it gets under 20 degrees, but many people are OK at much colder temps.

I will have to remember those sunglasses. I have my Oakley's that I wear when it's the least bit sunny but need something on the darker, windier days. And LOL, no, bugs in the eyes are not fun.

Yes, I like my Trifosi. I had to switch to the clear lenses for the winter LOL. They have an orange lens too which is nice if you're in the woods - it'll brighten everything up!