It was a dark and stormy night…
No, wait. Wrong story.
It was a COLD and DREARY morning…
The kind of morning where one takes a look out the window and a sane person says, “hmm how about a second cup of coffee and a nice warm blanket?” But no one ever accused me of being sane. 
When I checked to see what Oscar was wearing (Oscar is the little guy on my indoor/outdoor thermometer) he was totally decked out in his snow gear:
(He wears Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses when it’s warm out!)
So I figured I better bundle up too.
Not only do I look scared in that pic, I also look like I’m ready to rob the local saloon! (Or maybe just the nearest Nike Outlet…)
Since there was new snow on the ground overnight, I even broke out the gaiters to keep snow out of my socks:
So I had my pre-run snack – one piece of toasted Ezekial.
I was close to home this time, so I didn’t need to pack up all of the postworkout gear that I had with me last week.
Driving up the road to the trailhead, I was thanking my lucky stars that we’d decided last weekend to make this week’s run a shorter one. This kind of weather isn’t necessarily conducive to making me feel motivated
But you know what? It ended up being a beautiful run. The trail was soft with new snow (which made you feel a little like running in sand) and light snowflakes were falling. We saw three deer in the first half-mile and I even saw a my friend Wendy along the trail! Crazy Great minds think alike! 
By the end we’d accumulated 6.39 miles and many feet of ascent (and descent). 1,130 feet actually! The green line below shows elevation from my Garmin during the run.
The second big climb got the best of me and I had to walk for a minute, but overall I felt fantastic on this run.
Fuel during exercise was a Sunsweet prune at the 3.63 mark, with a sip of water. I came directly home afterward to get my stretching done and had my a post-workout shake of chocolate Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer (one scoop) blended with water and half of a banana. 
There was ZERO knee pain, no need for icing or soaking in the tub. It’s amazing how 6.39 miles is what we now consider a “short recovery run”. Next week – my longest distance ever: 14 miles. I’ve completed five half-marathons at 13.1 miles. So this will be the first time I go beyond that distance. I’m looking forward to breaking that ‘barrier’!
I’m sorry – did I just say I was “looking forward” to a 14 mile run? Told ya I wasn’t sane! 
Have a MARVELOUS Monday friends!
– Shari B. =)
#1 by Nice information really helpful share i also try it and amazingly its start work I am very happy to create my own twitter widget thanks dude for sharing. on November 17, 2011 - 10:50 pm
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Nice information really helpful share i also try it and amazingly its start work I am very happy to create my own twitter widget thanks dude for sharing.
#2 by Speed Reading Program on November 2, 2011 - 7:03 pm
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Awsome tutorial, Im still a bit novice for this excersise but im going to work at it for the next couple days.
Thanks alot for the post!
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#3 by Natalie@Online CNA Training on September 4, 2011 - 10:30 pm
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It seems you are having so much fun! Your post is very inspiring. It’s getting cold at my lovely place next month and I want to try what Shari does.. I want a great cold experience ever!
Natalie@Online CNA Training recently posted..Certified Nursing Assistant Salary
#4 by Shari B. on September 6, 2011 - 11:42 am
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Hi Natalie! Sometimes the worst weather days make for the most memorable exercise experiences!
Stay warm! Thanks so much for commenting!
#5 by Chris on February 27, 2010 - 3:21 pm
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I hate this cold weather! Ahhhh it just won’t go away! But at the same time, I am like you. I won’t let a little or even a lot of cold stop me from doing the things I wanna do! So, go get em!
.-= Chris´s last blog ..Discount Tire Stores =-.
#6 by angie on February 22, 2010 - 1:54 pm
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Hi Shari, your an inspiration! I’m training for my first half marathon (its the end of June). Can you give me some training pointers? I haven’t been running long ( a few months) but am excited about the challenge.
I look forward to Mondays blog.
#7 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 6:51 pm
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Hi Angie – thank you! That’s what my hope for this blog is: to inspire people! So I’m very happy to hear that you feel that way. I’ll start gathering my thoughts on pointers for you!
Congratulations on setting such a great goal! That’s a FitFEAT for sure!
#8 by Christy on February 22, 2010 - 12:55 pm
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That shake looks yummy! Way to go running in the cold and snow! I’m waiting til it warms up a bit here.
.-= Christy´s last blog ..Productive Day =-.
#9 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 7:05 pm
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Hi Christy! I love my Vega shakes! Glad you think it looks yummy – sometimes that powder has a tendency to look a little ugly!
#10 by Beth on February 22, 2010 - 11:41 am
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Hello Shari, Great job running in the cold and snow! I feel your pain as I ran my first run with Team in Training on Saturday morning in that weather… almost 8 miles. I heard you saw Tracy and the team at Starbucks during your run last week
I wasn’t there because I was our of town.
Hope all is well!
Beth
#11 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 6:53 pm
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Hi Beth! Isn’t that funny that we saw Tracy on our run? They moved up from a 5K to 8 miles in ONE week? Really? Or do they break you into groups based on what level you’re at when you start?
Well done getting out in the cold! Glad to know I wasn’t the only crazy one out in this crud! Arizona looks better every day!
#12 by Beth on February 22, 2010 - 7:45 pm
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Hello Shari,
Last week was a timed 5K to see what everyone’s pace group would be. We run based on time, so this past week was 1:15 and the weeks increase by 15 minutes for the next few weeks. I ran almost 8 miles in that time this past weekend. Everyone just runs the distance they can in that time.
Beth
#13 by Sammi on February 22, 2010 - 10:12 am
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Oscar is adorable!!! Where can I get one! haha
That little strap on your pants is awesome. I am scared of wearing long pants when I run because I tripped over my pants once and got a big scab on my chin! haha.
can’t wait for the next run!
.-= Sammi´s last blog ..Real quick =-.
#14 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 6:55 pm
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Hi Sammi! Oscar says thank you!
He was a gift to me from one of my personal training clients.
Oh my gosh – you scraped your CHIN?? That’s terrible! I think I’d be wearing capris or shorts too if that had happened to me!
#15 by Cindy on February 22, 2010 - 9:59 am
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WOW Shari…that was an awesome run. First…the hills..that would have done me in.
Next..the temp. I have a question.. The coldest Ive ever run in was 50 degrees. .. and my chest BURED. attributed thar to asthma but I am not experienced enough to really know. Do you experience this on cold days? and if so how do you deal with it.
I have to come back tonight when i can see your pics better
xoxoxo
#16 by Shari B. on February 23, 2010 - 12:51 pm
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Hi Cindy! Somehow I missed your comment last night when I was replying – sorry about that!
Great question on the cold. I don’t have any trouble at all with burning lungs/or chest when it’s cold out. MSP on the other hand does, plus I’ve had a few clients who have this issue as well.
In MSP’s case, I finally convinced him to get to a doc because it seemed he had exercise-induced asthma and the cold really makes it worse for him. But the inhaler they prescribed doesn’t help him when it’s cold.
If you are running outside and the air is cold use a light scarf and loosely tie it around your face (kind of like my bandana shot above!) so that the air you breathe in is a bit more warmed just by being inside your scarf. Also try to make an effort to breathe IN through your nose and OUT through your mouth when it is cold out.
10-15 degrees is about my cutoff. Any colder than that and I won’t run outside. Mostly cuz it makes my water freeze and I have to have water when I run!
#17 by Fallon on February 22, 2010 - 9:12 am
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I give you credit for running in the snow like that! I live in Las Vegas and if it is below 60 degrees I run on the treadmill instead. =P Your post is inspiring which makes me think I should suck it up a little bit more.
.-= Fallon´s last blog ..My favorite way to eat oatmeal =-.
#18 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 6:56 pm
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Fallon, I cannot WAIT until it is 60 degrees here! I’ll be in Vegas in April – we should touch base on email and maybe we can plan a run together!
#19 by Bernadette on February 22, 2010 - 9:00 am
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I just cannot even wrap my head around running in the snow! You are awesome for getting out there!!
It is funny how once you get up into double digit mileage the 6 miles becomes a ‘short’ run, it’s really crazy when you look at where you’ve come from, at least for me it is.
What training plan are you using?? I’m guessing your mileage from here on out starts increasing quite a bit, how exciting!!
Have a great Monday!!
xoxo
#20 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 7:03 pm
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Hi Berni!
I’m not actually following a training plan per se. One of my friends/running buddies, Scott, put together a spreadsheet with some targets for our long runs. But we are very flexible with it. This week we had on the sheet that we should have done 14, but we decided last week that we could use a shorter run before that so we flip-flopped two of our weeks.
The minute I follow a “plan” I seem to rebel…! And I feel that most training plans that you find out there have WAY too much running in them, usually 4-5 days a week. I’m happy if I get in one LONG run on the weekends and 1-2 other short run during the work week (either with speedwork or hills). I don’t want to give up my weight training and yoga to get extra runs in.
#21 by Joan on February 22, 2010 - 8:45 am
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Hi Shari, great news on the zero pain after your run! I think 6.39 mi is amazing let alone 13.1 and 14! And even on a cold and dreary am.
I sure hope you guys get to warm up soon.
Gotta love Oscar!
.-= Joan´s last blog ..A Time To Sow =-.
#22 by Shari B. on February 22, 2010 - 7:04 pm
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Hi Joan! Send some of your springlike weather our way! I’ve been “OVER” winter since October!! It feels like forever since I’ve been WARM
So glad you guys have had GREAT weather lately!
#23 by Joan on February 22, 2010 - 9:21 pm
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yes not wanting to brag but this week has been awesome! I feel soooo bad for you guys there and indeed most of the rest of the country. It’s been a bad winter.
.-= Joan´s last blog ..A Time To Sow =-.