A Running Obsession

I really, really enjoy running. I like everything about it. I even like the worst parts about it: the pain, the cold, the hills. I might like it to the point of obsession. I believe this obsession stems partly from the fact that I am training for my first marathon, which will be the B&A Marathon in Maryland, March 1^st. If I’m not actually running, I’m thinking about running, looking up information about running, mapping routes, or re-mapping routes just for the sake of seeing where I can squeeze in an extra half mile. On Monday I start mentally preparing for Saturday’s long run; I think about it all week. I look at the weather somewhere between three and five times each day. I look at the hourly forecast for each day as well as the 10-day forecast just to make sure I will be prepared, and then I start thinking about what I’ll wear.

Yesterday I had a fabulous mid-week run. I was too chicken to run early in the morning because of the wind and wind chill factor so I waited until about 3:45p.m. and went out for a run. I think it was about 27 degrees F. As I have often thought, I am truly amazed by what you can ask your body to do and that it will so often deliver. Obviously running in the cold requires a certain amount of preparation and being able to comfortably run six miles takes a certain amount of training. The training has been well under way, and this Christmas I received a jackpot of running gear so I did indeed feel well prepared. The first mile was pretty cold, but I really only felt it on my face and at my fingertips even though I had on gloves.

I was trying out some of the new gear for the first time and was truly impressed. I’ve never worn running tights before but I think I’m a true convert from my other running pants. In an exchange at Under Armor, I got a pair of ColdGear tights that I was at first skeptical about, but after using them a couple times now in frigid weather, I’m definitely sold on the concept of how compression tights really do keep the muscles warm. (Under Armour in my opinion also has an extremely well organized, user-friendly website.) I’m also a huge fan of Brooks running gear and I was trying out a new top that just might be my newest favorite running shirt. Why am I gushing over all this gear? Because as I was running I was thinking about what truly great gear it all is which made me remember how much I love the little things in life.