Thursday, February 18, 2010

"Pitchers and Catchers" and Freezing Temperatures

I knew I was in trouble when I read a twitter feed for "Pitchers and Catchers" early yesterday morning and the first thing that popped into my head was "Who's hosting an English tea party?" Then as I was commuting on my way to work and found my favorite running trail still covered in snow, I literally almost wanted to cry. If you think I'm exaggerating, let me point out one simple fact. Exactly one year ago, the temperature outside was 48 degrees F. 48 DEGREES! (I keep a record of such things in my training log. Yeah, I admit it. I'm a total numbers geek!) By comparison, yesterday's high for the day was 34F. In fact, if you went back and tracked the weather history, you'd see that we only had one day so far this year when the actual temperature was above 40F. One whole day. For the rest of the time, we always seem to be caught in some wintry concoction of wind, cold, and snow. So much so that I really forgot what spring, sunlight and warmth feel like anymore!

As a marathoner who trained through the winter last year for Boston '09, I really have no right to complain about the foul weather. After all, you'd think I'd gained some experience running in the cold from that adventure. But when you consider the fact that average temps this year are generally about 5-10 degrees colder than they were last year, I think we're dealing with a whole another level of misery and nastiness this year. I, for one, has just about had it with the cold weather. In reviewing my training for my last blog post and previewing the list of 18-22 milers I have left to tackle before I hit the marathon starting line down by the Jersey shore in early May, I'm ready to throw in the towel, switch to the half marathon and climb back in my cozy bed. Seriously!

Dressed in my multi-layered clothing and long pants, I feel so heavy, so uncomfortable and so slow whenever I run outside. Patches of snow and ice causing me to slip, slide, and fall doesn't help matters either. And where I run where even pedestrian traffic is few and far between, I rarely encounter other runners sharing the roads with me, which often leaves me questioning my sanity by the end of my run. Yet, I keep repeating the cycle four or five days each week hoping that the conditions or my sentiments will change. They don't really, but I have faith that they will. After all, the calendar says its mid February and at this same point last year, I already ran a 1:26 half marathon in a race where the thermometer hit 56 degrees. So I ask again, how long will it be before we see 50 or even 45 here in the city? How long will it be before I can run along the West or East Side Drives without a winter jacket and not feel like I just woke up from anesthesia? How long do we have until Spring arrives? After all, it's pitchers and catchers this week. Pitchers and Catchers. And that is all I'm going to say about that!

12 comments:

3:59:59. Bitches. said...

I feel like this is the week it's hitting everyone: we're sick of winter. I'm willing to tolerate this until the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics, then I'm through. Bring on baseball. But kudos to you for sticking with it on these chilly mornings.

Anonymous said...

Ugh. I so can't relate but that sounds horrible. Keep at it-- spring is coming. I know it doesn't seem like it, but it will be here soon.

EZEthan said...

It has been a particularly nasty winter... I check the 10 day forcast multiple times a day praying that the weatherman will give us a reprieve. You're right about that one day above 40... usually we get at least one small window of warmer weather to help get us through the winter, but not this year!

-side note rant: if anyone else uses that fact that it's cold out this winter to dispute the existance of global warming I'm going scream! Fact or Fiction you cannot disprove scientific theory with one data point. That's not how it works!!!

NY Wolve said...

I hear you on the weather. It is enough to make training a real drag. I am not afraid of t treadmill, and earlier this week realized that I have run outside exactly twice this year, one of which was a race in Central Park.

And I went out to California the first week of January where it was perfect. That was before the torrential rain and mudslides, so I guess we have to pick our poison.

Jocelyn said...

I can't believe at pictures and catchers reported to spring training. Didn't the world series like JUST happen? And its still to cold for me to be fully comfortable. Boooo

Jen Feeny said...

Disclaimer: I know you have it far worse than I do... BUT...
Even Florida, you know the Sunshine State, has has wicked cold weather this year and it's still going on... I mean as if the coldest Disney Marathon in history in Jan wasn't bad enough, we've actually had weeks of freezing temps. Freezing! Um that doesn't happen down here. I'm sorry that ya'll are getting it far worse than us and I hope you get a reprieve soon!

Julie said...

Hi Lam,
I know the weather sucks and I am just as tired of it as you!! I am ready for some forty degree weather...Sunday I ran a half marathon and when I pulled into the parking lot it was seven below zero!! Yikes! Spring will come! Spring is on its way!! If we keep saying it maybe it will finally show up:) I hope that you have an excellent day Lam!! Keep smiling:)

marathonmaiden said...

i want spring so badly. NE hasn't really been hit too badly with winter weather but the cold has gone on long enough!

Unknown said...

Seriously man, I'm in Florida and so far this year I'm beginning to think I'm in at least North or South Carolina, but not Florida. Down with the cold! Bring on the heat!

Lindsay said...

i know how you feel! it actually got above freezing here yesterday AND the sun came out. double whammy.

i keep track of the temp in my training log too - i think mostly in case things are going better/worse than normal? i dunno i think the weather can influence it when it's cruddy anyway.

i dislike all these florida people whining. suck it up for a few days of temps in the 30's ;)

runner26 said...

agreed. the cold sux. but luckily it will be warmer this weekend--perhaps my limbs won't be frozen solid when i finish my long run..

sRod said...

Glad to see I'm not the only one suffering through this never ending winter! This week though was so nice with the sunshine and sun starting to come up earlier.

I just looked ahead to the forecast for my race next weekend in DC: 60s! I don't even know how to handle that. I'll be sweating bullets before I even cross the starting line.

 
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