My VLOG On My Exercise Hiatus and Project Snow!

After running for almost 17 years (eek!) I have learned you definitely have to listen to your body and can’t expect TOO much of it. Being so well trained, a half marathon probably didn’t seem like it would be a huge deal, but it takes a lot out of you!

Sorry about all the soreness :( Hang in there, dear Angela!!

I think project snow is a fantastic idea! I go through terrible depressive episodes in the winter and exercising outside always helps. I love to get outside no matter what the temperatures so I don’t have a problem with motivation…it’s just that I really don’t know what to do when the ground is frozen. I’m always desperate to run but keep slipping and sliding around and I’m terrified of falling and injuring myself. If anyone has any tips on how to run on frozen ground I would be so grateful to hear them!

I’m excited about Project Snow! As winter creeps up here in Vermont I’m starting to worry about my running routine too! I love to snowshoe as well, but I’m looking forward to finding a way to run outside (at least sometimes)!

3 degrees Celsius… so like 41 degrees F ? That’s cold! I still think I would like to run in that more than 96 degrees F with 94% humidity at 5 am LOL. :D

Have a great run!!!

You deserve a rest. Enjoy every second.

Excited about project Snow! In North Carolina it won’t be too much of a difference (I think it’s like 40 F in the winter here??) but when I lived in Sweden, I honestly had to push myself to go to the grocery store in the winter time (we had no car)… so since I will be in Sweden for 1 month this winter that means I can partake in Project Snow! :)

You definitely deserve a rest after your half marathon.. kudos to you for listening to your body!

Enjoy your weekend! xoxo

Angie, you are incredibly smart for taking this break. After my 1/2, I wish I would have done the same, because instead of resting like I should have, I continued to push myself and in a result, got very very sick. So I guess I sort of forced myself into a major hiatus. I really beleive that after months of training and then the big race, our bodies definitely need time to recover and rest or else they will retaliate, much like mine did!

I am so glad that you realized this and did not push yourself into an illness. Trust me, you did the RIGHT thing! :)

thanks ladies! So excited for project snow too :) it wont get me this year!!!!!

Oh gosh I think I’ll be needing Project Sun :( we are headed into Summer over here in Oz and it hits 35-40 celcius everday for most of Jan and Feb! It’s great you had a week off exercise to let your body recover – it also makes you want to get back into it with a vengeance I find!

Project snow is a fantastic idea as we have pretty cold winters too over here in good old Switzerland. However, my problem isn’t actually (only) the cold.. I work from 9-5:30 and the winter brings much longer nights so it’s dark outside in the mornings and evenings.. So this is what kind of scares me.
Well, I think I just have to try to ditch my beloved run in the woods and take it to the pavement..
Plus: rest is good. We all should respect our bodies a little bit more and don’t push ourselves over the limit.

Project Snow is a great idea! I’ve been dreading the colder temperatures.

I ran last winter and didn’t run when it was colder than -15C. I had a tuque, gloves and old winter coat on from -15C to 0C, and only gloves and a coat on from 0 to 10C. When it was windy, I also wore something to cover my mouth and nose.

I have those biking tights that I wear to run as soon as my tights start to feel cold (I think under 15C). I LOVE them. The fabric ‘breathes’ and keeps you warm. It stays dry too and it feels great when you run because your tights ‘slide’ when they touch. http://www.louisgarneau.com/catalogs/catalog_product.asp?catalogue=CE9&section=TI&sub_section=014&style_no=1060134&type_catalogue=&language=ENG&website=1

It’s a science experiment to run in the winter, lol! I can’t wait to read everybody’s tricks and ideas!

I was just thinking about running outside in the winter! haha I am horrible on treadmills…so they aren’t really an option for me…I will wholeheartedly embrace “Project Snow”!

This is totally me this week! Well, except my race is coming up instead of behind me. This is my taper week, plus my calf was really bothering me when I ran on Tuesday so I decided to not run for the rest of the week in prep for Monday. I was like WHAT is wrong with me??! Then I realized that it was the lack of running/endorphins that I’ve been having for the past few months due to my runs! It’s totally crazy how our bodies and minds come to rely on that!

I am totally with you on Project Snow. New England winters can suck big time too! I ran outside for the first time last winter and realized that it’s definitely the equipment/clothing that matters most. Maybe you can do a post on Project Snow fashion?? ;) I decided I’m going to try skiing for the first time this winter so I can do an activity that’s enjoyable outside.

Looking forward to Project Snow! Speaking of snow…we already have snow on the groud (eekkkkk) I’m definately a winter-hater, but I’ve already decided to challenge myself to running outside in the winter (I don’t have a treadmill at home, so it’s either run outside or don’t run at all!)
When I Ran for the Cure last weekend, it was 2 degrees C…brrrr! But I found that I had on the perfect layers of clothes and I was actually quite warm!
I tend to chicken out when its too windy, ’cause then it always feels colder…
Good luck on your first “winter” run and I’m looking forward to seeing what you thought of it!

I am going to try this project snow thing – except on the days when it is -40 C in Saskathewan!!

You are such a beautiful girl Angela – you should be on the cover of magazines!

call me crazy, but i LOVE running in the winter time!!!! I ran all winter last year, because I was training for a full marathon, so that meant running for 2+ hours in verrrry cold weather- as in -20 Celsius!
Great idea for Project Snow- I am going to do a post soon on what I wore all winter…. stay tuned for that!

I’m so excited! This is going to be the first challenge for me, I can’t wait to get started! I used to run winter track in high school; the races were always indoors, but my school didn’t have a track so we were out practicing in any weather. I’ve got to say, once you figure out how to prepare yourself for it, I think I like running in the cold better than any other weather! Tights are a MUST (leg openings just won’t do, your shins/calves need to stay toasty), as well as one of those headbands that covers your ears (I always found that with a full head of hair, a knit cap was a little too warm), and also something that you can tuck your chin and nose into and out of as you run, like a turtleneck, tall jacket collar, or thin scarf. it’s amazing how much your body heat will keep your torso warm, though – once everything’s covered, fewer layers than you’d think are really necessary. I just think that breathing feels better in cold weather (no more cotton mouth!), and this sounds crazy, but it’s so much easier to read your body in cold weather. Looking forward to getting started!!

I am so excited about project snow. I am new to this blog and was wondering yesterday how you did your workouts in the winter. I recently made a goal with myself to keep running outside all winter. Today is actually my first cold run. I live in Nebraska and it snowed about 2 inches last night and is about 30′ F outside. It should be fun and look forward to the challenge. Good luck on your run today too!

Count me in on Project Snow! I so hear you about getting the blues when it’s dismal outside – I am a fellow “sun snob” :-)

I’ve only been running since May, so I’ve never had to even try running outside in the winter. Everyone is predicting a rough winter here in St. Louis, so it looks like I may have my work cut out for me – eek!

Project Snow!!! YAY!! This Chicago area girl is up for the challenge!

Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
(maybe should change my blog to Adventures in Snow Shoeing?!)

Excellent video! Funny you’re starting up Project Snow, because I’ve been saying that I want to try to keep running outdoors this winter! (and not wuss out like I did last year) I’m most worried about running on snow and ice though. I’m not sure about in Ontario, but it’s illegal to run on the roads here in the winter time. And the sidewalks are usually a sheet of ice :\

Also loved hearing your thoughts on taking a week off exercise! I usually take about 3-5 full days off every 3 months. Helps my body recover and I feel really re-energized when I come back :)

You’re oh so smart about taking the rest time. Very true. Glad you’re run went well this morning! (saw your tweet ;-) )

Well this post was just in time for our first snowfall of the season in Nebraska! Boo! :( We only got about 2 inches here, but what the heck?! I’m not ready for winter! And I’m a big chicken when it comes to working out in the sub-freezing temps! It seems the cold air sends my asthma into a tailspin. I know the cold air doesn’t “hurt” your lungs, but it seems like I’m the only one who feels like it is painful to breathe it. I must find a way to get over this! Project snow here I come!

So excited for Project Snow! I am definitely going to be doing this challenge along with you! Speaking of snow, we actually had our first little bit of flurries this morning in the UP of Michigan. Thankfully, nothing stuck yet! :)

On a completely different note, I could listen to you say “about” all day long, haha!

Wow, I seriously could not imagine running in those conditions! Luckily I live in California and working out outdoors all year is a great perk. I would love some snow though. I think snowball fights would be great for cross-training :)

Cold runs are my favorite!!!

I trained for my marathon during the terrible Wisconsin winters here……once I ran with a SKI MASK ON (and about 5 layers) because we were warned that if skin was exposed for over 1 minute it could get frost bite….haha….nothing beats that ;)

Wow good luck! I have to stick with the indoor gym for the winter. The cold air is not good for people with asthma.
You should include a warning for people that might not be able to take the cold and to always listen to your body!

I love running in the snow! Yay for Project Snow!

You should check out MEC. They have some great, breathable, affordable alternatives for winter running. Investing in a nice pair of winter running tights is a good idea… they’re great for layering!

I love the Project Snow idea!
I live in St.John’s, NL and we have the WORST winters and I would love to try to tackle the elements and get out and run. I’m excited to take part in Project Snow!

Angela, let me start by saying that I really respect and admire your honesty and courage to not only share your post-race feelings, but also to confront them and see an opening for a week of something new and different. Just as the seasons change, so must we shut down for a little rest and hibernation (if only to reflect and rest) after a season of growth and new life.
I too have faced that sort of slump and found that my body never led my astray when I finally trusted in its wisdom to s l o w down.

As for Project Snow, I am definitely on board. Here in Calgary, we are already seeing the white stuff and our field hockey team has practiced all week in sub minus 10 degree weather! It has been so hard to find the motivation, but investing in really high quality exercise wear and remembering to have fun make all the difference in the world. Here in Canada we are so lucky to enjoy the rarity of four distinctly different seasons (minus those folks in BC who have humid weather and beautiful foliage year round!) but my partner and I get out as much as we can for snowshoeing, bundled up walks and cross country skiing in the winter and have found that not only does it make exercising in the cold tolerable, but it actually makes it enjoyable! I find myself looking forward to big dumps of snow for the great snowball throwing and snowshoeing now! I will gladly join in this project and applaud you for yet another great little initiative! Very very best,
Jaya

Project Snow is a fab idea!

I love the challenge! I shy away from the cold and stick to the gym during the cold months. I do get a lil down during the winter though. I don’t even own clothes for winter exercise…besides my ski clothes I suppose.

I love project Snow! It is just like you say: you feel blah because it is so cold and you’re stuck inside and you know you are going to feel better when you will be active outside…but it is so cold! And then here are the frozen ground, the layering your clothes and your bodies reaction to the cold for example when warming up.
I am really excited about the challenge and hope to learn a lot about exercising healthy and responsible in cold wheather.

i don’t know what the conversion of temperature is but I live in New Hampshire and it’s freezing here all winter long. Last winter I ran when it was 9 out-found this
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/conversion/tempconvert.html

looks like it would have been -10.5 when it was 9 here. you can do it, layer layer layer. get a shirt with a hood instead of a hat so the heat doesn’t escape out your neck. smartwool is my best friend.