On Saturday I set off on the usual 10-mile run. It was cold, really cold, and the snow had just started to fall. I pulled on my thick running tights, which sounds like an oxymoron I realize, but I was wearing Under Armour’s ColdGear Frosty Tights and once moving my legs were plenty warm. On top I had on UA’s ColdGear SubZero Mock and to be honest it took me more than 3 miles to warm up, but my upper body doesn’t do most of the work while running, so I suppose this is normal. I was wearing my usual UA running shoes (though I actually have the first version of the Apparition, it would appear they’ve made some changes with this new model), gloves, and this time I even donned my UA facemask, which makes me look like a ninja.
Now I realize I sound like an Under Armour whore, and really, I am. But since I had the sponsorship with them in 2009 I have a lot of UA gear. And it’s really good gear, so I wear it when I decide to be stupid and run ten miles in 20 degree weather while snow is dumping on us.
Now admittedly I didn’t take a picture of myself before I headed out, but I do have a picture I took about a month ago, during a previous cold snap. I looked the same on Saturday, only I didn’t have on my sunglasses as it was overcast due to the snow coming down. None the less, you get the idea – I’m a ninja. A running ninja.

Suited up and ready to go I set off, meeting David at the 2-mile mark and heading out. Talking as we ran, we commented on the cold and noticed far fewer people on trail than usual. That being said, we weren’t alone and we laughed at all the other idiots who were obsessed enough with running that they’d come out in the weather. We might be a little nuts for running in conditions like that but at least we’re aware of the absurdity.
Four miles in someone passed us going the opposite direction, “Ice ahead!” he said and we gingerly made our way over the snow-covered ice. A half mile later we hit another patch of ice only this time David wasn’t quite passed it when he put his weight solidly on his foot, sending himself flying. He was quite graceful though, he distributed his weight perfectly when he fell, rolling immediately and popping back up almost as quickly as he’d fallen.
“You okay?” I asked, slowing my pace.
“Yep,” he said, shaking it off and moving forward.
“You’re much more graceful when falling, I’m such a pussy!” I said laughing, referring to the previous week when I went sprawling.
“Well, you fell forward, I sort of slid off to the side,” David explained as we neared our turn-around point.
Heading back home we weaved through a neighborhood, as is our usual route when running 10 miles. The snow was nearing an inch on the ground and my fingers were frozen, despite wearing two pairs of gloves. Icicles clung to my eyelashes, making them heavy. We made our way back, our pace slowing. Along the way we helped push a BMW up an icy hill and saw several other cars swerve into the wrong lane. At the 8-mile mark we parted ways, finishing out the last two miles on our own as we headed to our respective homes.
By the time I got home I could barely feel my fingers, and the exposed part of my face – the area around my eyes – was numb with cold. I got to my house and pounded on my door. Moments later my boyfriend opened the door and I fell into the house, the ice melting from my eyelashes as I pulled off my gloves. I couldn’t untie my shoes so Jay did this for me and then he threw on a pot of coffee while I took the longest, hottest shower, the water making my skin tingle as the feeling came back and I finally thawed.