Braving the snow

I climbed down a flight of stairs and stepped outside the main door. I breathed in the fresh cold air. I looked around and saw a light dusting of snow on the ground. I noticed that the sidewalks however, were clear, and that it was not snowing any longer. I estimated that the temperature was in the low single digit positive numbers...

I walked back into the hotel, thankfully having memorised the number code to get back in - easy because it involves my date of birth. A sprinkling of early morning risers making their way blearily to the coffee machine smiled at me...

Sure I plan to go running/jogging for a bit now, I said as they raised their eyebrows in surprise at me.  I meant it too. I was already partially dressed for the event. For years my Umass Basketball sweatshirt supported me in my brave attempts at dealing with the Massachusetts cold, I was sure that commissioning them for this trip was a good idea! My asics were a good call - thankfully Krishna had advised me against vibrams...

My sweatpants were going to be a bit of a challenge, I thought. They are nice basketball ones - the kind you can pull off at the start of the game in a flourish, hopefully you have remembered to wear shorts underneath!! I wore them a bit during my preggo days and now the elastic band has sort of expanded to a huge circumference....

I came back and bundled up as best as I could. Two pairs of socks. Black tights under the sweatpants (which served well and did not slip down). An additional tshirt. I picked up the garmin and the woolen cap and off I went. I was so super afraid of ice that I took really tiny steps. The pundits would have been appalled at my running stance. But what the hell.

This hotel I am in is surrounded by roads that climb up (or down) a lot... I don't do well on inclines. Some of these are serious inclines. Anyhow I was so excited about a couple of things that I did not worry about the slopes:
(1) the very fact that I was running in Germany of all places
(2) the feeling of running but not sweating
How different an experience from usual at home scenario!

I ran real slow and took in several early morning sights. I think I kept myself safe - sticking to well lit roads, ensuring I was just going radially out from the hotel so I don't get myself lost, and also keeping my eyes open, yes, no music or other distractions. I hung in there for about 45 minutes before returning triumphantly to the room for some light abs work...

I could get used to this. It was really pleasant and very beautiful... I am going to have to break my resolve to not run on consecutive days I think. Or wait. Maybe it would be prudent to check the local temperature out! Because the two hour walking tour we had this evening? Resulted in some serious frozen toes and ears!