00kate: Ramblings of a Running-Obsessed Undergrad

Freezing Fourteen + Comments4Cans

Whew! That was some run. I conquered the 14 miler that gave me so much trouble last weekend!

When I woke up, it was raining and 33, so I put on my tights and underarmour and beanie and gloves and scarfed a piece of toast with peanut butter. Then I realized that I was wearing all black and might look a little um… threatening… especially with the black beanie. Well, as threatening as a 19 year old girl can look, anyway. So I swapped the beanie for a white headband (much better, but I still felt like a ninja) and headed out.

Mile 2 took me to the track, where the rain started to look more solid and flaky. Kind of like snow, actually. By the time I’d done 2 miles on the track it was full-on snowing! As a girl from Wisconsin, I love snow. My clothing was doing a pretty good job keeping me warm at this point – I even rolled up my sleeves for a little bit, until the snow started to hurt :( Sleeves came back down fast.

After leaving the track I headed around my favorite loop, bringing me back near my apartment at about mile 8. Along the way I snapped this photo of Thomas Jefferson, chillin’ in front of the Rotunda. He doesn’t look too cold to me, though. What do you think? Should I bring him a scarf?

TJ-snow-091205

Then I went down to the river, passing by Downtown Charlottesville on the way. By the time I got down there the snow was sticking – to everything! Including my face. Ever get a snowflake right across the eyes?

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Looks like I'm not the only one on the trails :)

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I love this route :)

I’m not going to lie, miles 12 and 13 were rough. Not because my legs hurt or anything – my hands! Last time I go running in 75 cent Target gloves. By the time I got home I couldn’t really bend my fingers much… the door was definitely a challenge! You know the 10 minute period after you get inside after being out in the cold for a long time? Where your hands BURN with the intensity of a thousand suns? Yep. That happened. But after I was done reheating my hands I made a big pot of coffee and some delicious pancakes for myself and my awesome suitemates. No pictures – they were eaten too fast. Finished up with some greek yogurt and granola!

AND NOW for an announcement – as I was eating my delicious food today after getting inside from my cold, cold run, I thought about all of the people who don’t have delicious food or a warm home. Which is why for the month of December I will be donating 1 can for every 5 comments I receive on this blog to the Emergency Food Bank, which serves the hungry in Charlottesvillle/Albemarle County. So leave a comment! It can be anything – a question, story, random thought… it all goes to a good cause!

Happy running everyone :)

  • great workout!

    it was snowing here in state college, too!

    but instead of running through the frigid mountains of pennsylvania, i decided i would eat a panini while surfing the web.

    did you know that happiness is best brought about by low expectations?

  • Nice run! I really like the pic – TJ is the best, although he probably is whining for a scarf.

  • I didn’t realize you were from Wisconsin! Just one more thing that make you cool! Nice run today and really awesome to donate food!

  • great run! and great idea about comments4cans! let’s see if we can jumpstart your can drive…..

  • i think….

  • ….you are……

  • ….super duper….

  • ….COOL! keep up the great work and bless your kind heart!!

  • Thanks Stephanie! We’ve got 2 cans so far (9 comments and I round up!) Keep it up guys!

  • Too good a cause to pass up. Great running today!

  • Yep – totally threatening.. glad you changed to the head band cuz you would definitely have scared me!! LOL!
    This is a great thing you’re doing Kate!
    Oh and great run – goes without saying.

  • Yikes, it looks cold there? Current temperature in Honolulu is like yours – except ours is in Celsius and yours is in Fahrenheit. Stay warm, and good luck with the can drive!

  • Running in the snow sounds cool, but really cold! get better gloves! hope you keep getting loads of comments :)

  • Great idea to help those in need and thanks for sharing the pictures. Brings back memories of a marathon two years ago when it snowed the whole way … in April. Keep running.

  • Hi Kate, Awesome run and great pictures. I think it’s great you’re helping out by donating food. Happy running :)

    • Thanks Alina! The can drive is definitely added motivation to run my best!

  • Your mile time improvement was huge! Looks like you’ll be hitting the 6’s in no time.

  • What a great idea to help those in need! Hopefully you won’t be donating “bad” peaches!

  • because i am a big advocate of private enterprise
    and private donations as a social service
    i will contribute more than my fair share of comments!

  • and here’s my rounding up!

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