To paraphrase a quote from a crazy person: It's never too cold to run, you just have insufficient running gear.

I've stayed outside as much as possible. The cold (same temps as Loralie's experiencing) doesn't get in my way, as long as the conditions are safe enough to run in. Snow is okay, but still plenty dangerous. Ice is a no-no, but I'll deal with some.

Saturday was windy as heck and my eyes wouldn't stop watering/freezing. I did 3 outside and came in for another 4. If you have no treadmill access, that definitely gets in your way. There are other cardio routines you can do for cross-training purpose, but there's really no decent way to train for running that doesn't involve running. You can alw ays look at things like jumping rope too though.

Does your new bank have any discounts available with local gyms or the YMCA maybe? If you haven't considered this, ask around. We get half off at one of the bigger local ones here, that includes some 24 hour places too so lots of people take advantage of that.

A wise man once told me: If you can run a 5k, you can run a marathon. It's all mental.

Matt, i got some yellow, wrap around shooting glasses for running at night and in low light condidtions (last night I passed a guy in goggles). It really helps with the watering eye thing.

Nice paraphrase, BTW

A wise man once told me, don't run unless someone is chasing you, or you are chasing someone else!

I can identify with Loralie on the cold weather. Because I don't usually run outside, it would be really hard to just start running outside all of a sudden, especially when it's like 10F and windy. I know that I need time to adjust, to work my way down to those temperatures (as in, start when the weather is nice and keep going as it cools off).

Loralie, its really hard to do something that takes the place of running for "getting your wind", but you can do things that will help a lot! Silly as it sounds, good ole Jumping jacks done for 10 minutes at a time will help, a jump rope will help, squat thrusts, burpees, running in place....all of these are good. You can do combos too. Its just about engaging lots of large muscle groups for 30 minutes.

I find a lot of my stuff at Marshall's for cheap! $10-$20 for the tights. $7-$10

I race people, using agreed upon stakes. It's like racing for pink slips, but instead of walking home without a car, you might be walking home in 10 degree temps with no pants

Great motivation to go fast!

[quote=manimal] Burpees with a passion. not doing those unless i'm forced. lol Jumping jacks and jump rope will help... when my downstairs neighbor isn't home!! lol

For you, or for them? :p

Repeat until you either fall over or run out of time

Or, until the gun-wielding fiend puts the gun down

OK, now I gotta know - what's a burpee?

i HATE HATE HATE Burpees with a passion. not doing those unless i'm forced. lol Jumping jacks and jump rope will help... when my downstairs neighbor isn't home!! lol

^^ Great, like when you're getting your keys out in the grocery store parking lot and they fall out. But, instead of just landing on the ground, they manage to fall under the car parked nearest you. Then when your digging around under there, you look up and there's a woman staring oddly at you and you realize the car is running and her kids are in there. You jump up startled and hit the muffler with your arm, burning yourself. She has a can of pepper spray out, you're cussing about the burn and she just starts spraying you!

Great.