I ran yesterday morning in 58 degree weather, and it was gorgeous.  I seriously wished for a pair of those cool Pearl Izumi arm warmers I saw at Boulder Running Company the other day.  What a brilliant clothing item for runners not quite ready for a jacket, but needing just a little something to keep the chill off.  While there (again) today, I did a spontaneous purchase and plopped down $20 for these cuties.  Can’t wait to try them on my next pre-dawn run!

Pearl Izumi arm warmers

Now that I have new arm warmers, I started to think: What do I have, and what needs to be replaced this fall season, as I prepare for my first Marathon?  I’m running more now than ever, and the constant laundry is putting a serious crimp in my running style (not that I have much, but still…).

Pants:  I have two pair of awesome Nike DriFit running pants.  They’re both black, and I’m considering expanding the color palette to purple or green or blue or even PINK, just for some variety.  I’m not a huge fan of running tights, though I have a pair of those too.  This year, I need to get a few more pair of running pants so that I have a week’s worth of rotation during Marathon training season.  I’m not married to the Nike DriFit brand, though so far those have fit the best.  I am long-waisted and hate having anything sit higher than my hips.  You could say that I’m HIPPIE, and it would be slightly accurate.  :-)

Jackets:  I have a ton of short-sleeved tech t-shirts that are great for layering, but my jacket selection is pretty paltry.  I have one jacket, a pink Go-Lite zippered jacket that’s a good wind-breaker with wicking and layering capacity.  Unfortunately, I can’t wear it every workout, because of the stink factor.  I need a few more jackets.

Fleece jackets:  I don’t have a single fleece or serious cold-weather jacket, mostly because I think I would sweat my way out of them.  I like to layer with a good long-sleeve mid-weight shirt and a jacket that warms the air between my layers and allows for the sweat to be pulled away from my body.  That being said, I could use a few more long sleeve mid-weight shirts.

Hats:  I have two SmartWool winter hats.  One has a pony-tail slit in the back, the other is an older model that just sits on the head.  I usually braid my hair into two braids when I wear that one so that it sits firmly.  I could use another hat, and probably one that isn’t black for those early morning runs.

Gloves:  Again, I have two pair of gloves.  One is a SmartWool pair that wicks the sweat from my hands and makes them feel dry even when they’re not, and the other is more of a “true” winter running glove, with reinforced fingers to keep the wind from chilling me to the bone.  I choose which pair I wear based on the weather, obviously, and unfortunately, sometimes I choose poorly.  Could I use another pair?  Probably, to deal with the aforementioned laundry rotation issue.

Socks:  I have three pair of awesome SmartWool socks, though they’re ankle socks that hit just above my shoe.  I’ll definitely need more soscks before the snow flies, because wet shoes with cotton socks are enough to make my toes rebel.

I’ve managed to make this rotation of clothes work for three years of running, but now that I’m in Marathon training mode and running five days a week instead of 3-4 days, I can honestly see that I just need a few more items to make this whole thing work.  This summer I rotated through four pair of running shorts for five days of running per week, and made it work, though there were days when I had to run to the basement and pull a pair from the dirty pile and wear them one more time.  I’m not a big fan of doing laundry just to get one particular item of clothes cleaned, but I’m also not keen on sweating through a hat or jacket two workouts in a row, thus cementing my stink in that item for the remainder of its useful life.

Okay, Marathon veterans, speak up now!  What other gear should I have that would make Autumn training a fabulous experience?

It’s twenty degrees in the pre-dawn light. I braid my hair and don my Smart Wool hat and gloves, along with two shirt layers and my pink Go-Lite jacket. The running tights aren’t lined, which is a sad thing for my legs.
I lost count of how many people are supposed to be running today. The running list has added a few people recently and it seems old members who haven’t run in months or even years are coming out of the woodwork.
The morning is cold, very cold. Twelve of us are in the parking lot, ready to go. As Susan, Bernadette and I set out in the front of the pack, I see Greta waiting for us at the end of the shoot that opens onto Valmont Road. She’s already run four miles just to get here, and will join the group for her return home again.
The past few weeks have seen a decline in my running, swimming, and cycling. I’m in the midst of a job search and trying to put my finger on exactly what I want to do. Connor started morning kindergarten this year and goes to K-Care two days a week. Therefore, I have two full days to myself (8:30-3:00), and three half days. I need a part-time job but have flirted with the idea of a full forty hours per week. Not that I really want to work that much, but health insurance and retirement benefits count for a lot, especially since my husband is self-employed and we pay through the nose for our health care and retirement. If I got a full-time job though, I would have to find care for Connor when he’s not in school and I’m not around to watch him. He’s been having a hard time lately and has been really sensitive about changes in routines. All this has compounded in my head and heart to create feeling of depression and anxiety. I need this run for so many reasons.
I’m noticing that the more stressed I get, the slower I run. It’s harder for me to find the motivation for movement; when I do manage a few miles in the morning, my muscles are tight and sore. I don’t feel refreshed after a run lately and in fact, I feel depleted. It was hard for me to get up this morning. I wonder if I’ll feel depleted or refreshed after this morning’s eight miler. Here’s hoping it’s the latter.
I steel myself for the bitter cold in the valley. It’s so chilly here, about ten degrees colder than the rest of the run. There’s a mid-sized creek that contributes to the moisture. Now that the foliage has left the branches it’s easy to see the source of my discomfort.
The gloves are no match for the bitter cold. I open and shut my fingers periodically to remind myself they are attached to my hands. The motion does nothing to warm my extremities and I’m resigned to the fact that it’s going to take a good two miles before I’m warm. The trail is a steady uphill from the starting point, so early on my heart rate is elevated and blood is trying to slosh into the cold points of my body.
As we come around a curve Greta and I see a beautiful buck and his harem standing stock still to our right. Karley and Sam are chatting amiably behind us; to point them out I start gesturing with my arm, pointing straight at them and commenting. After a slight delay they pick up the cues and notice the regal animals. The buck is a six-pointer and elegant in his stance. After the group has passed the deer take their exit and easily bound over the six foot fence. The buck is the last to make the crossing, preferring instead to watch for danger from the two legged females making their way up the hill.
At the top of the hill I stop to take off a layer and stretch my right glut. We’re going to wind around the hill and take a breather before heading back to the trailhead. As Susan and Karley point out, the route adds on five minutes at the most. The easy run and the scenery are a nice way to bring the heart rate back to a moderate zone before kicking it in for the last of the hills.
Our group is stretched out over a mile. The ones in front are easily holding their positions, and the ones in back are enjoying not being rushed. That’s the beauty of a large group like this; there can be so many different levels of fitness and speed, and no one feels bad about where they’re at. Susan, Bernadette and I are usually in the front, though we’ve also held space in the back from time to time. Jaime is coming back from having her third baby; years ago, she was at the front of the group and is now easily pacing at the back. The point is that she’s here, running outside in the early dawn light, enjoying the inherent abilities of her body and getting some socialization in on the side.

Back in the parking lot I stretch my hamstrings and blissfully enjoy my endorphins. They haven’t managed to create the “runner’s high” that I love so much, but I do enjoy the effort they’ve made in allowing my brain some semblance of relaxation. Now, on to coffee and the rest of the day.