On Saturday morning, my friend Kathleen and I met up for a 10 mile run. The forecast didn’t call for snow until noon or after, so we figured by meeting up at 9:45 we’d have plenty of time to get in the run before the white stuff started falling. Right?
Ummmm, yeah. Wrong!!
The run started out just fine. We met up in Georgetown, planning an out and back on the canal, which changed to the Capital Crescent trail instead since the canal was covered in snow. It was REALLY cold out (single digits with wind chill) but once we were moving we felt fine.
How cool is this – people were playing ice hockey on the canal!
The first time I got an indication that this would be one of our more extreme runs was when both of our hydration packs froze! The tubes were frozen solid. Fail!
We ended up stuffing the tubes into our jackets, which thankfully solved the problem. :) Never had that happen before! (I have the Nathan Intensity Vest hydration pack love it.)
We decided to do an out and back, and around mile 4… the snow started. Yikes. That was earlier than it was supposed to be…
We decided to push on, figuring the snow wouldn’t get too crazy since it wasn’t even supposed to have started yet. At mile 5 we stopped to have a quick snack and some water before turning around. Kathleen brought along these bonk breakers – I had a couple and they were good! By this point the snow was coming down pretty steadily. Eep!
The second 5 miles ended up being totally insane. The wind had shifted so the snow was basically hitting us right in the face, and it was full on blizzard-ing. Not cool, mother nature, not cool at all.
Luckily, while the snow was sticking (there was probably 2 inches on the ground by the time we finished), it wasn’t slippery at all. There were a couple icy patches here and there leftover from the previous snow last week, but the new snow was just soft and fluffy.
So, on we forged! We had no way to get back to our cars but run!
Here we are embracing the hilarity of the situation by getting a snowy selfie. We died laughing when we looked at this photo because of Kathleen’s white hair and eyebrows!
Check out my icicle eyelashes!! We actually weren’t cold thanks to the running, but our eyes/faces weren’t loving the snow – we were both wishing we had ski goggles with us!
Also, I have to give some love to the amazing jacket I’m wearing – it’s one that Brooks gifted me last fall, and while I’ve been wearing it a ton, this was the first time I’d really put it seriously to the test. The hood alone was amazing, but it actually kept me bone dry underneath, too. Life saver! I actually snagged it out of the laundry (gross, I know) last minute before heading out the door, and I’m so glad I did! Not having a hood or wearing a jacket that didn’t wick away water would have been bad news.
WE MADE IT!!!!! 10 miles. I’d say we seriously earned these. Great pace given the snow slowing us down, too!
Kathleen, we are officially hardcore. :) Also, spring: please get here ASAP.
What’s the most extreme weather you’ve ever run in? This definitely takes the cake for me!
p.s. Speaking of running, just a reminder for my local readers that I’ll be at the Whole Foods in Glover Park tonight doing an event to promote my Nutrition for Runners Program. I’ll be talking briefly about some typical nutrition-related mistakes that runners often make, then demo-ing and sharing samples of a couple recipes in the ebook (a homemade sports drink and super easy long run energy bites) and doing Q&A. Come join me! It’s free – just sign up here. UPDATE: we decided to postpone this event until spring, in hopes that more people will come when the weather is not terrible. Stay tuned! :)
Yikes!! We live in Clarendon and our power ended up going out on Saturday night. So naturally, we decided to hit up a bar since we were bored lol. In the span of 1 hour (when the snow turned to rain) the streets were UNWALKABLE – totally covered in ice. It was really annoying! We tried to walk from Boulevard to Bakeshop and it took us about 15 mins LOL. But it was worth it for a german chocolate cupcake…and oatmeal cookie whoopie pie.
Oh man! That sounds fun, minus the ice. :)
Ohhh my goodness!!! You guys are so crazy!!! Haha, I love the snow on the eyelashes, so hard core:) Good job making what most people call miserable, into a fun thing!
Oh wow, this definitely qualifies you as hard-core! It the temp is below 45 I’m not running in it haha. I have gotten caught in some pretty crazy downpours in the summers, but those aren’t too bad!
lol! Looks like you’re running with a really hardcore granny in that last pic. :)
Hahaha I totally was. ;)
Those icicles are insane! Haha looks like fun though
You have some great determination in cold weather! We just had our coldest day in Orlando (34 degrees) the other day and I was totally wimping out!! haha Get it girl! That’s awesome!
Anne, you are INSANE!!! I ran in the ice/snow ONCE last year. I busted my ass at the half mile mark of a 12 miler. I turned around and headed for the warmth, and safety, of the treadmill. Although, I hate the “deadmill” so much I’m not sure what was worse: ice & snow or the gym!
Last year while training for the DC Rock and Roll marathon in Chicago I had to run 18 miles in below zero temps with 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground. Also, it was on the lake shore path so the wind was crazy. Luckily 13 miles of that run was a race so there were others out there with me.
Way to push through!
Oh man, that’s intense! Yeah there were actually a surprising amount of people out – I assume most of them also did out and backs like we did, so they basically had no choice but to run back to their cars!
Awesome job guys! I saw the forecast and was like uhh no way- you’re much tougher then me, although it looks like you guys had a good time despite the weather :)
This reminds me of my 2 runs that I’ve done on the Saleve here in Geneva. One of them was in the snow and the other one was just through the snow. :) Love these pictures!
I left the house at 11am on Saturday and it started snowing. I actually went on the CCT but turned around after .5 miles. I run in snow – I don’t run in slippery snow/ice. Ended up doing 15 miles on the treadmill. :) You guys are awesome though and what fun! Please ask Mother Nature to snow on workdays instead. :)
Really? We didn’t find it slippery or icy out there! Man, 15 miles on the treadmill… I don’t think I could do that! Totally agree about snow on weekdays, only – Matt and I felt we were cheated out of a weekend!
This weekend I ran 8 miles in training for a half marathon. The sidewalks were still coated in ice so the dog and I had to run on the roads instead as they were the only ice free surface!
My craziest run was a few years ago while training for a race. I needed to get in a 5 mile run and it was raining so hard it was seriously like a monsoon. I don’t know what possessed me to brave the elements but I knocked out that 5 mile run at night in the rain. I was soaked at the end but felt completely bad ass!
Ha, that is bad ass!
I feel cold just looking at the pics!!! Fair play to you guys!!! That is dedication!
Oh I’ll never forget the POURING rain on a cold march day last year. I ran the Philly Love Run 1/2 marathon and thought I’d never feel my fingers again. Miraculously with soaked clothes and sneakers i didn’t get a single blister. But it took 20 minutes to remove my wet gear because it was stuck to me and my fingers were not functioning until they thawed. I managed a huge PR that day probably because I just wanted out of the rain so bad. =)
The ice-scara…..pretty!
Oh man! Good for you hitting a PR in all that rain!
My last 10-miler was done in an epic blizzard as well, but is it crazy that I kind of loved it? I felt SO hardcore for the entire day, and was way prouder of myself than I would have been had it been in perfect temps. Way to rock it!
We were saying that during the run – how we were officially hardcore! You do feel quite awesome being out there when most people aren’t. :)
I’ve gone snowboarding lots while it’s been snowing and my hair gets covered in snow. There’s only so much snow I can fit under my touque!
Haha oh my goodness, Anne! Those eyelashes! I’m training for Rock n’ Roll DC marathon as well and ended up having to do my 20 miler inside on a treadmill yesterday. Where is our spring weather?!?!
I’m waiting!!
Wow, that weather looks crazy! I have never run in the snow before. Once I was running on the greenway and it started pouring down rain. I ended up calling my husband to pick me up because I was afraid my wet shoes and socks would give me blisters.
Way to go! I was also out running Saturday a.m. in D.C. but our group left at 8 a.m. By the time I finished my 12-miles, the snow was just starting. The running definitely kept us warm, but since we ran part of Hains Point, the wind chill by the water was killer. But it is runs like these that make race day seem like a breeze.
Oh man, Hains Point on a windy, cold day is brutal!
Omg this is so impressive! I was caught off guard by the snow too – it said it wasn’t supposed to start until noon or one! Ugh! BTW you guys make a cute pair of old ladies ;)
Lol thanks ;)
Holy brrr! You’re two die-hard runners :)
HAHA. Your eyelashes are hysterical! I love the idea of a snow run, it happening by accident is probably for the best… I have a hard time convincing myself to head outside after the precipitation has started :) Glad it wasn’t slippery for y’all! (But seriously, WHERE ARE YOU SPRING?!)
Yeah, there’s no way we would have gone out if it had already been snowing when we started – and we wouldn’t have continued if we had had a choice! But it was really fun in the end, minus the wind. :)
wow. I actually tried to brush dust off ofmy laptop screen, but noo… just your icicle eyelashes! I hope you’re all warm now!
I have run in a light snow/sleet mix, but that’s the coldest so far! (~30* and light wind?)
So I’ve been looking for a winter running jacket for a while now, and yours sounds perfect! Do you mind letting me know what size you have? :-)
Sure! I normally wear a size small in Brooks, but the jacket is an XS – I found it ran a bit large. I hope that helps!
That’s great, thanks for letting me know, Anne!
Eeek it looks so cold! Boston has been absolutely horrible (as if I need to say it again) this winter. I had the same thing happen to me last weekend – snow wasn’t supposed to start until the afternoon but it started about 2 miles into my 11 miler. It was a rough trek through the snow/ice/slush/people on the sidewalk stocking up on cases of beer before the blizzard LOL.
I’m also running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in DC next month! Glad to see your training is going well :)
Oh man – good for you for getting it done, too! See you at RnR DC — good luck!!
That’s crazy! The worst I have run in is rain, but that’s not even that bad. I need to start running more for my half training, but it is too cold for me in Chicago to run outside. Im sure I could do it, but why would I when I have a treadmill in my building that’s warm??
Well done on the run in the snow! Impressive fortitude and perseverance!
You’re crazy girl.
Also, there was a time when I did 8 miles in a snowstorm, on purpose. I don’t think I’ll ever repeat it again, although it was so fun and we made great memories with our friends.
On purpose?! Now THAT’S hardcore. :) Hope you’re well, girl!
I got stuck in this snow storm too. I went to brunch in Dupont because I didn’t think the snow would be that bad until the afternoon and ended up having to pay $61 dollar in Uber charges to get back to Rosslyn (UGH)! But I’m glad to say I wasn’t running in it ! I’m SO ready for Spring. :)
Oh man! Glad you made it back safely!
you are both honorary Mainers in my book! This winter, I ran and trained for a 10 mile race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine (there’s a bit on the beach to beacon course that you would know). We had a few single-digit runs (and my Camelbak froze during one). We never ran during blizzard conditions though! Last Thursday night, was my snowiest run Ever – 4 miles during a snow squall – but I’m in Maine, not Virginia! Wow!
I feel kind of like I’ve been living in Maine this winter! Stay warm up there! :)
OMG you ladies are crazy!!! :) Love it!!!