I woke up this morning, saw 9 degrees on my phone, and knew an outdoor run just wasn’t gonna happen. Since I don’t currently have a gym and have not figured out the best solution for this dilemma, it means I have to get creative with my workouts.
So I heated up oatmeal for breakfast and sipped on some hot water with lemon (I recently read that this is a good thing to drink in the morning and find that I like it) before making a switcheroo. Winter wear out…indoor gear in.
I drove the 30 miles to work…kind of. About a mile from work there is a fitness center with a FREE indoor track. I tend to forget about this option before and after work and really should use it more often. By the time I got to the fitness center (traffic was BAD), the sun was shining making the weather seem much warmer than it was.
So I made the quick decision to stay bundled up and run along the nature path instead of going indoors.
This trail is really beautiful and has the perfect training hill!
I made my way to the hill slowly as I began to thaw out. Then ran up/down 5 times to boost my heart rate and add some interval training. 19 minutes into my run, I could finally feel my fingers. And the fresh air was a huge morning mood booster! Although it was definitely COLD!
The view from the top is a nice reward after each push up the hill. I had to pause and take a quick picture timeout!
I finished my 38 minute run with a 2 minute plank before showering, making a Starbucks run, and then heading into the office for a long day of work. I must admit that I had big plans to post a delicious chicken stirfry recipe tonight. I also had plans to make it home before 8:30 pm, but that didn’t happen. So the BOY kindly made me plain chicken breasts in the oven which although they were tasty, are definitely not blog worthy. I’d much rather leave you with images from my morning run!
Luv What You Do 
That is chilly! Your outdoor run looks beautiful though- sometimes it’s nice to tough out the cold and find you really enjoy a brisk run. I bet the change of pace sure was nice, too!
I don’t like coffee or tea so have been drinking hot water with lemon in the mornings, too, to warm me up!
Good to hear that I’m not the only one who likes it! I totally agree that the brisk cold can be a nice change of pace sometimes! But I am ready for spring! Is it too early for that?
The temperature sure did drop around here, didn’t it!?! Yikes. I however, have opted to stay in at the gym. I’m a wimp like that these days. But then again, I work out at 4:30 am, so dark plus cold stinks! Have a great day!
Wow, 4:30 is way too early for me. I can only get in my outdoor runs when I don’t have to work until 10! I am aleady ready for spring which sounds crazy in January but I love me some spring runs!
Winter running has become my favorite time of the year to run. If you’re dressed properly, you don’t even notice the cold. My training partner, Sonia, and I ran four miles Monday night – it was 7 degrees and perfect!
Yay for lemon water! 🙂
Sounds like I am the last one on the lemon water bandwagon but I love it. I wouldn’t say I LOVE the cold runs but I think they’d be much more exciting with a friend : ) I’ll have to go find someone else cold and lonely to run with me…ha ha!
That looks so pretty! Glad you were able to enjoy it! I do need to find a place with an indoor track though. I’ll suffer through a cold run as long as it’s pretty, but right now everything is just muddy and gross, so I have no motivation!
It’s amazing how much the cold dark lack of motivation affects my runs too. Hooray for indoor tracks and someone sunny morning runs!
These photos are so pretty. I feel like I just took a mini vacation 🙂
You are so sweet! I’m so glad that you enjoyed them!
Beautiful photos! But brrrrr 9 degres is cold!!! It’s 28 here and everyone was freezing
That is COLD for you guys! Note to self, remember to visit San Fran in the summer : )
That scenery looks like it would make any run all the more enjoyable! Gorgeous!
A few of my friends are vocal performance majors and they drink warm water with lemon ALL THE TIME. I’ve always thought it was kind of weird, but I’m reconsidering after seeing you (and so many other people!) recommend it. I’ve never tried it, but I like ice water with lemon, and I like tea..
x
I love lemon in my ice water and was pleasently surprised with how good the hot water was. Apparently it is a good cleansing too, so you’ll have to give it a try and let me know what you think.
The scenery definitely helped make my run more beautiful. I have this amazing trail across from my house and some mornings there are deer which is stunning!
Hot water with lemon? I will have to try that. I am not a big water drinking but maybe warm with a lemon will change my mind!! Great job on the cold run. I bet it was peaceful!
It really was nice quiet and relaxing…for a cold run that is! You’ll definitely have to try the hot water with lemon…it’s great!
WOW these photos are gorgeous, what a beautiful run!! 9 degrees is no joke though, that is rough!
Yes…I don’t think I was made for cold weather…ha ha!
Yay for lemon water! Gorgeous scenery:)
Thanks! I am the last one the bandwagon but I am totally digging it!
The pics sure are pretty – gotta love the sun! Mad props to you for running in freezing cold weather. I don’t even want to run from the car to the store.
Ha ha! I know! Gotta love any opportunity for some winter Vit D. I hear that next week is going to get even colder. Brr!
[…] saving the rest for afterwards. It was a gorgeous morning that would have been perfect for an outdoor winter run! But I was happy to find my friend and motivator already running laps around the indoor […]