Jen told me "Wear a hat". I had to laugh. It's perfect advice really, but I was concerned about my entire body, not just my face. But I did wear a hat.
First thing in the morning it was 47 degrees, so I figured shorts were a good call, but would need to be more particular with the clothes for my upper body. It couldn't possibly rain hard enough to warrant a full on rain jacket, and that would make me too hot, so that was out. I settled on a water "resistant" light windbreaker. I didn't want to wear a long sleeve under it, because then I would get warm enough to take the jacket off, leaving me exposed to the rain. So I settled on a sleeveless top.
Somewhere in there I also decided I was not wearing gloves. I truly do not understand how this happens so often. I have Raynauds Syndrome so not only does my entire body get cold very easily, but the blood vessels in my wrists and legs spasm and shunt blood away from my hands and feet so that I get a funky discoloration, numbness and iciness in my fingers and toes. Here's some pictures of Raynauds...not mine since I can't operate a camera when having an issue with it.
When I left the house it had already started to rain. It was also cold and windy, so I picked up the pace more than I wanted because I just had to warm up. As I made it to the running trail (a mile from my place) some older guys looked up and watched me run down the ramp to the trail. I turned in their direction and it didn't take long for me to over take them.
"You're making us look bad!" One of them exclaimed as I started to pass them up.
"I gotta get warmed up, so that I can slow down!" I shouted back.
"Yeah, that's the part we're at...the slowing down part. How far you goin'?"
"14."
"Nice, good for you! We'll see you when you turn around."
"How far are you guys going?"
"16"
"Nice! That's awesome! See you guys soon!" And I took off, struggling to get the feeling back in my hands.
I was pretty surprised to see as many people out there as I did. The rain was coming down sideways and the wind made it feel frigid. Every time my Garmin GPS beeped, I looked down and saw I was running too fast, but it was so cold...I figured I'd warm up eventually and could slow it down again.
I ran along the creek trail, dodging people, dogs and ducks. I ran past the casting ponds and Vasona Lake. I ran past the cute little play train tracks that we rode past yesterday on our bike ride. Finally I hit 7 miles, ran another tenth and then turned around to head home. My body had warmed up after 4 miles and I had relaxed and slowed my pace, but now I was cold again. My hands had turned a bright red and were numb. I was trying to stave off the misery. I still had a ways to go.
Back at Vasona Lake, I saw the two guys from the beginning. I smiled as they came at me.
"Hey! You turned around too soon!" One yelled.
"No way! I made it all the way to Los Gatos!" I yelled.
"You didn't slow down!"
I laughed. "I did slow down! See you guys!" And off I went.
I broke out of the trees and became exposed to a harsh wind and driving rain. A guy in a grey sweatshirt came up on my heels. I turned to the sound of shoes behind me, and he came around and passed. I kept my pace even, making sure I didn't get caught up in his pace. He pulled ahead.
Around this time I was supposed to take a second GU (sugar gel) but my hands were so numb and I was so miserable that I didn't even want to deal with it.
By mile 9 my right wrist was so numb I could hardly hold my water bottle. I was incapable of squeezing the bottle with that hand at this point, since it was so cold and numb, so when I needed a drink, I switched it to my left hand. I tried sticking my hands in my pockets...one at a time since I had the water bottle, but it didn't help much. That right hand, wrist and arm was especially bad. They were blotchy and bright red. I saw the sleeve of my jacket was drenched and could see my skin underneath. There's your problem.
The guy in the grey sweatshirt slowed and I kept coming up behind him. We held the same pace together until he went straight towards Campbell Park, and I took a right over the bridge.
My hands were incapable of handling anything at this point and I gave up trying to drink water. 3 more miles.
The gusts of wind picked up and I couldn't tell if the water in my eyes was from the wind or if I had finally succumbed to despair. I figured no one else could tell either so I let them water. I tried to open and close my hands but they hardly cooperated.
I passed the bridge to Campbell Park. This is about to be the longest two miles of your life. I wondered if I was in this much agony during the last two miles of my last marathon. Logic tells me yes, but at that point in my run I decided on no.
I went under my street and turned up the ramp to the road. Relax, a mile is still a long way to go.
I kept envisioning how it would feel to jump in a hot shower. I wondered how I was going to fish my key out of the little pocket in my shorts and if I'd even be able to get my clothes off to get in the shower. I figured I could either jump in the shower with all my clothes on and take them off as I got warm, or I could warm my hands in the sink first until I could manage to unzip my jacket. This is pathetic.
I thought about how I would need calorie replenishment right away and decided I could shake up a quick protein shake.
My watch beeped a couple blocks from my house and I stopped running. I thought I would continue to jog until I got there, but I was tired and just wanted to stop. I made it to my apartment and trudged up the stairs. I stuck my hand into the little pocket of my shorts until I felt a small piece of metal. Very slowly and cautiously, I was able to work the key into the lock and get inside.
It was significantly warmer inside. I considered taking off my shoes but I knew that would be pretty much impossible at this point. I couldn't believe how numb my right wrist felt. I took off my GPS, my wet hat, and managed to get my drenched jacket off. I went to the kitchen sink and stuck my arms under the faucet, careful not to make it too hot.
My hands were red and swollen, and my wrist was swollen and slightly purple. It looked like I had banged it on something. I tried to remember how that happened, but couldn't come up with anything (other than falling off my bike yesterday). As my hands thawed, they changed color several times and hurt like crazy. My wrist began to feel like I broke it. I cried for real. It wasn't the rain this time.
When I could finally move my hands enough, I stripped down and jumped in a hot shower. I wasn't even hungry. I thought it funny how the body knows what's important and what can wait. Usually when I finish a long run, my body tells me that food cannot wait and I must take in a ton of calories NOW. Didn't even cross my mind this time. As I stood in the shower, I marveled that I was not the slightest bit hungry.
After about 20 minutes in the shower, I got out and got warm and dressed. I was suddenly starving. There you go. I was going to be ok. The swelling in my hands were gone and my hands and wrist were back to a normal color.
I think I'll try to be a little wiser about my clothing selection next time.
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