It's so cold...how cold is it?

It's so cold that my lips froze. Yep, that's right. I've experience just about everything when it comes to cold weather, including frozed hair that it literally breakable and snappable but never have my lips felt like they did this morning on my run.

I got earlier than my alarm and stayed in bed, dileberating when I would run. After not falling back to sleep immediately I got myself up, dressed and out the door. Jogging quickly down the stairs and the short way to our complex's gym only to find the bicycle man already beat me in and the two, yep both, treadmills out of service. Really? I wouldn't have minded any other day but I'm in training, don't they know this?

(side note the bicycle man is a guy who comes to the gym everyday in a green sweatshirt and a pair of lounge pants, that's right- pants you sleep in- and rides the recumbent bike for 45 minutes with no tension. He basically just spins but never goes very fast. hey he gets kudos for doing something, right? RIGHT!)

So I went back home got undressed ,back in pjs, back in bed while it was still dark and then argued with myself about driving to Memorial park and running outside. It was a crazy idea but I went with it, throwing the covers back off, throwing my pjs off and running clothes back on and drove in 32 degree weather to the park. There were about 20 of us total crazy Houstonians willing to attempt this feat, the windchill was 24 degrees...it was still dark.

It took about 30 seconds for my lips to freeze. The snot in my nose, about 2.1 seconds, then my hands, then my cheeks and then my lips. Once it reached my lips I thought to myself," 26.2 miles nothing, my lips are frozen. That's crazy!"

Thank goodness last night I had just gone to Academy and used a gift card to buy an Under Armour longsleeved insulated shirt. It was much better than a tank top but truth be told I could have used two more layered on top. I ran in my windpants, gloves and beanie hat.

All I can think is that I survived and February in the hill country is going to be worse. So I am gritting my teeth as I am now in count down mode and praying I just finish this thing, cause baby, it's cold outside!