Running a 5K in 0 Degree Weather

I live alone. I don't participate in any sort of organized religion that observes Christmas. All the family I care about lives out of state, and although I was invited by a friend for Christmas dinner, since I do not really enjoy being at home for extended periods of time without anywhere to go (and because getting up at 7AM is basically sleeping in for me), I anticipated having cabin fever for the first part of Christmas Day. Because of this, I signed up for the Christmas Day Joyful 5K.

December 25, 2012. I wake up at around 5:45AM (so that I will be awake and ready to go by the time it's time to leave) I check the temperature outside. It's -2. Grand. I check the temperature in St. Paul, and it is for some odd reason 2 degrees warmer. I have never run outdoors below 20 degrees out.

After some deliberation, I figured that lots of people must be doing this 5K, and if they are showing up then I certainly can. I suited up (3 pairs of stretch pants, warm socks, 3 layers on top plus a coat, running gloves, a headband, and my kitty hat) and caught the bus.

When I got to Lake Como, I was kind of early. The problem is that if I had taken the next bus, I would have been late, so early was the only option. Pinning my race bib to my jacket made my fingers freeze to a level which I would consider painful, but I found the heated restroom and ran my fingers under warm water. I basically hung out in the restroom until the start time. A lot of other racers did the same.

At about 5 til, we all left the restroom and went to line up. I was still rather cold, but I was amazed by how many people were in either shorts, light layers, or those Vibram 5 Finger shoes without any socks for additional warmth. After being informed that WCCO was in attendance, the race started. After about the first mile, my entire torso because way too warm, and my hands were warn enough to do without the gloves. I also dispensed with the hat.

My final time for the 5K was 33:30, based upon the informal time clock. It was not chip timed. I would totally do this again. This also taught me that I can indeed run outdoors in extremely cold weather if I am well prepped enough for it.