Frigid Tuscaloosa Morning Didn’t Stop This Race

"Now, that was cold" was all I could say after running the Guns N Hoses 5K at Sokol Park over the weekend. The 3rd Annual featuring local police and fire, among other runners to fight childhood obesity in Tuscaloosa County.

Looking at my phone minutes before the race started, gathering up my run playlist, loading RunKeeper to track it and a check on the current temp. It was so cold, I check the current temp a few times, at this point, 23 degrees. That wouldn't be all that bad, if it wasn't so WINDY! The windchill must have been 50 BELOW! Okay, maybe not that cold.

I have to give props and shout outs to all the volunteers and crazy runners who braved the cold. Hey, it's the first local race of the new year around town, a can't miss! Normally, I'd say running in extreme cold is 10X better than extreme hot. I questioned that belief as it took me 2 miles for my hand to warm enough that they wouldn't sting any more. The worst part about it, I was wearing gloves. Granted, they were gardening gloves. As you laugh about that, it's because of the grip to be able to hold my phone while running.

Congrats to the 2015 Guns N Hoses team race winners: Tuscaloosa Fire Department!

Below is the posting from PARA announcing the Top 3.

This how I looked after the race. That brilliant sunshine did help some. Yeah, it could have been worse on a cloudy morning.

Wait, here's what could have been worse, if the race included a dash into cold water. Look at these people running into icy cold water. No way!