Twenty Questions - Deerfoot95

Thought of a new idea I'm going to try for the blog - 20 questions. It's an attempt to help get runners to know more about each other, where the answers aren't limited to a character count. The 20 questions are all running related.

Let the fun begin!!

Name: Jeff
Twitter ID or Facebook ID: @deerfoot95

Q1: How did you get started with running?

• In high school, I wanted to go out for the basketball team. During tryouts, I was one of the slowest kids during running drills. My science teacher (who was also the head coach) suggested I go out for the track team to get faster. I made the track team and had a lot of fun. I made a lot of good friends too.

Q2: How long have you been running?

• I've been running for over 20 years. Some years I haven't ran as much or as often as I'd like though.

Q3: What's your average weekly mileage?

• Lately my average has been 15-20 miles per week.

Q4: What time of day do you prefer to run?

• I like running in the morning, just not too early. When you get out the door for a run before the sun is up, it becomes a zombie run - a run where your legs are moving but the brain is still happily sleeping.

Q5: Do you like to run alone or with a group?

• I've ran alone since I graduated high school. It's difficult for me to find somebody that enjoys going for runs.

Q6: Do you have a cut-off point where it's too hot or too cold to run outside?

• The heat doesn't bother me as much as the cold. My cut off for the cold is about 30 degrees.

Q7: How do you keep track of your runs?

• If I run outdoors, I use my Garmin Forerunner 10 and upload it to Garmin's website. I also keep a paper log to have something I'm able to easily look at and add more information to.

Q8: What are your thoughts on treadmills?

• I don't mind them. I run on them during the winter.

Q9: Do you listen to music while running?

• Yep. I've almost always had music with me when I run. It helps keep me company and keeps me moving. 

Q10: How many races have you ran?

• At least more than 100. There was a period of time where I was running a race every week during the summer when I was in high school.

Q11:What's your favorite race you've ran?

• The Detroit half marathon. It's the race I wanted to run since I first started running. I've always wanted to run across the Ambassador Bridge to Canada and come back to US through the Windsor Tunnel.

Q12: What's one race on your race-bucket list?

• I'm hoping to run the Disney half marathon or the Princess half marathon for my daughter.

Q13: How many races do plan to run this year?

• I'm hoping to do at least 10. Some 5ks and a few half marathons.

Q14: What's the farthest you've traveled for a race?

• Think it was a 3 hour drive to my first (failed) attempt at a marathon. Most of the races I do are less than 2 hour drive.

Q15: Do you have any running related tattoos?

• I have a custom tattoo of a track shoe, but with my dogs face for the front part of the shoe.

Q16: Do you have any running stickers or running magnets on your vehicle?

• I have both. I have a Pre Lives, 26.2, 13.1 and a Hansons Brooks ODP stickers and a Run D magnet.

Q17: Where do you buy your running shoes?

• I get my shoes from Hansons Run Shop in metro Detroit. I got my first pair of shoes from there when I first started running. They do a good job helping find shoes that work for the runner.

Q18: How many pairs of running shoes do you go through in a year?

• Usually go through at least 2 pairs a year.

Q19: Do you stay with a certain brand of running clothes?

• Nope. I have a nice mix of brands. Most of them are Champion brand from Target. It's affordable and it works.

Q20: Do you participate in any sports other than running?

• Nope. I was 'encouraged' to stay away from other sports when I first started running. The closest sport I do outside of running is biking - essentially cross training for running.

Is It Too Cold To Run Outside?

Cold weather. A runner's nemesis. Some runners decide to run outside year round regardless of the temperature. Then there are other runners who have a 'cut-off' point, where when the temperature outside hits a certain mark, they stay inside and run on a treadmill. 

Running outside when it's cold outside can be done - if done correctly. There are a lot of different tops, bottoms, socks, and shoes that can make running in the cold possible. Most people start by making sure they have enough layers on. This doesn't mean throwing on a bunch of clothes and heading out the door. 

Proper layering means having several thin layers of clothing. This doesn't just apply for tops. This applies for tops, bottoms, and socks too. The material of the layers is important too. Try to have top and bottom layers that wick moisture away; stay away from cotton. Cotton doesn't insulate that well and it absorbs the moisture making it heavy. For socks, wool is a good material to look for. Same thing with cotton applies to socks; not a good idea if you can help it. The final piece of layering is to have a top and bottom on with a protective shell. This would be some kind of waterproof windbreaker or shell that helps shield you from the wind and elements. Look for protective shells made of Gore-Tex or nylon material. Those materials do a great job of blocking the wind and keeping moisture out.

In addition to layers, you need to cover as much skin as possible. This means making sure you have a hat and gloves. If the weather is really cold, some runners wear a balaclava running mask. The balaclava looks like a ski mask that is made of material that wicks moisture away.

Depending on the conditions of where you want to run, there may be snow or ice on the ground. You could wear your regular running shoes and still have a good run. If think you need something that will help grip the ground better, there are a few possibilities. Some people will insert small screws into their shoes (kinda like sprinter's spikes) to help give them more traction. There are also things you can buy that slip over your running shoes that have spikes on them. Another option is to buy trail running shoes and wear those when there is snow and ice outside.

When there is cold weather outside, runners are faced with the question 'do I want to run outside in the cold, or stay inside and run on a treadmill?' Knowing how to dress appropriately and what materials to look for with clothing can help make running outside in the cold possible.