Jogging at 14 Degrees is Much Harder Than I Thought

[](http://supermekanismo.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/jog2.jpg)

[Source](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jogging_through_Green_Park_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1148249.jpg)

I wanted to get back in shape so I decided to start jogging again. I was planning to just be comfortable running and jogging so I can start some marathon training. I love being in shape and having that stamina to last a full basketball game. It's been months since I was at optimal form so I expected the worst but I got much worse than that. It's my first time to run here in Toronto and to add to that it was 14 degrees outside.

Why the hell did I decide to take a jog at 14 degrees? First, While exercising or at least jogging, the body gets warm. I thought that the temperature would not matter in that sense. Second, I haven't experienced running at anything past 22-26 degrees (more or less room temperature). I thought  14 degrees couldn't be that bad (but it was).  Fourteen degrees doesn't seem like cold but when the wind blows it gets cold fast. I was wearing 2 shirts and I skipped the sweatshirt.

My hypothesis on keeping a decent body temperature was proven false. When I was jogging, my body concentrated its heat at the core near my heart. This effect is a natural reaction. It happens when athletes swim on ice cold waters. It's a reaction of the body to survive. The problem is that since most of the heat is being concentrated at the chest area, I could barely use my legs and thighs. It felt painful to just use those parts of the body.

When I tried to jog, I couldn't establish a rhythm. I could not use a decent form and most of the strain fell on my thighs, hips and lower back just trying to move my lower body and force it to jog. It was also hard to breathe especially when the wind blew. I just wanted to shiver. I was forced to walk on a lot of parts. Even if my legs could still run, it was just too hard to do.

On the positive side of things, I discovered that I jog/walked for a total distance of 5.6 kilometers. I haven't jogged that far yet since I just mostly used a treadmill. I get bored using the treadmill after about 45 minutes or so and my usual distance is somewhere along the lines of 3.5 kilometers. Finally getting a chance to run outside is very satisfying. Just exercising in a route is a joy in itself.

Although I did pretty terrible at my first run (I finished at around a little less than an hour), I'm still thrilled that I finally gave it a go. I also learned a lot. Hopefully I can keep it up and later on start another marathon training program.

Just to reiterate.

• Don't underestimate the weather if you haven't had a feel for it yet
• Wear the proper gear
• Know your limits
• Break your limits