What to wear running in 55 degrees

Temp: 55 degrees
Humidity/Precip.: 95%/none
Wind: Calm
Terrain: Rolling hills
Distance: 3 miles

Before

What I Wore: Well, I started out wearing Brooks running shorts, Under Armour wicking T and Pearl Izumi running jacket. BUT, when I stepped outside, I was comfortable. Learning from past mistakes I went back in, took off the two top layers and replaced them with one - the Asics long-sleeve, wicking T from the 2007 ING NYC marathon.

After

Did It Work: Yes! It was just a little cool when I started but I was ready to push up my sleeves around mile 2. Thanks to the cool, damp air, the outfit was never too hot. Plus, on a foggy day in the Bay Area, the bright orange was just what the folks in the 'hood needed!

Race Gear: Not all race swag is good. Please don't feel like you HAVE  to wear whatever someone gives you. I didn't wear the NYC shirt for the '07 race because even the small is too big (see pic) and because it was untested - 26.2 miles is a long way to run in something you've never worn before.
For a long race, don't wear something new. And for any race, skip the cotton. As Shu's Running Store in Boise, ID, likes to say: Cotton is a tool of the devil (when it comes to running).

Happy running. Hope to see you on the trail.

Uninspirational Words

Today I dressed for upper 30s, no wind, sun or rain. I had on tights, my 2007 NYC ING Marathon wick-away shirt, another warm, but wicking layer on top and a hat. I walked out the door and, as I approached the elevator, changed my mind and went back into my apartment.

I didn't run.

This is rare for me but I'm not beating myself up about it. I'm not starving myself in punishment. I'm not planning to add more miles to tomorrow's run to make up for it. Sometimes, I decide not to do what I said I was going to do. But usually, if I say I'm going running, come rain, sleet or snow, I'll be out there.

Lately, I've been asked a lot what "drives" me to run. I don't think of myself as driven, in a good or bad way. I don't have a wondrous words of inspiration. All I can say is that, most of the time, the thing that gets me out the door is the fact that I promised myself earlier in the day or the evening before that I would go for a run. And if I can't keep a promise to myself, what does that say about promises I make to others?

Knowing what to wear is about removing another layer of the excuses we make for not taking care of our bodies. Running, or not, is a choice. Neither is especially bad or good. But if you're fighting with that part of you that makes excuses, try making a very specific promise. Promise yourself that you will run x miles on a specific day at a specific point in the day (before work, at lunch, after work before you do anything else). And then keep that promise. It's that easy, even when it sounds hard.

Good luck!