On Being Cold and an Icebreaker GIVEAWAY

I am still wrapping my head around the New York City Marathon. I have a full post that will be released later this week, but I wanted to check in today to chat about the fact that when I arrived back home from NYC (which was tank top temperature for most of the time), it was winter in Canada.

I was at the OCAA National Championships this past weekend and I was cheering on the Conestoga Condors for the race in a snowstorm. The course was snowy, icy and wet. I tend to be cold 99.9% of the time and those closest to me can vouch that I can be tough as nails in most situations except for when I am cold.

When I am cold, I am a wimp.

I remember, the first trip Mark and I ever took together, I was still on my best behaviour always. You know, the phase where you are trying to convince them that the cool girl exists and she is you.

We were in Mexico with a good friend and had been surfing all day so dressing for cold weather was the last thing on my mind. We had turned in our surf boards and I started getting more and more cold. We found a restaurant by the water and we were sitting with the menus that the wind kept trying to whip out of our hands.

Mark had noticed I hadn’t spoken in about 15 minutes which is cause for alarm at the best of times. He tentatively asked if I was ok and was completely unprepared for the monster that was unleashed. Cool girl be damned, I think I actually started crying I was so cold and we forfeited our waterfront seats for a cozy indoor table and later, I dragged them to a number of shops until I bought the puffiest winter coat I could possibly find and proceeded to wear it the remainder of our time there.

Needless to say, this past Saturday, I had some serious base layers going on. When Altitude Sports offered me the range of Ice Breaker base layers for winter, I immediately ignored the lightest versions and went right to the most heavy duty of them all.

I chose the 250 Vertex Half Zip and matching 250 Vertex Leggings.  They are made with 100% merino wool and are soft enough to wear as pajamas (guilty) and thin enough to wear under running tights and jackets.

I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of thickness because they are from their heaviest line, but they are super thin and incredible quality. I will be cross country skiing this winter and will be using this as my go-to base layer.

It dries quickly if you are sweating which is a big bonus for winter workouts. One of my biggest fears in adventure racing is sweating in my base layers and not being able to regulate my body temperature when I cool off and my clothes remain damp. The merino wool solves that problem and doesn’t smell. (Another key asset for long adventure races. In fact, a minor miracle..)

I would love for you to have a chance to try it as well. Today until Thursday, November 22, I am holding a giveaway on my instagram page for the full 250 Vertex Baselayer which is a value of over $300. Just because I love you and being cold is possibly the worst thing to wish on anyone.

Head over here for more instructions and good luck! I will announce the winner in my Instagram stories on Friday.