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On Saturday morning, my roommate and I participated in the 21st Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon.

• They were giving away long-sleeved t-shirts to registered participants (those who printed out their waivers in advance). I didn’t want a t-shirt because it was unflattering and I knew I wouldn’t wear it (size-XL, with a cartoon drawing of a house on the front). My roommate wanted one though, so it ended up working out just fine when she discovered her waiver had accidentally fallen out of her back pocket. I gave her mine and she was able to collect a shirt.

• The walkathon experience can be summed up in one word: BRRRRRRRR!!! The temps were in the 30s, not including the wind chill. I was wearing an undershirt, a turtleneck sweater, a wool pea coat, gloves, and a hat (oh, and also jeans and sneakers, of course). The worst part was standing still for half an hour before we were able to start the walk. Even after we started walking, there were many times that I had to tuck my chin into my chest and face the wind head-first to keep it from blowing directly into my face. It was pretty miserable.

• Our secret to survival? We kept telling ourselves, “There are people who actually have to live outside in these conditions every day. Stop whining.”

• I brought a camera with me but I didn’t take a single photo. It was impossible to take my gloves off without my fingers turning into numb icicles.

• I didn’t have breakfast before we left the house, so I brought a Power Bar to eat. By the time I pulled it out of my bag, it was frozen. (Yes, I made the mistake of attempting to bite into it, only to have my teeth bounce off like I was trying to gnaw a brick.) I stuck the bar down my shirt and held it tight against my chest with both hands so it would warm up (I probably looked like I was about to have a heart attack). It had softened enough after a few minutes that I could break little bits off with my fingers, and then I held the pieces in my mouth for a while before I was able to chew them.

• Jen and I stopped about two blocks from the finish line because we were passing our Metro stop and we didn’t want to have to double back. Even though the walk was only 3 miles and I regularly go out for 5 mile walks, the cold temps had tired us out (plus, neither one of us had consumed any caffeine that morning and it was after 10am). We also had another mile to walk (from the Metro stop in Alexandria to our apartment) once we got back.

• We ended up spending another few hours outside later that afternoon — Jen and another friend of ours wanted to check out a craft fair in Maryland. Even though I was wearing a warm coat and gloves, I didn’t bring a hat with me that time and I was miserable. I hate being cold. (At least if I’m outside running I’m getting warmed up.)

• We finished the evening at Mai Thai, my favorite Thai restaurant in Old Town (where it was waaarrrrmmm inside!), so that was nice. Jen and I were both so exhausted that we ended up going home after dinner instead of going out somewhere — and I was in bed by 10pm. Ah, what a crazy life I lead…

(Note: This fulfills #5 on my 101 Things list: Participate in a large support event.)