Moving right along January 3rd-9th

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Originally Posted by Becky

Me either! I was just having this conversation with a running friend yesterday. She swears that the TM is easier for her, but every outdoor run I've done (which hasn't been many lately!) has been faster than my indoor times.

Personally, I think that this is a good thing- makes me feel like Superwoman when I do get outside :)

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Whew, glad I'm not the only one. :D

Today I did hill repeats. Last week was week 1 of my training plan which was just acclimating. This week is not just acclimating. :p It started with my LTHR tests on the bike and run, added strength, intervals on the bike, and today (steep) 8x60s hill repeats. I am beat (tomorrow's my day off). That 8th hill repeat... OMG. My legs felt like I was running uphill in wet cement! It was also 18 degrees and windy as all get out, but thanks to running "into" the hill I was mostly protected (the wind was coming "down" the hill, more or less, but not until you got either close to the top or close to the bottom). I had my dog for company, she enjoys hill repeats more than regular runs or intervals (and they tire her out pretty efficiently, too).

Been having some heel pain (scared of plantar fasciitis) - my chiro looked at it and touched things and poked different places to rule out plantar fasciitis itself, and did determine it's actually my calcaneous (heel bone) and related muscles out of alignment/angry. I iced the area once this week and have been doing daily stretches that have helped, will go back to icing later.

Ugh...10 miles entirely on snow-covered roads. It was a good call donning the Yaktrax. But that sucked. Needed to be done, though. Last long runs was 2 weeks ago and the weather is only going to be worse in the coming couple of days.

Is it Spring, yet? :o

Oh Zoom, you are so good. We got a 4" snow last night and I opted for a 2 miler on the treadmill this evening. Ugh! The wind chill is -2 out there right now and is going to get colder.

The Snowman Shuffle 5k is scheduled for Saturday and the low is supposed to be -1. I don't know if I'm gonna tough it out or not. Question for you ladies: What shoes do you wear running with snow on the ground? And I'm not going to follow in Urlea's footsteps and take mine off ;)

The shoe choice is a hard call. I would say trails, but I have one pair of NB Gore-Tex trail shoes that I bought for Winter running last year...and they are the WORST pair of shoes EVER on snow/ice (the only falls I have ever had were all in those shoes). But my Mizuno Wave Ascends are really fabulous...almost as good as regular road shoes with Yaktrax.

Have you ever tried screw shoes? I don't know anyone who has tried this and not loved the results. I have several pairs of shoes I should have DH "screw" for me--including those Gore-Tex NBs.

Colby, do you roll out your calves regularly? My Achilles trouble is all about trigger points mostly in the soleus, but some in the gastrocs also, and supposedly it's closely related to heel trouble and plantar fasciitis. I've got to go super deep to get into mine. Stretching doesn't do a thing for them.

Way to be brave this week ladies! Looking at the weather map of the country I think everyone is enduring temps that are just a little too cold for our liking right now. But we're still running! :D

8.8 miles today. Hadn't planned on that distance was thinking more like 6miles if I could stand it in the -8F & -34 windchill from 25mph winds. Definitely the coldest weather run I've ever done because of that windchill, but thankfully I wasn't miserable during it.

With the snow that fell during our mini-blizzard 98% of the sidewalks were under too much drifted snow to run on so I stuck to roads. Trying to route myself through new neighborhoods to get the mileage I was hoping for. It went well for the most part & I was able to be partially blocked from the wind a lot of it. However I accidently took a wrong turn in one of the neighborhoods & it took me to a dead end, so I got to run some extra mileage finding my way back so that I didn't have to run on a very busy street to get home. :p Got home in time to shower & head out the door for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu class. So tired, but that class is awesome for recovery because it really stretches out sore muscles & tendons.

All things considered, it was a decent run. A lot more comfortable then I expected it to be & my pace wasn't all bad. Some days it's better to brave the elements then to think all day about the run you didn't do, today was one of those days for me.

Bikechick When I'm not in barefoot running shoes I wear Mizuno trail shoes on the snow & I have never fallen running on snow/ice.

Jolt Had to laugh at your post. I stopped at the grocery store before heading home during my run the other day. I'm one of those who's face gets red when they run (especially in the winter.) People looked at me so strange & the cashier told me he thought I was crazy for running outside. It was just the most convenient way to get groceries that day. At least we are being "green" right?

As to the treadmill slowness: other than the fact that they give me shin splints from h*ll & I feel like a hamster, I also never ran as fast on them. I think the ability to vary pace when I need to outside makes the difference. No adjusting a machine to do that is really nice.

6 mile trail run for me yesterday. My legs were really tired from mt biking the night before so I gave my self permission to walk the hills and take a walk break every 5-6 mins. It worked out great. It was a balmy 36 degress which feels really warm right now!

Short run planned tomorrow after my swim.

I ran on the tm last night, for the first run in a long time. I did a miniscule 30 minutes on the cardio program, level 1, which seemed too slow for the walk intervals, so I bumped it up. However, when it got to some of the run intervals, the speed was 7 mph, which was too fast, so I had to set it back to 6 mph.
My DH told me he loved this program, but I would rather control the intervals on my own, using the manual function. I was fine running at 5 mph, and was breathing hard at 6 mph, pretty much the same as always. Now my hips are really sore, along with some hamstring ouchiness. Some of it is from x country skiing on Wednesday, so I took an Advil and hope to stretch it out on the trainer today.
I keep going back and forth with whether I am going to continue running, but I like having something I can do in a shorter time period. And, I like running outside when it's cold out. OK, not the kind of cold you ladies are describing (we rarely have that), but when it's in the 20's-40's. Motivate me, please...

Crankin- Nothing wrong with doing 6 mph! I'm lucky to see that on dry land, and never on the treadmill. I'd launch myself off the back in a blaze of glory! I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter how fast or how far I go, as long as I'm doing it and without re-injuring myself. (Gosh, it's hard to be that patient!)

If you like running outside when it's chilly and have the clothing to do it comfortably, then why not? It doesn't hurt to mix things up a little, even if cycling is the main sport.

Crank, I think it's hard any time you start something new but it's also great to mix it up and do something in addition to cycling. I've only been running about a year off and on and don't do over 5 mph on the treadmill and certainly don't run that fast outside. There are days that I feel invigorated and others like yesterday that I have to force my way through it--but I'm moving and not sitting on my duff on the couch. It also makes the winter go by faster. Take it slow and hang in there.

Thanks for that message, Becky. The ten minute mile seems to be my limit, although I never really pushed myself. I was so proud of myself for actually running 4-5 miles last year, until my back started acting up. I felt lucky that I had absolutely no shin or knee problems because I started so slowly. As in cycling, I seem to be more of an endurance person than a speed person.
I have a big cycling trip to Spain in the middle of May. Right now I'm doing some serious (for me) indoor training for that and I hope to be out on the road by March 10th or so. Although I usually get outside on the bike by then, I need to do longer distances, earlier in the season than usual. Running fatigues my body in a way that sort of interferes with cycling, so that's my issue. I can continue running 2 times a week, with no ill effects, but then I never improve. Cycling is my first love, and although I'll never be as fast as I used to be, I don't want to hurt when I am riding.

Wow, that sounds like an awesome trip! Post pics, okay? :)

I'm not surprised that running is more fatiguing than cycling. I experience the same thing. Are you building in some rest days?

I guess it depends what your goal is when you run. Is it to be a better runner, or is it to cross-train so that you can be a better cyclist? If it's the latter, then I don't see anything wrong with only running a couple of times a week, just to mix things up a little and use some different muscle groups.

(And I totally agree with everything that Bike Chick says too!)

Crankin, I'm with you. I'm all about endurance over speed. I don't get bored during long runs or rides (I have heard other people often do.) I have a pretty hyperactive imagination and while that limits me somewhat in "the real world" it keeps me busy on runs and rides.

I am jealous of your trip to Spain! Of course I would do more eating than riding.

So, I still have this nagging cough and did not run the past two days. My feeling is, why chance making it worse, and then I'll REALLY lose training. So I am taking it easy. But I miss it. And I miss the bike. I saw a guy riding home along route 3 last evening, standing up on a long hill that I never stand on, and I wanted to stop and cheer for him. Soon enough I'll be out there again. I just have to be patient and get better!

Indi, you are doing the right thing. There have been too many times when I pushed through the illness and I ended up with something really bad.
I am running I guess to do something different, as it seems the older I get, the more my body adapts to what I am doing. So, it really is for cross training, but there is a little part of me that is competitive enough, with myself, at least that wants to improve.
I am taking rest days. One day of complete rest and one that's an easy walk, spin, or just yoga or snow shoeing on easy trails right now.
The trip is to celebrate my 30th anniversary, which was actually in December. It's 10 days of the tour, with 8 days of cycling and 2 walking days. We are spending 3 days in Seville before the tour and 3 days lying on the beach in Malaga after. And believe me, i will be doing plenty of eating. No restrictions on food when I am doing this kind of trip.

Urlea, it's runners like you and friends of mine in Canada who get me out the door on days when I want to hop on the "nowhere bike" and stay in my warm house. Whenever single-digit windchills seem bad I remind myself that I know people who are running in FAR worse conditions...and it makes me harden the f*** up! :D

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

Urlea, it's runners like you and friends of mine in Canada who get me out the door on days when I want to hop on the "nowhere bike" and stay in my warm house. Whenever single-digit windchills seem bad I remind myself that I know people who are running in FAR worse conditions...and it makes me harden the f*** up! :D

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I agree with you, Zoom. They are my motivation not to wuss out.

Crank, what a wonderful trip! Be sure to tell us all about it when you get back and post your pics!

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Colby, do you roll out your calves regularly? My Achilles trouble is all about trigger points mostly in the soleus, but some in the gastrocs also, and supposedly it's closely related to heel trouble and plantar fasciitis. I've got to go super deep to get into mine. Stretching doesn't do a thing for them.

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Thanks for the advice, I think I will have my husband roll everything out with the stick for me. I have been stretching, but it just doesn't go deep enough - it relieves the stress briefly (it does feel better) but doesn't remove it. My chiro was "stretching" that area and asking if I felt it, I said no, and he said I'd have to do it, he couldn't get deep enough into the muscles. :p A good downward dog with heel presses does feel good, but I think I need to go to the next level. I'm wondering if there's something in that system I need to strengthen, too.

After my last run, on Weds, I had to put a halt on the training b/c of some odd medical things. First, I had intense chest pains on my left side at mile 2.5. The pain gradually decreased after I stopped running. I ended up walking the rest of the way. THEN, I got home and my kidney's started bleeding (see Health thread).

The chest pains scared everyone, even my doctor. Fortunately, while she was giving me an exam and feeling my chest (that sounds dirty), she noticed something unusual. My rib had popped out of place!!!! I'm starting to feel like a medical freak. Seems like there is something new wrong every other day.

Anyways, she said I have no excuse and I better get my butt out there and running. Which I plan to do. 2 miles tonight. 6.5 tomorrow. Supposed to be 8 degrees in the morning, can't wait.

*Gentle hug* to you, Limewave.

Lime, I'm glad your doc has given you the all-clear! Phew! :)

45-minute trail run/walk on packed snow today. I felt SLOW--not sure if it's because of doing less running lately or because running on snow is a little harder work than on bare dirt. Now I have to get ready for my very first night shift ever--clinical starts tonight and my placement this semester involves some nights, which I have never done before. Fortunately the hospital is just down the street, so I won't have to deal with traveling a long time when I'm tired at the end of the shift.

Mile repeats x 3. I wasn't looking forward to the damp and cold, but I reminded myself of the weather some of you are having to deal with!

I'm seeing a PT on Tuesday for my feet/hip/everything :p He comes highly recommended by my LMT, so I'm hopeful for some good insights and strategies.

Good luck Oak!

Jolt..nights aren't so bad..when you're young. When I started having trouble sleeping in the daytime, I knew it was time to get a "day" job.

My short run today was positive balmy compared to last week (-30C, lots of wind) today it was only -9C, wind about 20km/hr. But bright and sunny. Did 5.5k in 30 min - a 5::25 pace. My focus over the last few months has been the bike - I've managed to keep my run pace relatively the same.

5 miles in SUNSHINE...aaaahhh...26ºF with 19º windchill...quite comfy. Looking forward to warmer temps next week so that the roads will be clear and I can ditch the Yaktrax for a while.

Ah!

After last Sunday's painful run, with my strained groin muscle, I rested all week, even restricting fast walking, and went on the trainer twice (what torture when you can't even stand up to pedal!). I ran across the street twice to catch a bus and it was painful both times, but yesterday I jogged just a few meters to see how it would feel and it seemed fine. Sort of.

So I went out for a jog today. I decided before going that I would alternate running and walking for 1 minute each, for 15 minutes, and keep my stride as short as I could, being careful to always land my feet below my hips and not to stretch forward.

It went well! I ended up going for 20 minutes. Running was uncomfortable but not painful, as long as I kept my stride short.

So tomorrow I'll go for longer, maybe 45 minutes, but with the same walk-run routine. I won't push it. I'll treat next week as a rest week, but still run.

I'm getting excited about the prospect of signing up for a marathon. Has anyone here ever done the Capital City Marathon in Olympia, WA?

Yay Grog! I also rested a few days this week due to a cold. I did 3.6 today with my DH on a very big hill route. I used my VFFs and it was a great run! About 20 degrees F here.

Good luck with your schedule, Jolt. I can't imagine having to work at night. How is this going to impact your job at the nursing home?
You must be getting close to finishing, though.
I am in a weekend class this weekend; holistic approaches to pain and stress. It's an expressive therapy course and I don't know one person in it. Plus, half of the students are undergrads. Not sure how that happened, since it's a 600 level class. So, while dealing with the weirdness of being out of my little cohort of counseling psych friends, I am learning some cool things to use with my clients. But some of this is a little too "out there" for me. She's teaching us some yogic breathing that makes me feel like I'm suffocating. Guess I won't be using that with clients.
No exercise today. I am sore all over from running, a hard trainer workout , and skiing. Will be running on the TM tomorrow, hopefully before I go to class.

We did a 30 min trail run today after I worked out in the pool this morning. My hair was still a bit damp and froze a little, but other than that it was a nice run. I think it was about 20 degrees and a bit windy, but nice in the woods.

Mt biking tomorrow

Been pretty tired today, didn't sleep the greatest last night, probably because I was excited to run this morning. :) Late last week Maggie found out about a few ultra runners in our area doing group runs together & we were able to join them today for 16miles of a moderately hilly long-run out in the country.

Having never met them before & with all three of them being male I wasn't quite sure how it would go. Could we keep up? Will they be annoyed by anyone talking? What if I have to toot? Can I still video blog my run? Stuff like that.

After the first few miles though I was having a blast!! Such a great group of guys, quite conversational & our paces were matched relatively well.

Around mile 10ish one of the guys was starting to lag a little bit. I just assumed he was getting low on hydration or fuel so we took a short walking fueling break. He mentioned it was the meds giving him troubles & went on to tell me he has Hodgekin's Lymphoma. I was shocked to find out here he was running 16miles in -13F only a few days after having CHEMO! I'm still having a hard time wrapping my mind around how much passion he must have for running to work through it all. Wow.

Anyway, we ended the run having gained 3 like-hearted comrades. I am looking forward to more treks with them. It's nice to have more ppl to run w/ and others navigating instead of just me. :D

Grog Glad to hear you are healing well & easing back into it!

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Good luck with your schedule, Jolt. I can't imagine having to work at night. How is this going to impact your job at the nursing home?
You must be getting close to finishing, though.

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I'm actually no longer working at the nursing home--got laid off last month b/c they were reducing the number of beds so had to cut staff. Bummer, but on the other hand it leaves me that much more time to focus on school. So, that isn't an issue with scheduling for clinical. Just this semester and then I will be graduating and taking the boards to become certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (and then hopefully being able to find a job in a timely fashion...without having to move too far if I can help it). As it turned out last night I was only there for the first half of the shift b/c things were so quiet after the first few hours that my preceptor said I might as well take off.

Wow, you are almost done, Jolt. I actually know a few people that have been hired at MGH.
I ran for 25 minutes on the TM at 6 AM. It was an interval program, with some walking, but considering the time, I felt OK.
Gotta go into my class now.

Urlea, I love your reports.

When my brother was a kid he had bone cancer in his leg, and a few of the bones in his leg were replaced by metal prosthetics. (They are inside, all you can see are scars and 25 years later now he's just fine.) Anyway, he had pretty heavy duty chemo for many many months, those were the early 1980s and chemo was a lot harsher back then. Basically, he would spend Thursday through Sunday in the hospital vomiting, he actually would start to get sick on Wednesday from the anticipation. Yet, as soon as he came home Sunday afternoon he'd jump on his bike and ride in endless circles in our driveway. (We had a farm, thus a huge driveway.) It was the best thing on earth for him. I recall that the doctors disapproved of that at first, and then they wisened up and realized that the energy and feeling of normality he got from riding his bike were worth the risk of a fall.

Running is probably keeping that same feeling of normality for your running friend. My thoughts are with him and I wish him the best. It's not a very good disease to have, but he seems to be in the right spirit to fight it. I hope all goes well. Chemo is an awful thing, but probably better than the alternative...

As usual a little behind on posting...
Friday I had a 5+ miler. It was 1 mile warm-up/easy then 3 X 1mile of tempo w/ 1/4 mile recovery and then cool down.
Weather was cool...but sunny. I had a REALLY good run. Ended up with 5.5 miles and in 57 mins. Pretty speedy for me. My tempo pace should be about 10...but just can't seem to run AT that pace. Mostly about 9:30 - 9:40. So I just went with it cuz I felt good. That was the best I have felt for running in a while. I was pretty darn happy w/ my total time/avg pace and how I felt running at tempo.
Saturday I ran w/ my friend--first time runner for her first 1/2 marathon. Trust me if it was NOT for her I would of not ran. It was the Disney 1/2 and the weather was miserable. And you have to be out there in the open cold for HOURS before. I wore more layers than I have ever worn knowing I would be running slower than my normal pace and that we might end up walking. It was a good thing, too. I was cold. So we have real winter in Florida. It was sleeting at the start. That wasn't' so bad cuz at least I was not wet. BUt it turned to drizzle. My jacket did a good job keeping me dry. But even w/ my running gloves on my hands were so cold they hurt really bad. But she finished! I know it was tough on her...but man being out there in that weather for as long as I (3:23) was and not really "heating" up...I was miserable. I sure hope my marathon day is not like it was today (Sunday) as Disney. Actually it wasn't as bad. It was colder for the start...29 degree, LOTS of wind so def a wind chill, but the sun did come out today, so hopefully that helped some.

Here's to a new week of running!

Damn, kat, that sounds chilly. Someone on my Facebook friends list was visiting family in Florida for the new year and was commenting about how cold it was, too. We're running in the 20s here, too, but we signed up for it by buying a house in the NW ;) Way to hang in there, though.

Did a 3 mile run yesterday in the SUNSHINE!!! It was 17 degrees but it felt great to be outside.