Moving right along January 3rd-9th

[Urlea]

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!

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. 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.

[rocknrollgirl]

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.

[Crankin]

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...

[Becky]

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.

[Bike Chick]

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.

[Crankin]

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.

[Becky]

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!)

[indigoiis]

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!

[Crankin]

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.

[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!

[Bike Chick]

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!

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!

[colby]

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.

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. 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.

[limewave]

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.

[Grog]

*Gentle hug* to you, Limewave.

[zoom-zoom]

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