Running Nov 11-17

[Grog]

I was still in bed at about 6:45 this morning when I smelled the aroma of fresh croissants baking in our collective kitchen (I live in a residential college). I did not feel like running but I knew I had to get out of bed, run a bit and then get one of those awesome buttery things!

It took me a while but I crawled out of bed and into my warm tights (3C this morning). I just went out for 20 minutes but wow! what a 20 minutes! I did a loop with a LONG (1 k) and rather steep (5% - for running, that's steep to me) hill. The hill is on a main commuting route for cyclists and there was one coming on a road bike, on the road, just as I was starting up the hill. I just took off, telling myself that I hoped she would not pass me before the next corner. Well she never passed me, nor even came close, as I finished a good 20 meters ahead of her. Obviously, I was the only one racing, but it was fun anyway, and I finished in less than 20 minutes, so that I could get to my croissant faster.

[Shiraz]

Did my long slow run today ..12.25 inside.. on the dreadmill. it went pretty good considering it was on a treadmill. I had to get the run in before the grandbabies came. I had to get off and take a few minutes after 5 miles but than I finished.

I didn't get a run in Monday or Tuesday, probably will not get a run in Thursday so my week is:

Sunday 8 miles tempo
Wednesday 12.25 SLR
I better get some miles Friday and Sat and it better be outside!!

I am about 2 weeks from LV 1/2 marathon Dec 2. Hope my long runs improve.

[wemoon]

I ran twice on the treadmill this week both about 2 miles. I ran 3m once outside, I believe on Sunday? Which was a GORGEOUS day. One of those days where it feels like you could run forever. I debating on what to do today. I need to get my car to the shop and thinking about putting my bike on the back so I can ride to work and then home, then to the car. But I also want to run today... so I think I will do both. I can run 4 this afternoon.

[limewave]

I'm doing a trail run tonight. It's going to be really, really, cold and really, really, dark. I'll be testing out my new headlamp. I'm going with two other women so we should be fairly safe. I'm hoping to get in 4 miles, but one of the ladies is pretty slow and does not do well on the trails (so I'm not sure why she wants to try night trail running . . . ?). Anyways, should be fun

[Grog]

Ran just half an hour with my running partners today. One of them just picked up running this September after recently quitting smoking, and she's signed up for a race on Sunday (I volunteer so I'm not racing that one), so I said she should set the pace and destination. She took us down to the beach, which meant we'd have to come back up that mighty hill. For the first time, she ran all the way up the nearly 2-km hill. I was quite proud of her.

And I like that I've been running almost every day for a while. I'm becoming weirder...

[limewave]

The night trail run was really amazing. We were truly alone in the woods. It was very cold and windy last night, we also got our first real snowfall. I kept hearing creepy sounds and was sure a family of bears was waiting to pounce on us, but my friends assured me it was just the trees moaning.

After about a mile we came to a lake and then ran on some rolling sand dunes with tall dune grass. We ended up walking a good portion of this because it was so challenging. After what seemed an eternity of sand dunes, we finally arrived at Lake Michigan. We turned off our headlamps so we could better enjoy the view.

The trail then curved back into the woods and we headed back. It was really fun. Can't wait to do it again.

[Grog]

The night trail run was really amazing.

Thanks for the story! It does sound amazing! I have about a hundred miles of trails right by my place, but I'm not sure I'd go there at night. Perhaps I should go with a small group.

I should at least go running on the beach at night, it's so peaceful...

Thanks for the beautiful images that formed in my head!