Running!! Nov 18-24

[froglegs]

5 miles yesterday, mostly uphill. I had my husband drop me off at the gym, then did some weights and ran home. It was only a slightly over 1% average grade, but it seemed way more difficult than a run with no net elevation change.

[rocknrollgirl]

Did my first workout in about 5 weeks. It felt really good. I was able to apply some of the stuff I learned at the run clinic in Boston.

[Grog]

Rolled out of bed this morning at 6:45, booted up the computer to check the current weather... (I wouldn't know what channel the weather is on, I never watch TV.) At 6:38 a.m. it was 0 C! Freezing! Wow.

I had my Smartwool beanie ready, picked up the warmest of my tights, longsleeve wool top and my windbreaker. Of course the gloves were gone AWOL but I, hum, "borrowed" a pair. Caught up at 7 on the dot with my running partners just outside the door.

It was quite pleasant out there, the concrete surfaces were fine (sidewalk) but asphalt was slippery. Painted lines, of course, are worst. It's hard to run on a thin layer of ice - there was a tiny bit of fog - because you're always sort of stopping your motion, taking shorter strides, etc. but it was refreshing. It's not really going to get much colder than that, but it really feels like "winter" now! It was a nice 7 K.

Bring it on! I love running in this weather.

[OakLeaf]

Sanity run today. My mom had both her knees replaced on Monday, so my dad and I have been at the hospital all week helping coach her on her PT. Beautiful day in Maryland from what we could see out the windows. I just caught the tail end of daylight and ended my run in the dark - wishing I had more reflective clothing for sure, but there wasn't much traffic tonight. A lot of tree overhang meant my GPS cut out a few times, but mapmyride.com calls it 5.23.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

[yellow]

I'm with you, Grog. I love running in the cold weather.

I ran with my Sunday group this morning (we decided to have a "holiday" run also), though I broke off about half way as I wanted to go a little farther. It was about 27 F when we started, not super cold, so it felt really, really good. The sun came up over the mountains about half way thru my run and I had to take off my gloves and hat even though it was only 30 when I finished. I ended up going about 2 miles farther than I wanted but oh well. Tomorrow is a rest day.

RNRG, wow, 5 weeks! That's great that you felt good. I think if I took 5 weeks off I'd never start again. The pull of the sofa is so great...

[Grog]

Oooh, yeah, talk about it!

It was -3 C this morning (so about 27 F) and it was really nice, not so slippery this time (perhaps a little less humid, like 98% instead of 100%!). We ran along a road called Marine Dr. from which, through the trees, you can see the ocean and the mountains of Vancouver Island across the Georgia Strait. The pink hues made the scenery really beautiful.

I asked one of my running friends, as we were running back: Don't you feel like a hero when you do this? She did. So did I. The hard part is really rolling out of bed and into my running clothes*. Once I've got even one piece of running clothing on, there's no turning back.

I'm surprised I was so comfortable because running in cold weather used to hurt my lungs a bit. I guess I've grown used to it.

Glad we share this, Yellow. You're a hero too!

[OakLeaf]

Basically the same route today as yesterday, two laps of the little golf course, but shortened up a bit. Beautiful day in Maryland, unfortunately as soon as the kitchen chores were under control and I got out on the road, it started to rain. I don't mind running in the wet when it's 70 degrees outside! No gritty derailleurs to clean 4.26 today, my mom was discharged from the hospital and she's doing great.

[tattiefritter]

Not much running for me this week due to falling of my MTB and trying to impale myself on the bars on Saturday, then to round off the weekend I came down with a stomach bug and was in bed for all of Sunday and some of Monday. I seem to have shaken it off now and went out for a run with the club last night to determine whether I was up for running my 10K on Saturday or not. The run went well, if a little quick as there were a lot of people around and the groups hadn't quite split into the normal structure, fast, medium, mere mortal. I managed to hang on with some of the faster ones (not the stupidly fast run like the wind ones) just which gave me confidence for Saturday and my chest only hurt on the longer downhills. The 10K course is pretty flat so I'm going to have a go.

[rocknrollgirl]

We did another easy 30 min workout yesterday. Warm-up, some easy repeats, cool down. Felt good.

[froglegs]

A sad 20 minutes on the treadmill for me yesterday. I just wasn't feeling it. I don't think I hydrated properly. Maybe it was all the stuffing.

[kelownagirl]

Anyone have EI asthma? I have a puffer that I used to use all the time when riding but now I only need it when the temps are below about 8 celcius. This will be my first time running in the winter. I wonder if I'll need my puffer and whether it'll be too hard on my lungs?

I suppose I could just get dressed and go outside and find out for myself....

[Shiraz]

This was a challenging week to get miles in.

Sunday : no run..came home from a trip OOT to family at the house.
Monday : no run..worked til late.. exhausted
Tuesday : no run worked late... exhausted
Wednesday : Finally ran intervals = 7.25 miles
Thursday : Easy 5 miles before heading to the folks to EAT and EAT
Friday : No run worked late
Saturday : 12.25 miles LSR in FREEZING weather.

Started out at 15 degrees F this AM at 0830 and warmed up to 25 degrees but it felt pretty good. Once we started runniing we warmed up pretty fast. I didn't push it hard just wanted the miles. Smart wool socks are the best.

One week from tomorrow is the Las Vegas 1/2 mary.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!!

[rocknrollgirl]

Yellow,
I was not veggin' for 5 weeks, just chillin'. I needed to chill at the end of my season. I hiked, did some easy swims, spun around the hood on my bike, lifted some light weights. I did not run because my knee was hurting. I am just starting back to some base training now. Nice and easy.

[Grog]

Anyone have EI asthma? I have a puffer that I used to use all the time when riding but now I only need it when the temps are below about 8 celcius. This will be my first time running in the winter. I wonder if I'll need my puffer and whether it'll be too hard on my lungs?

I suppose I could just get dressed and go outside and find out for myself....

I do, but I resist diagnosis. I don't like taking medication for what I perceive as a variation of normal... But do take your pump with you!

My airways do not really swell, but they get filled up with snotty goop. Thus the snot rockets (which, I know, you abhor) and some degree of spitting.

I find it a lot easier this year than last year, too. I think it becomes a habit. It's always easier to do it progressively. I'm glad I started running consistently in September, so I got used to the change in temperature... Perhaps you could try going for very short periods at first, like 10-15 minutes, and increasing your times progressively?

[Grog]

Had a great, short tempo run on Saturday, and a 15-km slower one today. I love this weather.