Running Colder: Week of 12/22

[Urlea]

First off Great Job getting your run(s) in last week ladies!! You have been a huge encouragement.

I know this week will be a busy one, but let us know how your training is progressing! (and if anyone refers to skiing as "slacking" again we're going to have problems.You know who you are.)

As for me: the conditions were finally bearable enough to get out today. I just got back from a 6.7mile run. Definitely felt cooler then the other sub-zero days I've been out even though weather.com said it was only -5 with 10mph winds. *shrug*

The good news is, I'm starting to regain some feeling in all four of my cheeks. They got pretty chilled.

Overall not a bad run. Sort of rough at the start. Because of the near blizzard conditions over the weekend our side walks and paths are again covered in over 6inches of snow/drifts. It was very difficult finding a route to run, so I went for time. Told myself to run for an hour and once the hr. was up I still felt like continuing so I did.

[Aggie_Ama]

I feel like a weeny complaining about Texas weather! I tried to run Sunday but it was about 90% humidity and miserable. Made it 1.6 miles. We are planning for a Du next month, I really need to start upping the miles on foot and bike. I was ready for a 5 mile Turkey Trot then went down for the count with bronchitis. Inspiration needed!

[eclectic]

Aggie - I don't know how all of you can even walk in that humidity let alone run. When I have been down south I have felt like I was inhaling water!

Urlea - YOU go GIRL - you are one tough NoDak!
The temps are finally above 0 here but today is an off day so I will just go Christmas shopping (have only barely started - don't want to rush these things)

Back to running - I did my obligatory 2 miles yesterday on the track - tough, tough, tough ! ! ! ! I went back and logged all my running - it has been too sporadic and this past week I did what I was supposed to - I upped the miles too quickly AND w/ Christmas coming I didn't want to take an off day yesterday.

End of Whining.
I am supposed to do speed work tomorrow for the first time - we shall see. It is also my last swim day w/ my coach until the middle of Jan so I am going to put in a long swim. I may just do 1/2 the speed work

going to Canada for Christmas - plan on bringing x-country skis and ice skates - may or may not run. My hometown is small and I would have to run across it 4 times and still not get 4 miles in Maybe there is a fitness center there where i can use the Dreadmill.
For sure it will be 2 off days Christmas and Boxing day due to travelling.

Merry Christmas all and keep on a runnin'

[yellow]

Inspiration needed!

Ama, whenever I'm feeling out of sorts about my running for whatever reason, I pick up this book, open it anywhere, and start reading. It's a little out of date on the "science" part, but I love the way John Jerome wrote about running (he passed in 2002). Here's a gem for you:

"The greatest gift that running has given me--after continuing health, a daily visit to my interior life, and a warm feeling for everyone else who enjoys the sport--is what might be called a sympathy for physiology. Not in the poor-baby sense of sympathy, but in the isn't-that-wonderful sense. The training effect itself--the body's natural improvement in response to stress--is the most delicious small piece of physiology I know."

And my personal favorite:

"Physical change takes place at the level of the cell. That's why nothing in training is more important than patience."

Do what you can and be gentle with yourself!

[OakLeaf]

Take it easy on yourself Amanda, it takes a long time to recover from bronchitis!

I feel guilty posting in this thread with all you snow bunnies. We did have a cold snap here yesterday, it didn't even crack 60°, luckily for me it was my rest day and it's warmed back up today.

I'm still trying to ramp my training back up and not doing too terribly badly. Speedplay today in a heck of a wind, and I made sure not to turn around until I'd done more than half my intervals into the wind.

I've kind of got my eye on a 5K this Saturday to do just as motivation for a tempo run, but haven't signed up (which probably means it won't happen ).

Also there's 100 miles on my shoes and the sole cushioning is practically worn out. WTF?

Great job all you cold weather types!

[jesvetmed]

Let's see -- still NO WAY to run out there. Since my last run that was enjoyable in the snow, we recieved about 6 more inches, and then it all froze, melted slightly, froze again. Ugh -- its hard as a rock and icy in some areas and deep drifts in others. Some areas in my back yard are 1", some are 5 feet!

I've been to Boot Camp 2x, and hit the Dreadmill -- could only muster 35 minutes, and so I did the hill program in order to make it worth my while. I had forgotten the ipod, and there was stupid sports shows on the tv, so my brain was not significantly entertained to be on the treadmill for any longer!

I'm hoping to go back to the treadmill tomorrow unless I can find a safer place to run. I need to get up to 9 or 10 miles this week sometime! I think the rain is coming, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I feel like I'm losing ground here waiting!

You guys all sound like such troopers! Way to go.
Jes

[teigyr]

I've been running outside though it's tough. The main thing that has kept me off the treadmill is the fact I can't drive anywhere right now! My car has been stuck at home for the past week. It's snowing pretty hard right now and I have to get to physical therapy so I'll run there. I haven't been to work since last week and I feel bad for the people who made it in. They are being housed in hotels and are working a LOT of hours to cover for those who can't make it.

Whining aside, I ran ten miles in the snow last friday. I ran a "track workout" in the snow on Sunday and I tried to do hills last night. Hills in icy snow don't work so well. The good thing about today's run to the PT is I'm sure I will see many cars stuck and that makes me feel better about not driving. I have a normal car (ie non-4WD) without snow tires or chains. I think I need to try to find chains.

Thanks for all the snow running advice I am really loving it though it is time for the snow to Go Away. I have found that in my normal run shoes and wool socks, my feet are fine. Am still figuring out the perfect way to protect my eyes because the snow builds up on my cycling glasses then they get smeared when I wipe them off and then I run into a ditch or something.

[eclectic]

WOW all you outside runners are so awesome!
That is terrible about all the bad weather everyone is getting. unless you are "stuck" at home, have no where you need to go and get paid anyway then it is

Awesome on running to the PT teigyr! i hope you don't have to take vacation time for all the work time you are missing

I still haven' t mustered up the courage to run outside so it was up to the Y before they closed early to run on the track.
Today was "speedwork" ha ha ha My speed work is slower than most people's slow recovery runs

BUT I did get 4.25 miles in. I was supposed to do 3 sets of 800 yds at the faster pace. I was only ever able to manage 400 - 440 or so before having to walk about 150 then I could finish it out- I was probably running faster than necessary because I finished the 800 sets in not much over the alotted time. I tried to figure out the pacing but it was hard to do the math as the track is approx 222 yds (they built the building w/o taking into consideration the track size - how dare they ? ? ? ? Oh well I guess longer is better than shorter

Oh yeah, I did swim 1.5 miles this morning before running - does that count for anything

[Urlea]

Well I was only able to crank out 2.8 miles today. The sun started to set on me and finding a clear path was even harder then when I ran on Monday thanks to 4 more inches of snow since then. Felt like warmer weather today, didn't have to wear my hood over my hat. That's an improvement.

I'm debating whether or not to join a marathon training group that will be starting next month. Not sure if it is worth the $80. Those of you who have been part of such groups, would you suggest it? My first full is in May.

Speaking of which, Eclectic, you are going to be so ready for the 1/2 come May. Looks like you are building quite the base. Good for you!!

All this swimming your talking about is making me anxious to get into the pool. 1.5 miles seems pretty daunting to me at this point, but apparently it doesn't phase you.

Ama, sorry to hear about the bronchitis. That can be discouraging. Take it easy though. Hope you feel 100% soon! I'm sure once you're feeling back to normal you will be able to build that base up in no time.

Looks like the rest of you are still managing to get your runs in despite the weather. Kudos to you!

[jesvetmed]

Went out on Christmas Eve for a quick snow run... 6" on top of 15" of snow. but the powder wasn't icy or packed, so was a nice run, actually. Got in 4 miles and ran out of light! Besides, I had to leave and come into work. (That 4-letter word!).

It has started to rain in some areas, so I have a feeling I'll be able to get my 10 mile in soon. Maybe I can get in 6 on Friday, and 10 on Saturday. Keep those fingers crossed!

TEIGYR: You ROCK!.... getting in a track workout in this stuff?! Outside?! Whoa. And 10 miles in this is like 20 miles. Way to go and persevere! You are my hero of the day (what can I say... I'm fickle! )

URLEA: No experience running with a group, but I think that you could learn a lot and gain some great knowledge and experience, and even gain confidence. Joining a group always gives another great side to your training (I only speak from my biking group -- but it is similar, no?! )

ECLECTIC: anyone who swims 1.5 miles, then goes and does a run workout is awesome in my book! I could use a little of your swim mojo.

[alpinerabbit]

I allowed myself to go a little longer on Xmas eve - ended up around 40 mins. At my parents, there's a major hill and I did all of it. I used not to make it up all the way so I haven't lost that much fitness.

I was rather sore today and worked with my massage balls a bit. Now I feel "renovated".

[michelem]

Wow! You all are very inspirational getting out there and braving the elements! Last night was my first run since the marathon (yes, I've been quite the slug for the last couple of weeks). Did six miles on the treadmill at the hotel where we're staying. Besides the fact that the very tiny "gym" was very warm and humid and smelled very strongly of chlorine, I was able to keep an 8:20/mile average. Then I did my PUPs: 29/33/29/29/40. However, I cheated on the last set and did 30 (rest at top)/5 (rest at top)/5 to equal the minimum maximum of 40.

Depending on when we get back to the hotel tonight, I might try to do another treadmill run, but we'll see as the tummy is a bit full of turkey right now! So, I might just hang out in the hot tub instead! I'm REALLY hoping that we get some dry spells over the weekend so I can do an outdoor run. It was dry for the most part down here today, but very windy, and apparently it rained quite a bit up at our place. We'll see what happens . . .

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas today.

[OakLeaf]

My gift to myself today: intervals.

[jesvetmed]

Today I ventured out onto the trail. Wet snow -- some areas 2 inches, and other areas have 6 inches still; slush and ice underneath. What a mess!!!! I did 3.5 miles and it felt like 10!

So my feet were completely soaked -- I dropped the dog off at the house after 3.5 miles, changed socks & shoes, downed a Gel and water, and headed out on the road to do another 3.75 miles. Total somewhere between 7 and 7.5. My calves were quite angry with me before mile 5!!!

It will get better here for running -- I hope soon! I had to dodge cars on the road cuz they've only plowed about 3/4 of the street -- the rest is all piled up and there is no "side of the road". Scary stuff!

It feels good to have a run under my belt again -- something more than 4 miles!

[Jolt]

Well, fortunately last week's fiasco turned out to be just trigger point stuff (vastus lateralis, which is right under the IT band and can cause pain in the same area and then some) that I was able to get under control pretty quickly and I have been able to do a couple of runs since then without a problem (first one on the dreadmill--yuck!! and next one outside). It seems trying to run in fresh snow the other day may just not have been a good idea when still building back up to running my normal distance; I think that is probably what aggravated things a bit. Hopefully I can keep any of those issues from coming back now--anyone have any tips for that?