Running in December - 12/01 to 12/15

[solobiker]

Lime, sorry for your loss.

[OakLeaf]

Lime, I'm so sorry for your loss. Glad you're making time to run, it really does help.

I spent the last three days on my @ss/cleaning house, because I just don't feel safe running on our roads when there's snow on the ground - the passable surface is pretty dang narrow when it's dry. Plus my shoes would've been soaked by the time I got to the road...

Today we needed to brave the driveway and run some errands in town anyway, so I went in and ran intervals on the fitness trail. It was interesting on the semi-slick surface - I definitely had to watch my footing especially in the turns. Leaning, weighting, feeling out the traction, squaring off the corners, really felt like taking a two-wheeled vehicle around the turns.

[indigoiis]

I am on the first week of Hal Higdon's intermediate half training, so today called for 5 x 400 at 5K pace. I have a trail out back that is about a 400 (I run it slow at about 2 minutes and fast at about 1:15) so I did that 5 x with 5 jogs in between.

[skhill]

Tuesday I wussed out and resorted to the treadmill at the Y. Luckily, the only one free when I got there was my favorite, and I was at the end of the morning rush so I didn't have to hop off after just 30 min. Did 5 miles, at a blazingly fast 8:40/mile (I think the machine's not calibrated correctly)...

Today I braved the cold, and managed 2 miles in 6 F. My fingers and toes were numb with cold, while my head and torso were overheating. Next time it's that cold, I'm going to try running in my winter boots, just to stay warm...

[GLC1968]

I'm sorry about your grandmother, Lime!

Today was another lunchtime run for me. It was POURING rain all morning, so I felt stupid lugging in my running AND swimming gear (I swim after work) but I'm so glad that I did! The weather cleared and I actually got to run in the sunshine with a light breeze! It was AWESOME (never thought I'd say that about a run)! The rain started up again just as I was walking into our building. How's that for timing?

It was significantly warmer than I had anticipated so I did something kinda gross. My hair is getting long enough that it was really sticking to my neck and bothering me despite being somewhat contained by my baseball cap. I found myself wishing I'd brought an elastic or something when I ran right by one sitting in a puddle. I picked it up, squeezed out the water, and used it. I'm glad I did...I felt much cooler with that hair off my neck!

[OakLeaf]

skhill, 6°F - yesterday after a 45 minute run at 23°F, when the feeling came back to my big toes in the shower, they really hurt.

Today was another day of errands - I brought my running gear but REALLY had to wrestle with myself. I actually got to the place where I was planning to run and almost drove away. Starting out cold - changing into cold clothes in the car - I do NOT like cold (but fortunately I'm not shy about changing in the car ). This time I found a golf course and ripped off a quick 3.5. I think there's a real park next door and I just went in the wrong entrance - but it's not like anyone was golfing today. Anyway, the golf cart path was snow-free and the sun was actually shining! So even if there was a wooded path nearby, the golf course was probably better on a cold day.

[7rider]

Today I did 4.1 in 20 degree (-6.6 C) weather....but at least this time it wasn't windy!

I wore my Buff around my neck, so I could pull it up over my mouth. But occasionally, when I do that, I feel like I'm suffocating, so I need to pull it down and really gulp in some air. (I do that when on the bike, too.) Each time I did, the water vapor I exhaled made the Buff wetter and wetter, so that by the end of my run, when I'd pull the Buff back UP over my mouth, it was like pulling a rigid piece of cardboard up over my face - the Buff was frozen stiff!

[Crankin]

OK, I'm trying build up to running like I did 2 years ago. I think I am not quite back to square one, but I am trying to avoid injuries. After doing my first winter training workout on the trainer yesterday, in the late PM, I got up at 5:30 and did just a 20 minute run, followed by the Shiva Rea upper body/core dvd. This time, I did all running, with 2 one minute walk breaks, but I kept it really slow, between 5.2 and 5.6 mph. Since I didn't feel like i was going to die, I think this is the trick and I am hoping to run outside at least one day this weekend.
The upper body/core work, well that's another story. I am so weak, it's not funny. I am hoping after a few weeks of even my girlie push ups doing 8 sets of 12 of them will do something!

[Jolt]

About a 35-minute run in the neighborhood today in 25-degree temps. I really didn't feel like going out and had to force myself out the door, but the run felt really good. It's amazing how enjoyable it is to run when it's cold out once you get going.

[limewave]

Thanks for the condolences. Grams was the best Grandma anyone could ever hope for. She was 96 years old: lived through the Flu Epidemic of 1918, The Great Depression, and WWII and saw so much more. She had a full life.

Anyways, ran 7 miles today. I shouldn't have, my to-do list is monumental. But I felt the call to spend some time in solace along Lake Michigan. It was a great run. Biting wind, snow flurries, and the yellow wisps of dune grass peaking out of the mounds of snow.

[bluebug32]

Thanks for the condolences. Grams was the best Grandma anyone could ever hope for. She was 96 years old: lived through the Flu Epidemic of 1918, The Great Depression, and WWII and saw so much more. She had a full life.

Anyways, ran 7 miles today. I shouldn't have, my to-do list is monumental. But I felt the call to spend some time in solace along Lake Michigan. It was a great run. Biting wind, snow flurries, and the yellow wisps of dune grass peaking out of the mounds of snow.

Good for you for exercising instead of hitting up the junk food. Sorry to hear about your loss. However, it sounds like you inherited some good, sturdy genes.

[Susan]

Had 2 quite bad 5Ks Thursday and today. I don't know if it is the cold temperature or something else, but I have a hard time running atm.

[skhill]

...and I somehow won my age group! I've done that before, but only when there's been only 1 or 2 of us; official results aren't posted yet, but there were a lot more than 3 of us in our late 30's running. 5k, in about 25:55; lost some time trying to retie my shoe with gloves on. And mile 3 was 8:00 flat, even with a steep hill and headwind. Pretty cool!

Have a good weekend, y'all!

[OakLeaf]

wow, way to go skhill!

Hopefully I'll get out for a run later today ... lots to do around the house, but it's SUNNY and above freezing!

[Crankin]

It was sunny and gorgeous out yesterday, around 41. I felt seriously guilty about not going on a ride, but, it's a pain to take the bike on and off the trainer and lug it down 4 flights of steps. So, I went for a 3 mile run. I felt good, went slowly, and only had to take 2-3 walk breaks, all for 30 seconds or less, mostly when going going up the 10% grade hill, near the end. I am so trying not to push myself. I want to start wearing my Garmin, but I am giving myself another month or so.
The stretching has been helping me tremendously. No DOMS and my hip is no worse than it is usually. I've found that wearing certain shoes is aggravating that, so I am also working on that.