Running with the reindeer...December runs!

[jessmarimba]

Snow run this morning! 24 degrees and at least 6 inches of snow on the ground, still snowing as we ran. We only did about 3 miles (and 3 miles was plenty) but it was a pretty fun run!

Then my car almost got stuck trying to get out of my parking spot on the side of the road...hah. I'm the only one in my running group without AWD and could only get traction going backwards, so it took some maneuvering!

[Crankin]

I also enjoy running and hiking (in addition to x country skiing and snow shoeing) in the cold/snow. It's what makes winter bearable. In fact, I find I often get warmer exercising in colder weather.
Most of my sporadic running has been done in the late winter to late spring and resumed in the fall. One of the weird things about this year is that we have had warm weekends and I am still riding. Usually this time of year is kind of a shoulder season and I do a lot of hiking. I think I'm just getting more acclimated to riding in the cold, and doing the other sports have never bothered me in the cold.

[OakLeaf]

It was a beautiful day today, which is good, because cold weather is really hard for me. I'm always freezing as it is, I'm starting to think I might have a touch of Raynaud's, and it's really hard for me to give up what little warmth I have to change into running clothes and go out in the cold.

I was a little bit bummed actually when they changed the weather forecast, because the bike club rides Saturdays and I've already packed my bike for travel. But it gave me the chance to get out for a nice 9 miles at a moderate pace. It felt really good, and I chose a route that's pretty open, so I never felt in danger from hunters (though I sure saw a lot of guys in orange).

I'm thinking I might train for the next marathon a little differently - focus on building volume right now, more speedwork later in the training cycle. We'll see. I still want to PR that 5K I always run at the end of January, so I'll be doing some speedwork between now and then, anyway.

[7rider]

So, we started (at dawn! ) with some mountainbiking at Rosaryville State Park. Seven of us did the ride - some on 'cross bikes, some on borrowed mtb's (including DH, who was on the LBS's phenomenal ti Seven Sola 29'er hard tail that he's loving but is so completely over the top - everything is, predictably, top-of-the-line...in fact, the headset cap has a slogan on it that reads "Light...Strong...Cheap...Pick Two" - that I resist him even considering buying it. A friend rode his Klein dualie for her first time ever off road. She did great, but climbed like a roadie (out of the saddle - spinning that back tire like mad). A bit under 9 miles of sweet singletrack.

But this thread is about running.

After DH and I got back home, I polished off the last of the Propel in my Camelback, ate a Zone Bar, dressed into knickers and a different top, and went out for a run. Still building miles in preparation for the Celtic Solstice 5-miler on the 17th. I thought it was the 18th, but I guess it's the 17th. Anyway... 5.3 miles today in 1 hour flat. Better than I expected, relatively pain-free, and makes me happy that - assuming I stay injury free and healthy - I should be able to do okay on the 17th. Next weekend is my Chi Running clinic. Looking forward to that.

Oh...and after the run...I took my first ice bath! Got into my cheapie Target C9 shorts, kept a sweatshirt on, and a fleece cap, sat down in the tub and filled it up to just over my thighs with cold water. And then I dumped a bowl of ice cubes into it. Then 15 minutes of shivering while playing solitaire on my phone to kill the time. Brrrrr.... But, I've been told I should be doing this regularly, and the legs feel okay now. So....despite my husband's thinking I'm insane....it might be something to do regularly.

[Crankin]

I ran for the first time in about 5-6 weeks. My foot is fine, and I am suspecting that it was not a stress fracture, as I have times when it hurts and I am doing nothing and times when it's fine when I am doing something with impact. Given my history of weird things, I am just being watchful now.
I ran very gingerly, 2.4 miles. Not sure how fast, but it was even slower than my usual slow, on purpose.

[katluvr]

7 Rider,
This time of year the weather in Florida is great for running and I am always training for a HM. Although the weather is warm my pool is not! It is not like an ice bath (it is still pretty chilly) and I stand with my legs immersed up to my hips for 10 - 15 minutes. IF we are having really some "winter" weather I still do it, just warm up a cup of coffee and put a sweatshirt on. I think it has really helped over the past few years.

K

[OakLeaf]

Actually what I've read recently is that inflammation and muscle building are connected. So I don't ice my muscles after a planned workout. If I've gone and really overdone something then I'll do the ice bath thing, and obviously if I have an injury I'll ice that, but otherwise I'm saving the ice baths for after races. OTOH I've read all this after my last marathon ... so we'll see when I start to ramp up the miles again.

IAE, I'd read that anything below 60°F decreases inflammation, which means most northerners could just run cold water without having to add ice.


I'm kicking myself for watching my Bengals getting their *sses kicked yesterday instead of going out. It's raining all day today so whatever I do, I'm going to keep it short.