Running with the reindeer...December runs!

[Catrin]

indy... Winter is my favorite time to run because it is cold (and because the trails are so heavenly to run on when they are snow covered).

[Edit: it's really dry where I live, so I realize that makes it easier than in some other places. Still, I think acclimation is the key.]....

I think this is a very good point. While I don't run, I do strongly enjoy winter hiking and, oddly, as easily as I get cold I enjoy it most in bitter cold temperatures. There is something about being out on the trails when it is bitter cold (in the single digits), everything is covered in snow and all I can here is my steps in the crunchy snow, the occasional snow/branches falling from the trees and the occasional very hardy winter birds. Heavenly!

[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.

[7rider]

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've read - and been told - to save the ice baths for after "hard" workouts (or races). After a 41 mile bike ride Saturday, and a multi-sport Sunday, my legs were feeling it. The 5.3 miles was my longest run since August. I figured that constituted a "hard" workout for me (all things being relative, I guess).

I've also heard that the water should be "in the 50s". No idea what the cold water coming out of my tub's faucet is, but I've also heard that it probably would have been adequate without ice. No need to torture yourself, right? But...I had already emptied the ice maker into the bowl and brought it with me into the bathroom. So I figured "waste not...want not" - and dumped it in.

[limewave]

I, too, enjoy running in the cold. I don't know what it is, but I like it. Yesterday I ran in the pouring rain with a hard, cold wind from the north. Perfect running weather if you ask me!

6 miles for me yesterday. In the rain and cold.

[katluvr]

More on the ice/cold baths after hard workout.
Not sure if my pool is cold enough or if I should do it after long runs, but it feels good and I think I am less sore the next day. I know I missed them this summer when I ran long because I did not have a cool pool to stand it (it was hot bath water by July) and I don't take the time to really to sit in a bath.

K

[GLC1968]

I love the wonder that is an ice bath after a particularly hard workout! It's incredibly delicious when it's hot, your feet are aching and you get to stand in an icy mountain stream or lake after a tough hike. Pure awesomeness!

FWIW - I do feel like I get the same effect from wearing my Zoot Rx Recovery tights for a few hours post race. And they are easier to wear in the car than an ice bath would be.

I finally got out to run this weekend after being down with a stomach bug last week. I did 4 miles on Saturday with my husband and then 6 on my own yesterday. My plan had me doing 12, but I didn't want to push it and with my HM being on Sunday, the longer miles weren't going to really do much for me anyway. I plan to run 3 after work today and then again on Wednesday and that's about it before the race.

The good news is that the last forecast I saw showed dry, sunny and a high of 45 for next Sunday (which means it'll be about 40 for the race itself). We'll see if that holds as we get closer though!

[indysteel]

I did 4 miles at the gym today. It's been raining to beat the band. I don't mind the cold, but I'd rather not run in a hard rain. So I settled for the treadmill. My boss and I had to go out of town today for a trial that the parties settled over the weekend. Grrr. The upshot is that I got home early and was able to make lentil soup for dinner, clean the kitchen, finish the laundry and get to the gym, all before 5 o'clock. Awesome!

[emily_in_nc]

I had an icky run today. I was all set to up my mileage slightly to 4, but we had an unusually high tide this morning, so I had to run in soft sand and lots of sea grass rather than the usual packed sand, in a lot of places. It is really hard to run in soft sand, and I was slow as mud. So, I did 5K and called it done for today. Hopefully next run (Wed.) will be at low tide!

[skhill]

It's raining here yet again, so today's run was on the treadmill at the Y. 5 miles in 45 minutes flat; I finally managed to put on 5 lbs, and it's helping my speed tremendously. A couple guys were looking at me strangely while I was on the treadmill, but c'mon, if you're listening to renaissance dance music on the mp3 player while running, you're going to be playing the air viola da gamba at times.