January 2012 Running - Snow, stay away!

[7rider]

I'm starting to semi-seriously consider a half-marathon next year to mark my 50th.

I think that would be great!

Me....I'm such an idiot.

So it was cold and breezy yesterday, and like VBC, I'm just getting over a week-long head cold that knocked me for a loop. But training plan (semi-serious at this point, will ramp it up more in February) called for a 5-miler on Saturday (actually, just "weekend").

DH looked at the thermometer, reading in the mid-20's, and we watched the wind blowing through the trees out our back window. My motivation was flagging - if it ever existed at all. "Why don't you run on the treadmill?" he asked. Why indeed. I honestly find running by myself boring. If I'm going to be bored for an hour (I could do it SO much faster on the bike!), I may as well be bored in the comfort of my home on the 'mill, listening to some good tunes on Pandora. I laced up my new running shoes (lighter stability shoes, vs. my clunky motion controls I normally run in), and remembered the picture of my foot from last week's gait evaluation follow-up and how I could run with orthotics or not, based on Doug's recommendation. So, I put my SuperFeet inserts in the shoes (the black ones) that I had from bike shoes that I sold.

New SuperFeet inserts + 5.25 miles on the treadmill = painful feet. OUCH. My soles are killing me. I should have done a 2-mile run on them to start. Then a 3-miler. Not jump right in to +5. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Crap. Well, hopefully, they will be pain free by Monday when I plan to get in an easy 3 (without the inserts) for my day off.

[Selkie]

I hope your feet are feeling better, 7.

MLK Day run -- DH and I ran this morning, after my swim. It was cold (25 degrees) but the wind wasn't as brutal as Sunday. It was blowing in the opposite direction from yesterday (south vs northwest). My legs felt great. Because I had post-swim sinuses, I was a snot rocket factory!

[skhill]

Ouch, 7!

In honor of it being MLK day, I ran the length of my city's MLK Ave. Even the block there at the end that scares me; but at 6:30 am the dealers and prostitutes aren't out working. Came back on a parallel road that includes a bunch of landmarks of local black history-- the site of the slave auctions, several of our oldest historically black churches, and the old "colored" city high school. Even threw in a 1/4 mile on the school's track. All in all, about 4.5 miles.

[OakLeaf]

Owie, 7, hope your feet feel better!

skhill, that's a terrific idea for a run.

I did 17 today, and it felt basically okay after I finally managed to drag myself out.

DH and I did the motorcycle safety class again yesterday - I got a little dehydrated being out in the sun all day, plus one of the main things I'm trying to get past is a panic reaction in the really tight U-turns, so the class took a lot out of me both physically and mentally, and I didn't wake up until 8 a.m. today and still couldn't get moving for hours. But when I finally got myself to run, it was fine. 10:30 pace overall, tried to kick the last mile at marathon pace.


I'm a little bit off schedule - I'd like to try for a 5K PR at Daytona again this year on the 28th, but that means this is my last long run until after that. I guess I'll do between 12 and 14 next weekend, that should work out pretty much okay.

[7rider]

Thanks, all!

Feet are feeling better. Not perfect, but good enough for an easy (verrry easy, as it was after a similarly very easy 18.5 mile bike ride, and I'm in no shape to be doing bricks just yet) 5k this afternoon in my old motion controls. Was actually nice to be outside finally, getting some fresh air and listening to birds.

Spent the morning washing floors, as Miss Zoe Kitty decided that last night would be a good time to re-introduce her little mouth to our peace lily plant, and she threw up in four different spots. Grrrr. So we wiped up everything last night, but this morning the floors got washed. You would think sweeping the kitchen floor is the MOST interesting thing on the planet, the way the cats followed me around, staring.

[Crankin]

More experimenting with my foot. I had 15 minutes to warm up for a killer weights/core class, so I warmed on the TM for 5 and then did one minute intervals for the next 10 minutes, with a 2 minute cool down. The intervals were even ratios (1 minute run at 6 mph and 1 minute walk at 4.2 mph). My foot felt fine, and even better, I felt in control of my breathing at 6 mph. I kind of modeled this after a trainer workout I do on my bike.
My foot was fine after, during the class, which had a lot of balance and foot work (squats, lunges) It's a bit tender now, but I think, this is the way to go to increase my tolerance on the foot and also my tolerance for running (again).

[emily_in_nc]

5K beach run. Super windy in my face on the way out; it felt like going uphill the whole way. The way back was MUCH easier with wind at my back. A little cooler today and partly overcast, which helped. Still getting back my endurance after my cold.

[skhill]

I was efficient last night-- from the weather forecast, it was clear that it would be a treadmill day today. So I packed the reusuable grocery bag I use as a gym bag last night, and left it sitting on the floor in the bedroom. When I got to the gym and started pulling stuff out, I found that one of the cats had deposited a hairball in there. YUCK! Thankfully it was on my shirt, so I just rinsed it off a bit and put it on and hit the treadmill anyway. Did a 4 mile tempo run, broken into 2 segments as a leak started dripping on the first treadmill after about 10 minutes. The day can only get better from the start, right?

[kacie tri-ing]

I am very much in the peak of my double IM training. I ran 29 miles on saturday. Not going to lie, that's exhausting! But I have to learn to drag myself on and push through it (so I rode a century sunday )

I have a marathon this weekend.

I am seriously out here in a new world of training!

[indysteel]

I am very much in the peak of my double IM training. I ran 29 miles on saturday. Not going to lie, that's exhausting! But I have to learn to drag myself on and push through it (so I rode a century sunday )

I have a marathon this weekend.

I am seriously out here in a new world of training!

Wow, Kacie. I can't even get my head around that! Good luck at the marathon.

[katluvr]

Wow, Kacie!
I did vaguely "dream" about an ultra marathon someday...not sure when that will be since I have only done 1 marathon. But a double IM...seriously not in the cards. But I love this thread and TE because it inspires me.

Today I planned to do 10 miles. Since I am enjoying a "stay-cation" I slept in til 7:30. I enjoyed coffee & the Today Show. I knew it would be warm...we are in the 80s, but still decided to go. So I had a very warm & sunny 10 miler. My speed is no where I want or need it to be for the 1/2 in a little over 2 weeks. I think if I can pull it off in 2:20 I'll be doing good. So no PR this year.

I can't believe the weather we are having. I would be lounging by the pool if I did not have company from Wisconsin & Connecticut coming in on Thursday & Friday for the weekend. I am busy cleaning house (blah!) Hope the weather holds for my northern friends, they will love this weather! Nothing like an early & warm spring!

Plan an easy run tomorrow and speed work on the dreadmill on Thursday.

K

[Selkie]

On Wednesday morning, I had a great run. Felt really relaxed and in a rhythm. I ended up going 4.2 miles, wanted to go longer but alas, not possible since I was at work.

It was 42 degrees with a strong, cold wind. Luckily, most of my route was protected from the worst of the gusts (woods).

Since they are predicting potential slippery conditions on Sunday when I usually do my long run, I might do a five-miler today. I don't want to have to do a long run on the treadmill......

[skhill]

Why oh why is it so difficult to dress just right for the cold? Keep thinking I should have this figured out by now. It was about 27F, wind chill in the upper teens, this morning. My legs and arms were just right, torso a bit warm, and head and hands way too warm with hat and mittens, way too cold without. And my toes were freezing. So it goes... But I got a pleasant surprise when I looked at the final numbers for the run-- just under 6 miles, at a 8:52/mile pace . It's been a while since I went that fast on an easy run!

Kat, that's a heck of a lot of racing. Like a month's worth, in just a weekend! talk about persistence...

[yellow]

My legs and arms were just right, torso a bit warm, and head and hands way too warm with hat and mittens, way too cold without. And my toes were freezing.

I assume that you are wearing wool socks, but here is a little secret (that isn't so secret, really): duct tape over the meshy part of your shoes. Blocks the wind.

FWIW, I can't stand to wear a winter-type hat if it is warmer than about 25 w/o windchill, so I wear a ballcap-style running hat and an earband. That way I can take the earband off if I get too warm. The hat isn't totally ventilated, so it provides just enough heat retention.

I will have my first test-of-mettle for the year this afternoon: a long run in the rain. Yes, rain. Not snow. Rain and mud make me cranky. This is just so wrong for January in northern Utah.

[emily_in_nc]

Did my longest run in the new year today -- just 4 miles, but I was happy. I caught a bad cold around new year's and have been very slow coming back (between coughing and asthma). It felt good to finally get back up to 4 miles.