Leaping through Feb - 29 days of Running!

[limewave]

7.5 miles for me yesterday. It was just too sunny to not run. And I even took the day off because I had to do a training session for my other job that I was supposedly done with . . . Anywho, it left me with 2 extra hours or so in the afternoon. I probably should have done laundry or something. Oh well!

[skhill]

How cold is too cold... If it's dry, I'm ok down to about 25F; that's as low as I can take it in my VFFs and I really don't like running in anything else these days. For racing, 35F is as low as I care to go-- the issue is the wait at the start line.

Today was a very nice 6.25 miles. Not that I'm any kind of expert on good running form, but I passed a 20ish young woman with the most awful form. Overstriding, bad heel-striking, hunched-over upper body. Part of me wanted to say something to her about it, but of course I didn't.

I'm trying to psych myself up for tomorrow's long run. If the weather forecast plays out, there's no way I'm doing 10 miles outside (low 20s, with an inch or so of slushy accumulation overnight). But 10 miles on the treadmill, yuck. I'm going to have to find a way to move my long run to a weekday, this string of bad weather on Saturday is nuts...

[7rider]

What is too cold?

I've run in 18 F (-7.7C), but I have to say...I didn't enjoy it. Now that I have a treadmill, I'm much less apt to run in the cold. No need for hero points here. If it's dry and light, 30 F (0 C) - maybe down to 25 if I have a partner to nag me. Errrr...encourage me. I suppose I'd race in anything short of crazy stuff.

I finally got the final follow-up results of my gait analysis. Had it done in October (while I was recuperating from a bad back spasm). Got a whole bunch of exercises to do - which I did religiously...for a little while. Now...not so much, but I still do them. Had a follow-up in January and got a DVD with videos. Here are a few screen grabs. Sorry if their a little hard to see.

On the left is me in October, wearing motion control shoes. On the right is me in January, wearing stability shoes. Also, the January session is post-ChiRunning clinic, so I'm trying to remember to incorporate a lot of the ChiRunning form into my efforts.

Landing mid-foot, as opposed to heel-first:


Bouncing on the left with significant hip drop. Not so bad in January.

But, we can't be sure if the hip drop caused the back pain, or if I was dropping my hip to protect my back ... sort of after the injury.

Sort of the sum-up:

Better lean, better stride.

Now, to continue with my strength work and flexibility work and continue working on cadence and form. So much to think about!

Did a nice 4 yesterday. Tomorrow's supposed to be 7 according to my training plan. It may have to be late Sunday, if the weather turns snotty (see that "if it's dry" comment above!). Seven on the treadmill might be too much to bear.

[yellow]

limewave, you can do laundry when it's dark or stormy or something. I'd have chosen a run in the sun, too!

Frustrating week of running for me. Trails are in really bad shape right now (mud fest/ice skating rinks) because it has been warm enough to melt the snow a little bit, just enough to create mud bogs, but not warm enough to dry things out. So I'm having to run on pavement most of the time and my body doesn't like that. I'm going out to the island (Antelope Island, in the Great Salt Lake) to do my long run this weekend since the trails are sandier and better drained. And I really like running out there. It's very peaceful, although I got bluff-charged by some bison last time I was out there.

[limewave]

7--thanks for sharing your analysis. That's cool!

[emily_in_nc]

It was quite warm and sunny this morning by 7 am, so I just did a 5K beach run. Better than nuthin'!

7rider, I enjoyed your gait analysis photos too. I would love to get that done one day, but it's kinda unlikely living in Belize.

[Susan Otcenas]

Hey gang,

I've been too depressed to hang out on the running thread for a while. I'm *still* rehabbing my left IT band but I'm slowly starting to see some progress. I can now put ALL my weight on the foam roller, where before I could barely stand roll it with my opposite leg on the floor and supporting my weight.

My coach has also slowly been increasing my run intervals. Tomorrow is R6:00 W1:00 x 7 plus 20:00 of w/u & c/d walking. It's been really frustrating and I still can't ride my bike more than 60 minutes without pain.

It's a good thing I have a coach. She's forcing me to be patient. Left to my own devices, I'd be doing stupid things like running and riding through the pain and just making it worse.

Stupid IT band.

Susan

[Bike Chick]

7, thanks for sharing your analysis. How interesting.
Sue, Hope the ITB keeps healing. That's such a nasty, nagging injury.

The half marathon is this morning and it's 15 degrees with 0 degree wind chill (20 mph winds). DH and I are sitting here saying how stupid this is but I know we will both do it. I said I will give it the 15 minute test. If it's still miserable after 15 minutes, I'm turning around and going back. I agree with 7rider--no need for hero points.

[Selkie]

Got out for my longest run in years yesterday - 5.4 miles. It was on the windy, hilly trail at work. During my before-work swim, I acknowledged how lazy I'd become with my kick and really focused on it. As a result, my legs were dead for the first and final miles of the run (on the upside, I cut a good four minutes off of my usual swim time! lol). Temp-wise, it was in the high 30s and it was still sunny outside. Saw my deer family resting in their "nest"/home, which was a treat.

I anticipate having to run on the t'mill tomorrow since it's probably going to be icy. Almost certainly skipping the 5K -- even if it the pavement were dry, the wind chills are going to be brutal.

[Veronica]

Did you know? - I'm a runner! Somewhere along the line I morphed and I now find myself running up hills that I have mountain biked and thought were freakin' hard on the bike. Yeah, me, running up hills, with my none runner's build.

6.69 miles off road today on some mountain bike trails. It was early, so we didn't see any bikers.

Veronica

[skhill]

There's a hill in my neighborhood I avoid on the bike, but run up without a thought a couple times a week-- weird how that works...

Today's planned 10 miles turned into 7. That was enough treadmill for today. But I did spend about another 10 minutes with the weights, since I was there. Maybe next Saturday will finally be nice outside!

[Selkie]

Sunday morning -- brutally cold & windy, with a light dusting of snow. First run on the new treadmill. Loved the fan and the iPOD speakers. Five miles---it was a grind. I'll run outside tomorrow, even if it's cold (they keep the trail at work safe -- salt away the ice and clear the snow).

[katluvr]

Ok, so maybe this is not cold for you that live in northern states but I had a VERY cold 1/2 marathon. It was in the 20's at the start (LOW 30's at finish). And as you know of large events like this you get bused in and stand around for some time. I was frozen before the start. I NEVER took off my stocking hat or gloves, my hands we numb and non functional! I had on 2 shirts and capri running pants (butt & legs ware fine). Toes were numb at the start and thawed out by mile 2. It was a beautiful day and great course (fans) except for the bridges out the first 3 miles and then again on the last 3 miles. Nice run on the beach (packed sand). I felt pretty good the first half (except I was cold). The last 3 miles with the bridges leaving the beach and the COLD wind that was really gusting by then left me mentally exhausted and did I say COLD?! With poor training AND these no so great weather conditions I managed a 2 hr & 23 min 1/2 marathon (My PR is 2:10). I was on target for 2:20, but those bridges, wind and cold did me in the last 3 miles, I slowed GREATLY. But I finished. Took a while to thaw out. Not sure how you folks up north do this!! I was probably under dressed.
I will alway say this race is excellently put on & has cheering people the whole way!!!
K

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations katluvr! That sounded like a very hard effort. I would never have made it to the start in those temps. I hate cold weather! Good going!

[skhill]

Awesom, katluvr! I wouldn't even consider doing a race in those temps. Don't even run outside when it's that cold these days.

In fact, I'm such a cold-wimp now that it was back to the treadmill today, even though it was 20F and dry outside. Oh well. Just 4 miles-- but they fixed the issue with my favorite treadmill. It used to creep forward, more when the speed was turned up. Today, it stayed completely still.