January 2012 Running - Snow, stay away!

[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

[7rider]

After work, I plugged out 4 miles on the treadmill (potential icy conditions/freezing drizzle/rain in the morning put the kabosh on my planned run at work).

How's that new treadmill working out for you? Sounds like it's doing well and you're already putting some serious miles on it!

[OakLeaf]

Kacie. Holy !@#$%@. Seriously. You go!

[emily_in_nc]

Kacie. Holy !@#$%@. Seriously. You go!

+1. Simply. cannot. imagine.

I feel proud when I do four miles.

[Bike Chick]

And Bike Chick, I want to very belatedly congratulate you on your marathon. How amazing!

Thank you, Indy. I hate to hear that you aren't improving and are still suffering. I hope you stick around and keep us posted on your progress. That's what we are here for. We are all pretty good listeners and I think a lot of us have been where you are right now. Hang in there.

Holy cow, Kacie! I agree with Indy. I find it hard to wrap my head around that. Good luck on the marathon this weekend.

[Crankin]

I think I've realized that I just can't run yet. My foot *is* better. That is, until I run. It's fine for cycling, even jumping around in my classes at the gym, and hiking. But, I went snow shoeing and x country skiing last weekend, after I ran a little on Friday. That was bad. My foot hurt, especially when I was herringboning up the climbs on Sunday. It's better now, but I just don't want to jinx it.
I will live vicariously through you guys. Until the spring, at least.

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry Crankin, but I remember your saying awhile back that you were taking the winter off of running to let your foot heal, and here you are trying to run again! Bad girl!

You are a probably a lot like my DH -- he managed to run two miles this morning with two of the ugliest looking toes you've ever seen -- all purple and swollen. Our Boston Terrier ran into him at full speed a couple of days ago and knocked his foot into a concrete wall. He may have a broken, or at least severely sprained one of the two toes (the other is more of a bad abrasion), but yet he still couldn't stand not running *at all*.

I did 4 miles on the beach this morning. I do have a slight blister on my left pinky toe from a lot of walking on an inland tour we took on Monday, but it only bothers me walking (in the same trail-running shoes), not running, for whatever reason.

[Selkie]

How's that new treadmill working out for you? Sounds like it's doing well and you're already putting some serious miles on it!

Thanks for asking! We still have the very nice "loaner" treadmill---there was a significant delay from the manufacturer on the model we purchased. It's finally being delivered next week.

Not surprisingly, my form is different on the treadmill. Ended up with a blister on my right forefoot and a very bad bruise on my left hand (I was apparently going faster than the treadmill belt and kept whacking the front bar w/my hand! Bonehead!!). Looks like I was in a bar fight with a hooker!

Was very happy to run outside at work yesterday. A nice 4.2 miler--was warmer than I expected. I would have gone further but my blister pad/protection started coming off.

Are you still putting a lot of miles on your treadmill?

[7rider]

Well, using it regularly, but I don't think I've put on as many miles, in total, as Kacie did last Saturday! Amazing.

Since I use it in the a.m., I'm good for about a half hour, and then I've got to shower, eat, and head to work. So my runs on it tend to be short - 2-3 miles (except for that 5-miler with the new Superfeet that nearly crippled me.). But it's getting used pretty regularly.

Yesterday, I rode my bike home in all daylight. Amazing the difference in the past few weeks (and the benefit of arriving at work early, so I could leave a bit early). Soon, I'll be able to add bricks to my bike commute days - ride home, grab the shoes and head out for 2-3, so my morning treadmill runs will become less frequent.

[katluvr]

3.3 miles this AM. Whole lower body felt like lead most of the run. It was slow. I am not sure if I am recovered from my 10 miler 2 days ago. I have been busy and on my feet/legs last 2 days doing pre-guest & spring cleaning. Or maybe it was the pizza and wine last night. Or maybe I'm just carrying too many pounds and a bit slow this year! Whatever the reason, I did run. I plan to run each day w/ my guests here as I am sure we will be eating and drinking way too much to be healthy!!

K

[limewave]

5.5 miles this morning. It was the best run I've had in a long time. Yay! It helps that the roads are dry and bare. The last run I did was on sheer ice, probably more appropriate to wear ice skates. And the run before that was in snow and slush--the consistency of brown sugar. Ugh.

[Selkie]

7 - That's great! Looks like the weather will continue to be on the mild side, so being outdoors will be nice.

Ran 4.2 miles on the trail at work yesterday morning. Was worried that it was going to rain/drizzle, but luckily, it stayed dry! Temps were in the low 42, which was also nice.

[Veronica]

I ran a whooping 1.25 miles this morning. I missed my Thursday afternoon fun run because of a meeting that ran long. I don't normally run Friday mornings - Friday is usually yoga and nothing else. So, I figured I'd do a fun run this morning.

The thermometer says 52,and I dressed for 52, but the cold northerly breeze didn't make it feel like 52. I wasn't warm after a mile and while I was running well, I was freakin' cold. I've got 2 hills in this mile loop, so I should have been warm.

I trotted on home instead of doing another loop or two. At least it was a reasonably quick mile.

Veronica

[yellow]

What an interesting and eventful run. First and foremost, if I had been thinking, I would have worn my shoes with carbide spikes (my beloved Icebugs). But it was early and, no, I was not thinking.

I run from my house to the trailhead, a distance of about 1.2 miles. About halfway to the TH, a very, very cute short-tailed weasel ran across the road in front of me. He had some sort of prey in his mouth. OMG, he was so incredibly cute! All white with a black-tipped tail. My run was off to a good start!

But then, I hit the trail. It's beautiful today, but we had rain over the snow yesterday, so the trail surface was intermittently breakable crust and ice skating rink. I was wishing I had my Icebugs on. I thought about turning around and running on the road, but I convinced myself that it just _had_ to get better.

It didn't. And got worse in some places. But I committed to it so I kept going. I saw bobcat tracks, weasel tracks, coyote tracks, raccoon tracks, deer tracks, and elk tracks. I came around a corner and there, in the sun on a tree, was a huge flock of goldfinches. I saw one other crazy runner out and when we passed each other we both giggled. I'm sure we were both thinking the same thing: "My gawd this trail SUCKS today but it is such a pretty morning!" It was slow going but, ultimately, totally worth it.

After about an hour and a half of slipping and sliding, my hamstrings had had enough. I was at a point where I could hit the road for the rest of the run so I did, running up the canyon alongside the creek. I eventually turned around and headed back down. About 1/2 mile from the end of the creek road (which does not have traffic on it except for maintenance vehicles), I see a plow/salt truck coming up the road. I got over to the side to give him plenty of room and gave him a peace sign. As he passed, I got hit with a bunch of salt and rock (he had the salt thrower on). Good thing I had sunglasses on. I could have been mad, but wasn't. It was just too nice of a day.

About 14.5 miles and 2,282' of climbing and some pretty pissed off hamstrings but I can think of worse things Happy Friday, everyone.