An alternate title: Separating the Crazy from the Sane.
I woke up Saturday morning determined to get 17 miles in – snow, blizzard, ice storm, what have you. I woke up at 6:50AM, checked Twitter, and was surprised by all the “I’m treadmilling it today and getting my 20 miles done” tweets. Crap, is it that bad out? I checked outside and was surprised we got so much snow – about 3 inches. Usually the weather people are way off.
I couldn’t imagine running for 17 miles on the TM, so I bundled up, and prepared myself mentally for the challenge. I got myself out the door at 7:30 into the freezing rain. It wasn’t terribly cold but it was tough to run – even with my YakTrax on. The snow was deep. The paved trail that I usually run on clearly states “no winter trail maintenance” and they mean it. It pisses me off since they mow the lawn once a week in the summer but they can’t drop a plow and remove the snow in the winter. Running on an unplowed trail wasn’t working. I was shuffling along and my stride was all messed up. There was no way I could maintain this for 17 miles.
So I found a 1-mile stretch that was plowed and managed to run around it 7 times, looking like a complete ass in the process. By now my Garmin, my tights, my jacket, my hat, and my (right) eyelid were getting icy. My eyelid was really starting to sting too. I waved the white flag, ran the 1/2 mile back to my house, and decided to prepare myself mentally for another challenge – 9.5 miles on the TM.
I watched Leap Year while on the TM and tried to transport myself back to Ireland. It helped for the first 3 miles. After that I was just antsy and miserable. I have no idea how people run 20 miles on the TM. I’m in complete awe of them.
7.5 miles in the snow at 9:40 pace and 9.5 miles on the TM at 8:53 pace. Done and done!
Boston Week 3 Recap
MON: 8mi speed
TUE: 8mi tempo with 5 miles at MP (8:28, 8:11, 8:12, 8:16, 8:07). I experimented with doing 2 hard days back-to-back and it wasn’t too bad. Those MP miles felt easier then they did last week.
WED: barre class
THU: rest!
FRI: 6mi easy with 5 short hill repeats at the end
SAT: 17 loooooong miles
SUN: 6mi easy
45 miles total for the week.
How did you deal with the snow and running this weekend? If you live in the South or San Francisco and had perfect weather, I don’t want to hear it 😉
Does your favorite running route get plowed or do you have to get creative?
We had more ice than snow and it wasn’t too bad to run through, mostly because it got just above freezing and the dirt was fine. Bridges were bad though!
I can’t imagine running 20 on the treadmill. Even when our town was swamped with forest fire smoke, I still had to run at least SOME of it outside. 🙂
Wow I am impressed. My it band and I were fighting so I played it safe with 12 on the treadmill yuck!
I commend you for finishing the rest of your run on the treadmill. You are my hero. Is your website under construction? I’m responding on my iPhone but can’t seem to view on my PC.
Yes, it’s being worked on 🙂
I am digging your new lay out.
I ran the Polar Dash in Chicago (half marathon) on Saturday. Snow, Ice, Slush and temps in the 20s. Oh, I also PRed by 5 minutes. I love the cold!
You’re blog looks great! I don’t know if it is my GR or the changes you’re making…but the date for this post says the 23rd and it just popped up today (the 28th). I actually tried to go to your blog today to see if you had new posts because I hadn’t heard from you in awhile and I couldn’t….anyway, just a little feedback! I’m sure the switch has lots of kinks 🙂
Awesome job on the 17 miler! I am so with you on the whole treadmill thing…I had to 10 on it this morning and was so nervous about whether or not I would make it and I thought I was going to die! Sounds like you came up with the perfect plan. Hope you are having a good weekend!
I marvel how ANYONE can run on a treadmill. I think my longest treadmill run is 20 min. Not exaggerating. I get so bored and only cancel runs outside due to snow.
I started my marathon plan last week and my first long run was 6 miles. I definitely had to go to the gym and get on the treadmill for 6 miles. 🙁 I’m happy we have better weather this weekend!