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The honeymoon is over, I guess.

Dave

Entry posted by Dave ·

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Until last weekend, we'd only had one little snowfall, and it was just a dusting. I never thought it was possible to have an entirely snow-free bacon season, but it was awfully nice while it lasted. 2019 presents a weirdness factor I haven't had in many, many years - and that's a decision about whether to run based on the weather. Whether it's my age related mellowing, or injury paranoia or something else, I seem to have lost the hunger for bacon. More on that in a minute.

A fun, easy 8-1/2 on the previous Saturday. So nice not to be thinking about the knee every step. I ran through the new trail again. It's still rough and will be messy when it's wet, but it's still fun to go through the woods, even if it's only a half mile long. Not many trails around here. Deer tracks. Flirting with 8 minutes miles.

Been feeling the need to ramp up some miles before training starts. My official build up was supposed to begin yesterday, and I wanted to be fully up to snuff by then. 5 miles on Monday, 4 on Tuesday, 5 on Wednesday and 6 on Thursday for my birthday. You've read about the ultras who run a mile for every year? Sorry, but I'm good with a mile for every ten years.

The meteorologists had been tracking our first real snowfall last week and Saturday was supposed to be the big day, with 3-6 inches and plenty of wind. Not a scary storm, but since they haven't had anything to report on in almost a year, they were understandably excited. We ended up getting about 4. Enough that my snow blower got a decent workout. Discovered that all my gas cans were empty, but I was able to get through almost all of it before I had to go old school with the shovel.

And I didn't run. Knowing I was going to skip Saturday, I did my long run on Friday, 8 miles. There was some ice on the back end of my loop that made the footing a little dicey, but it wasn't a bad run. On Saturday I stayed home and watched the white stuff come down. I'm trying to be OK with that.

On Sunday we FaceTimed with Mac and her new fiance` about wedding plans and then had my birthday dinner and cake with friends.

Yesterday was spent in training for work. The sun was brilliant and the temps were certainly reasonable for January, but as I checked out the sidewalks and neighborhood streets on the way home, I saw too many uncleared sidewalks and too much ice on the roads. So instead of trying to run on it, I stayed inside, ran up and down the basement stairs for 30 minutes. Figured that was at least as interesting as a treadmill and I didn't have to drive to Planet Fitness and re-sign up to use the dreadmills.

It's been three years since I stepped on one of those things. My plan is to go slow, after all. Still freezing, so the ice/snow will be as it was yesterday, but 40 and rain tomorrow. Then it will get cold again and more snow after that. (How am I even thinking about that again? Someone talk me out of it!)

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MichaelV

I've kind of been a wimp lately about the weather. I ran 18 miles a little over a week ago on a Sunday where the feels like temp was 28 and there was a little misting rain at times. When I finished, I was so cold that I huddled under an electric blanket for over an hour and the thumb and first finger on each hand were numb for almost that whole time as well. I didn't think the weather was that cold, so maybe I under dressed, but since then I've done every run on the treadmill except one. :)  That's 35 miles of treadmill running in 8 days. 

I honestly don't think it's that bad. Mentally I can handle it - especially if I watch a movie or some TV programs which is something I don't get to do when I run outside. I could probably do a 20 miler mentally. I think it presents some physical challenges, though. I don't think there's enough variation - uneven terrain, varying paces, going around turns or curves, etc. that repetitive injuries are a concern. You can vary the speed and incline, but that only goes so far. It's also typically humid in the gym - especially when it's crowded - and that leads to me sweating enough that if I go much above 10 miles, the treadmill is kind of a wet mess. On days when nobody is there, it's significantly better.

Anyway, not really trying to talk you out of it like you asked. I think it has its place. We're getting a bit warmer today, so I'll probably back inside.

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mattw

I have dismissed my alarm and rolled over a few times knowing it was only 20F or so outside. And dark. And cold. And why?
Excuses come easy.

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eliz83

Yup, that classic winter weather is here. 

You've read my blog, so you know how I feel about the treadmill right now. 

 

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Carissa Liebowitz

I'd think treadmill > falling on ice, but I live where snow is a novelty and happen to like my TM. *insert shrug face*

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Running Nutz

I ran yesterday and shouldn't have.  Survived but seriously wondered about my sanity as I flitted across the icy patches and had to stop to climb up on snowbanks as cars went by.  Be careful out there!

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DrWhiskers

I ran on the TM one day last week due to rain and poor timing. It was just as awful as i remembered! 

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Gonzo Runner

Running up and down the basement stairs is kind of a great idea in an old school Rocky training montage way. I might borrow that one of these days. 

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SIbbetson

That stair workout sounds worse than the treadmill to me, and I hate the treadmill!  I ran on the AlterG a lot when I couldn't yet run at full body weight, so I know I can do it if I have to, but so far I haven't had to...

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