The Spirit Was Willing

The spirit was more than willing to go for a long run after being sick this week. And at least the temperature today was good. Actually, it was excellent. As usual, though, the good weather around here comes mixed with the bad, and we had a wind advisory. The wind was in the 25-30 mph range, with gusts going higher. The boy had his pinewood derby this morning, so I couldn't get out for my run until the wind had picked up nicely.

I was planning on going 12, but the sickness from a few days ago had a lingering effect. I managed to get 11 miles in, but that was with a few walks during portions of the run that were uphill and against the wind. I feel really drained right now, which I again attribute to the illness. I'm hoping for better results during the coming week.

Sick

Yesterday I was in Columbus, GA, on a business trip. I was so excited to run someplace warm that I got up at 5:30 ET (which was actually 4:30 KC time) and hit the streets 15 minutes later. The run was difficult, which seemed odd because the weather was nice, but I just didn't feel good. I went 4 miles, and going that far was a struggle.

When I got back to the hotel room, I ate some yogurt and took a bite of bagel, but it didn't taste too good. Twenty minutes later I was yakking in the bathroom. I thought it was due to something I'd eaten the day before, but nooooo. I ended up coming home early from the trip. Last night I went to bed at the hotel at 7 p.m. and got up this morning at 7 a.m. That right there should tell you I wasn't feeling good. I can't remember the last time I was sick. And feeling like that when you're far from home makes it even worse. I'm starting to feel human again, which gives me hope that I can do my long run this weekend.

The Wife Says I'm Insane

I was planning on running inside today, but when I got home and the dried-out leaves on the trees were barely stirring, I decided it was a good day to get out and run. Better than Friday, anyway. The temperature is 19 degrees, with a wind chill of 13. Guess I can't complain too much about that. I'm learning that what's cold is relative.

I ran 5.5 miles with an 18-minute tempo run. Running faster keeps me warmer, and that was definitely the case here. No music today, just a quick run in the fading winter light of the evening.

5 Inside

Twenty degrees outside, so I ran 5 miles on the treadmill today. I'm modifying my regular schedule since I'll be traveling this week. The Cardinals-Tigers 2006 World Series games are on MLB Network this weekend, so this was easily one of the best indoor running experiences I've ever had. Aah, what memories.

And I hate weather men. And women. The forecast for Saturday was for it to be worse than Friday, and we know how bad Friday was. Instead, yesterday would have been the best sub-freezing running day of the winter. The sun was out, the wind was calm, and even though the temperature was in the low 20's it was otherwise perfect. And of course I had gone out the day before. I was mad and thought about going out for a run anyway, but decided I'd spent too much energy on Friday. Stupid weathermen.

Global Warming has not yet made it to Missouri

Today was supposed to be a 14-miler. Actually, tomorrow was. But tomorrow's weather is predicted to be worse than today's, and since I didn't run yesterday on the wife's b-day, I decided to go for it. Yeah, that worked out for me.

The cold wind from the north was blowing a constant 20-mph, with gusts up to 30. The air temperature was about 30, but the wind chill dropped the actual temp into the teens. I ran two circuits of the neighborhood and realized that wasn't going to keep happening. So I stopped off at the house to change shoes (still breaking in the new pair) and went out for a route that was more lateral to the wind. Even so, I only lasted 3.5 more miles for a total of 8.5. I decided I'd had enough and that being out in the wind for almost two and a half hours was not a good plan. MY TEETH WERE COLD!!!

Since I'm on a business trip next week I'll probably run Sunday and Monday so that during my trip I only have to use the hotel treadmill once. And then we'll see what happens next Saturday.

Cold Nose

One aspect of running in the cold that I haven't addressed before is the cold nose effect. Makes me feel like a puppy, it does. Of course, the rest of me is cold, too, but the nose is what gets me. I am so ready for it to be warm!

Anyway, I ran 5.5 miles today in a relative tropical heat wave. The temperature was just about freezing when I set out, and the winds were very light for a change. I was supposed to include a 16-minute tempo run but I think it was 17 minutes due to a watch that is sometimes hard to read. Yesterday was my first Monday run during this go-round of the plan, so today marks the first time I've run two days in a row. I'm supposed to run my first intervals on Thursday, but that might not happen since it's the wife's birthday. And you know that takes precedence.

The Wind Blows Across the Plains

Today was the first Monday I've run during this training cycle, believe it or not. The previous five weeks I've run only three days a week, so this week I guess I'm airing it out. This was an easy five mile run to Target and back. The temperature was in the low 20's, with the now-standard 15 mph wind blowing against me on the return.

Thankfully the wife fitted me out with warm clothes for Christmas, which are paying off big time. Also, I mentioned to her yesterday on the way to church that I kept thinking about moving someplace that was much warmer during the winter. She didn't seem too interested, mainly because a location warm in winter is also likely to be really hot in summer. Bummer.

Treadmill and Wind

On different days of course. Thursday was a 5.5 mile run on the treadmill with 2-3-4-3-2 fartleks. Nothing exciting to report there.

Today was the wind, and at least the base temperature was above freezing. This week the temp was below zero, with wind chill close to -20 on a few mornings. Today was sunny, but the wind was particularly brutal. Coming out of the west at a steady15 mph with some gusts quite a bit more than that, let's just say the weather was not conducive to running and say no more. But I'm not going to do 10 miles on the treadmill when there's no precipitation.

So out I went, and somehow endured the whole ten. I thought about throwing in the towel at mile eight, but thought to myself that I was feeling okay, the weather might not be this good next weekend, and that really the only reason I was considering wussing out was because - well, because I was thinking like a wuss. So I finished my last circuit around the neighborhood and now I'm done and out of the wind. Thank God.

Treadmill Run

Gee, can't believe I forgot to post this yesterday when the run was so memorable. 5.5 miles on the treadmill with 14 minutes at a 7:30 pace. On the TV was M*A*S*H and then friends, with a predictable Bones thrown in during commercials. Really, it doesn't get much more thrilling than that.

Feels Like 11

The temperature when I headed out was about 26 but the wind chill was 11 degrees. This was courtesy of a lovely 20-25 mph north wind. I ran 12 miles, but the effort I put into it was way more than that. By the time I'd spent almost two hours exposed to the cold wind my body was spent. I did the circuity thing around the neighborhood again, but boy, right before the last lap I seriously considered packing it in.

Next year when I think about running an early spring race I'd sure like someone to remind me about days like this and how absolutely insane it is to train during the winter in Missouri.

Clear Winter Day

It was a little colder than I thought once I started my run. I guess you know you're in the midst of winter when a 39-degree starting temperature seems warm. But then the sun started going down and the breeze cooled it off really quick. I ran 5.5 miles with 2-3-3-3-2 fartleks. My iPod sensor tells me I was doing an 8-minute pace during some of those, but I don't believe it. I think it needs just a wee bit more calibration.

Tonight is the national championship game. It'd be nice for OU to win a bowl game for a change, and particularly this one. Go Sooners!!!

The Cold's Not That Bad

When the wind isn't blowing the cold really isn't that bad. The air was dry, but without that stiff breeze it's actually kind of pleasant outside for running. I ran 6.5 miles, including a 12-minute tempo run. Even with the relatively nice weather I'm so ready for spring and longer days.

At Least the Sun Was Out

Twenty degree wind chill this afternoon due to a stiff north wind. Rather than going for an out-and-back run I circled the neighborhood three times and change so that my periods of running into the Arctic blast were not all at once. I was scheduled to run 9 miles, and that is exactly what I accomplished. My average mile was 9 minutes, which seems to me to be a nice coincidence. That's faster than I usually pace my long runs, but really, I just wanted to get out of the wind.

This evening I took the wife to dinner, and all is well with my world tonight.

New Year, Another Run

What was I thinking when I decided to train for a marathon during the winter months? The cold wasn't too bad today, but it's the wind that gets me. And being out in it for over an hour just isn't much fun. The temperature was in the low forties, but the wind chill was right about freezing. I ran 6 miles. And wouldn't you know, most of my 2-3-3-3-2 fartleks came on what I think of as the Target Hills (the lovely slopes along Flintlock on the way to Target). Ugh.

At any rate, it's good to be running outside. And it's good to be running in 2009.