A Snowy 6 Miles

It's pretty pathetic when 28 degrees feels "nice".  I was finally able to get outside and run since the "feels like" temperature was nearly 50 degrees warmer than the previous week.  

When we got to the Metro Park the snow had been falling for about a half hour.  The running path was covered in snow but I wasn't too worried, I had run in fresh snow before.  I hadn't run in falling snow, though. That was...different.  

I prefer to run an out and back route and Saturday I had 6 miles on the schedule.  For the first 3 miles I ran into the wind and into the falling snow.  I also learned pretty quickly that it wasn't just snow on the path.  Underneath there were some very slick spots.  I managed to keep a decent pace, even though it felt like I was moving like molasses.  

Miles 4 through 6 were the worst.  I began to have the worst stomach pains.  More than just a typical side stitch.  This was a sharp pain that almost took me to my knees a few times.  I powered through and finished the 6 miles with a decent pace, considering it was slick outside and I took a few walk breaks in those last 2 miles.

I picked up my new running shoes on Saturday so I'll be taking to the treadmill at least once this week to test them out.  Next week I get to do all of my training runs outside in the sunshine and warm weather because I'll be vacationing in Grand Cayman!

One more week of sub-freezing temperatures...  

Treadmill Defeat

I consider myself a planner. When I decide to do something, it’s usually after a lot of thought over-thinking and research. I don’t usually make impulsive purchases and when I do I know there’s a good refund policy. With all of that said, I don’t know what I was thinking signing up for an early Spring race living in the Great Lakes region. We get cold, snowy winters! Our state is shaped like a mitten, for goodness sake!

We've been dealing with dangerously cold temperatures with no real relief in sight. After last week’s awesome (for me) 4-miler, I was forced to the treadmill for another 4 miles. Failed miserably and only got through 2 before calling it quits. Saturday, I was scheduled for my long run of 5 miles. We woke up to negative temperatures and I made the decision to do it on the treadmill.

 Big mistake.

 It was the worst run I've had since I began running towards my half-marathon goal. I barely ran half mile stretches before having to walk, or worse, completely stop. I had side stitches, heel pain, shin splints and could not catch my breath. Or, it was all in my head. Either way, running on a treadmill is giving me a serious case of anxiety over this race! I left the gym in tears. On the ride home I was given a pep talk assuring me that I could run a half-marathon and reminding me of how far I've come since I started running. It helped but in my head I was seriously doubting myself.

 I went to the running store and let the guy helping me talk me into a pair of neutral running shoes when I’m used to wearing stability. Right off the bat they felt the best and I tried on A LOT of shoes. I took them home and tried them on my treadmill and I hated them. They felt bulky, they poked my arch in all the wrong spots, they pulled my socks down into the shoe and there was a lot of pressure on the tops of my feet. After a half mile I changed back into my old shoes and packaged them back up for a return.

 I went to a different store (same company) in hopes of getting someone a little more knowledgeable in hard to fit feet and I lucked out. They did an entire new fit analysis on me and in the end I ordered a newer model of the current pair I've been running in. I’ll pick them up tomorrow before my long run of 6 miles but I won’t wear them until I can test them out on a treadmill. I’m planning on doing my long run outside this weekend! We might hit 30 degrees!

 I hope the weather breaks soon so I can get more running in outside…or I’m in big trouble on April 25th.

Still running!

It’s been over a month since I’ve last written about my chase to the finish line of my first half-marathon.  It was an unexpected break from my new blog life but I didn’t take a break from my running! Things got pretty serious two weeks ago when I pulled the trigger and actually registered for the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon.  It’s official!  I’ll be running my first half-marathon in one of my favorite cities on April 25.

I must be a crazy person for picking an early spring race when I live in a state that regularly sees sub-freezing temperatures.  For being Michigan born and bred I sure am a whimp when it comes to the cold and snow.  I’m following Hal Higdon's Novice Training Plan and my first official training run took place at the end of January and the sidewalks were covered in ice.  That was interesting.  The next day, it snowed all day and the sidewalks were covered in snow.  Running in fresh snow is definitely nicer than running on ice!

After the first few runs it got really cold.  Negative temps with and without the wind chill.  I was forced to train on a treadmill.  I was only a week into my training plan and I was seriously starting to doubt my ability to run a 5k, let alone a half-marathon.  I had two solid weeks of terrible runs on a treadmill.  I’m talking walk breaks with every mile terrible!  Discouraged was an understatement.  I was thinking I had made a huge mistake in actually registering for the race.

This past weekend was my third long run, five miles.  It was above freezing and slightly sunny so I was able to run outdoors.  What. A. Difference.  My first mile was a little rough but once I found my groove I continued running until I had run a 10k.  I felt pretty good during the run, I took a few very short walk breaks but overall had an average pace under 12 minutes.  My goal for the race is to be under 12 minutes a mile.

Since I've discovered I just cannot run on a treadmill I have to suck it up and run in the cold.  Yesterday I dressed in layers and busted out 4 miles at my favorite Metro Park.  The sun was out so 29 didn't feel too bad.  Not only did I run my fastest mile but I ran all 4 miles non-stop!  No walk breaks.  That's pretty big news for the girl that couldn't even run for 30 seconds straight when I started.

Today I get to cross train, so it looks like I'll get to catch up on Netflix while I get a few miles in on the bike.

This weekend I’ll be heading to the running store to replace my running shoes.  I've been running on them for a year and I want to break in a new pair well before the race.  I noticed some shin splits during a few of my runs last week and that’s a new problem for me.  I think that’s a sign to replace my shoes!  I’ll probably stick with Brooks but I’m going to talk with the experts and make sure I have a proper shoe for my foot and running goals.

Just over 10 weeks to go!

Hello, 11's

I'm still running.  Slowly, but still running.

Adding a running partner was the best thing I ever did for my progress.  He's significantly faster than me but drops down to just above my pace so I'm forced to work a little harder than if I was running by myself.

A few weeks ago we signed up for a 5k and the morning of the race we woke up to ice covered EVERYTHING!  All of the trees, sidewalks and streets were covered in a sheet of ice.  Walking was difficult, driving was difficult, I could only imagine what running would be like!

We slid our way to the starting line and found the race organizers had moved the course to a perfectly cleared route.  We set off on our run and I felt pretty good.  I ran the entire route without stopping to walk, which is huge for me.  When we got to the finish line I noticed our time was just over 30 minutes.  I knew something was off because there is no way I ran 10 minute miles.  It turns out, when they moved the course we lost about a quarter of a mile.  I was still pretty happy with the run though, I came in at just over 12 minutes a mile.

I knew I was progressing, albeit slowly!

After the confidence boost from that run we headed out a few days later for a run after work.  I felt like I was flying but I did my best to keep up and not walk.  I took 2 short walk breaks and after 4 miles I finally saw an average pace in the 11-minute time frame!  I was so excited.

Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, I set out on my own run and despite a few walk breaks I still averaged in the 11's.

I'm 19 weeks out from the mini-marathon I want to run so it's time I start focusing on distance and endurance.  I think speed will come naturally. I'd like to run the half between 10-11 minutes per mile.

Someone suggested I download a playlist with songs that run at 160 bpm so I might try that!

A Running First

Tonight, after work,  I headed to the Metro Park again for my run with a goal of 4 miles. On my way to the park I received an offer for some company if I wanted it.  My initial reaction was no way!  I am a mess when I run.  I'm slow, I breathe heavy, I stop and walk when I feel like it and I certainly don't look pretty when I'm done.  He does Crossfit regularly and is a seasoned runner.  I shocked myself when I said "sure".  I warned him that I was slow and it wasn't a pretty sight to watch me run. 

He caught up with me around my halfway point (2.5 miles) and ran with me the rest of the way. It was weird to run with someone else, especially someone that is way faster and far more physically fit than I am.  I definitely pushed myself a little harder than I think I would have if I had been alone.  

In the end, I finished 5 miles with a 13:12 pace.  I was initially disappointed with that pace, especially since I felt like I was working really hard.  My heart rate was at the higher end of my "high" the entire run.  I log my miles with Map My Run and I scrolled back to a month ago and my pace was 13:54.  I'm definitely improving, it's just a really slow improvement.  

He offered to run with me again, which I'm actually going to welcome.  I think training with someone who's better than I am will push me.  I just hope he doesn't get sick of dropping down to my snail's pace.   

One day, maybe I'll just run slower than a herd of turtles...without the peanut butter ;)

I'm taking rest days until Saturday morning, when I hope to get my pace under 13 minutes.

It's only going to get colder...

It's only going to get colder.

That was the thought running through my head tonight after work as I got dressed in my running clothes.  The thermometer in my car said 49, which isn't really that cold but it was dreary and overcast out and it sure felt cold.  I didn't think it was cold enough to warrant my cold-gear running tights so I just wore regular long leggings and the long sleeved tech shirt from last years Turkey Trot.  My ears are the first things to feel the cold so I wore a thin headband over my ears.

The park I was running at is about a 20 minute drive from my house, which gives me lots of time to think about everything under the sun.

Some of tonight's thoughts:

"49 isn't that cold"

"what are you going to do in December or January when it's colder, and there's snow on the ground"

"You're an idiot for picking a half in early Spring"

"You're an idiot for picking a half"

"I hope these leggings aren't see through"

"I hope my legs and lungs cooperate"

"I should move"

"I wish it was still summer"

"I want a poptart"

"I want pizza" 

I'm usually all over the place before and during a run.  Most of it isn't repeatable but I try to think of anything and everything, except for the fact that my legs and lungs are tired.

I haven't run in a little while and I could feel it today.  I only made it mile before a walk break.  I was pretty disappointed in myself but I plugged along.  I squeaked out just under 3.5 miles and had my fastest mile (my first). I'm still running after that 10 minute mile.  

I know I'm getting stronger, it's just a really slow progression and it's really frustrating.

I'm going to have to figure out this cold weather running. Today my legs were fine, arms were a little hot but my hands were freezing!  I might have to start running with gloves when the temps dip below 50.  It's funny that I think it's "cold" now but come spring 50 will seem warm.

Until my next run, which is hopefully better than today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harsens Island

Yesterday I had a 40 mile bike ride planned out on Harsens Island.  I got a little nervous when I woke up and saw frost all over the grass and cars.  I dressed for the forecast, which was sunny and somewhere around 50° during the ride.  Harsens Island is about an hour east of my hometown so we left pretty early and it was still pretty cold!

When we got to the ride registration it had warmed up to 41° but the sun was shining.  You have to take a car ferry across to the island and lucky for us, bikes and pedestrians are free :)  We took the short ferry trip across the St. Clair River and we were off on our ride!

It quickly warmed up enough to take off my gloves but I'm glad I wore two long sleeved shirts and a headband to cover my ears.  We passed quite a few camouflaged boats coming back into the boat launches with guys dressed head to toe in their camouflage gear.  Duck hunting season had opened the day before in southern Michigan and we heard a good number of gun shots on our ride.  As I passed one stretch of wooded area I heard some rustling around and as I turned to look I saw a deer running away from me.  I like to count the wildlife I see when I'm out on my walks, runs and rides and today I saw quite a bit!  Today I saw an egret, a couple of swans, a duck, a turtle, a deer and a pheasant.

great egret

When we got to the turnaround spot I stopped to take a short break and wait for my friends.  I was surprised how clearly I could see the Detroit skyline from the island! It was a pretty clear day and you could distinctly see the Renaissance Center off in the far distance.

Detroit skyline, from Harsens Island

approximately mile 26

After a short break it was time to hit the road again, this time into the wind!  That made miles 19-25 pretty rough.  Around mile 25 we changed directions a little and road right along side the St. Clair River and in front of some beautiful homes! Definitely the kind dreams are made of.  I passed a couple getting out of a truck dressed head to toe in scuba gear.  I watched them walk into the river but I didn't stick around long enough to see them go under.  I wonder what they were looking for, unless they were just out for a practice dive.  It seemed a little cold to be diving for fun!

I made my way back through the neighborhoods and back to the ferry where I waited for my friends.  I've ridden long distances a few times and ride between 12-14 miles per hour without wind resistance.  This was the farthest distance one of my friends had ever gone so I was pretty impressed when they rolled up not too far behind me!  I'm not sure how I got into the habit of taking my bikes picture after each ride but it's just something I do when I ride.  While I waited for my friends I took advantage of the Harsens Island welcome sign.

33 miles, done!

We took the ferry back to the mainland and were greeted by a homemade lunch of mostacholi.  My final mileage came in just under 33 miles so their original route of 40 miles must have been a little off but it was still a great ride on what turned out to be a pretty great day.

I forgot to turn off my heart rate monitor until I was nearly halfway home but I'm guessing I burned around 1400 calories.  Not bad for a Sunday morning ;)