I don't like hot weather. I loathe being sweaty and I can't stand humidity. (Don't ask how much I hate Virginia in the summer.) But, I also don't adjust quickly when the weather changes. Yesterday the temps dropped significantly and today is even colder - 31 with a feels like of 26. In a month or so, that won't phase me. I'll be happy it's not in the teens. I'll put on my tights and my running jacket and my hat and happily hit the roads. Today I'm cold. Last night my bedroom was 58 degrees when I went to bed. I slept in my robe. It's 62 in my dining room right now and the gecko has yet to leave his warm hiding spot in his cage. (Don't think I haven't wished I could climb in his 90+ degree cave.) Such is life in an old house … [Read more...]
Like a Yo-Yo
I seriously feel like a yo-yo lately. My run is great. My run sucks. I can do this mileage. I can't run three miles. It's a beautiful 60+ degrees. It's 40 degrees and windy and there will be snow. Really, people, I could just use some consistently decent runs. And some consistent temperatures. My body can't seem to figure out which end is up right now. I don't need AWESOME! I just need good. Yesterday I tried something new. I did a Galloway style run. Run a half mile, walk .03. Interestingly, I was able to maintain a 10:30-10:40 pace for the first 6 miles even with the walking. (Mile 7 was into the wind and just sucked.) I'll be honest, I've never really had any urge to try it before, but I did it for a few … [Read more...]
This is the south, right???
Yesterday's weather forecast for 9am looked just like this: This might be normal for some of you Northern people, but this is the coldest it's been here in 4 years. Seriously, when I got up at 6:30am, my bedroom was 55 degrees! (Naturally, the first thing I did upon waking was make sure the gecko was warm enough. His cage was a balmy 65. Poor little guy!) I was all prepared to turn in my Wisconsin girl card and hit the treadmill, when a friend texted me that she wanted to run outside because she needed the sun. Ok, then. So, I put on: two pairs of running tights, a heavy pair of socks, a tank top, a long sleeve top, a half zip, my running jacket, heavy running gloves, and a hat. What? I don't do cold. Thankfully, it … [Read more...]
Love the Run You’re with 5k race report
AKA sometimes you have to leave it all on the course. It's been a long time since I've been in "racing form". I feel like I've been trying to come back from injury since Thanksgiving of 2010. I've had some good runs since then, but no really good races and most of my speed work has been on the treadmill. I've been dying to know where I am. And I chose Love the Run You're With to find out. I set out with two goals: 26:xx on the clock and leaving everything I had on the course, possibly even my breakfast... Short story: I missed my time goal by 16 seconds (27:15), but I could barely walk when I got done. The day dawned wicked cold and windy. The "feels like" temperature was 12. I wore two pairs of running tights, a … [Read more...]
Handing over my "Tough Chik" card
I just joined Team Tough Chik. It's an awesome group of women and there are some seriously Tough Chiks in the group.I feel like I should hand back my membership card. I'm choosing to be a wuss today and I'm ok with that.I have a 10 mile and two 3ish mile runs left to do this week. It is currently 16 degrees out. Tomorrow at this time it should be 42 degrees. Guess who's choosing to do 3 on the treadmill today and 10 outside tomorrow? This girl. This girl right here. OK, I'll hand over my Wisconsin card too. On the bright side, it gives me an extra day to find some yellow and green to wear. (As a Packer fan, you'd think this would not be a problem LOL.)Do you move your runs around to … [Read more...]
Handing over my “Tough Chik” card
I just joined Team Tough Chik. It's an awesome group of women and there are some seriously Tough Chiks in the group.I feel like I should hand back my membership card. I'm choosing to be a wuss today and I'm ok with that.I have a 10 mile and two 3ish mile runs left to do this week. It is currently 16 degrees out. Tomorrow at this time it should be 42 degrees. Guess who's choosing to do 3 on the treadmill today and 10 outside tomorrow? This girl. This girl right here. OK, I'll hand over my Wisconsin card too. On the bright side, it gives me an extra day to find some yellow and green to wear. (As a Packer fan, you'd think this would not be a problem LOL.)Do you move your runs around to … [Read more...]
I heart cold weather running!
It's a chilly 39 degrees here right now. Yesterday afternoon, winter arrived.But I'm not complaining. I just had an amazing 4 mile run where my time for every single mile started with a 9. Woot! I wasn't even running hard, with the exception of the final uphill half mile (why do I keep doing that?). Nothing hurt. I was running by "feel" and taking it easy. The only difference was that it was cold. Every once in a while I reconfirm that I'm really a Wisconsin girl at heart LOL.Weather and what I wore (so I can remember how much to wear next time.): 39 degrees, sunny, light windTek leggings with Tommie Copper calf sleeves (would have been ok with capris and the calf sleeves.)Running bra, … [Read more...]
Sugoi Firewall Jacket review
Some of you will remember that I won the Sugoi Firewall jacket from my local running store back in early December. Between my ankle and the kids, I didn't do much running after I won it, so I didn't get to use it much. This week, I've run in it four times. I love it! It rocks! The description indicates that there are three front zip pockets and one back pocket. As far as I can tell, there are just two front zip pockets. In all honesty, that's plenty. I put my ID, my keys, and my cell phone in one and use the other if I need to shove in my gloves. Because there is some stretch to the material, my items are held close to my body and I can't feel them and I never hear my keys. I've been wearing it in 25 to 30 degree … [Read more...]
Blog? What blog?
I had one of those "my brain is full" weekends. Beer Geek and I went out on a date so that we could discuss such exciting things as our health plan and the boys' college accounts. Luckily, the discussion was accompanied by good beer and a piece of carrot cake the size of my head. Then on Saturday, we took the boys to breakfast with Santa. It was at Shoo's preschool and I was on the committee, so I was a little busy with it. Saturday afternoon we played in the snow. Sunday was church, snow playing, running, craft fair shopping, birthday partying. When we weren't doing those things, I was spending all my time online shopping for the boys. When I woke up this morning, I realized I hadn't touched my blog all weekend. Oops.Friday … [Read more...]
Long cold run
In case it's not obvious from previous posts, I don't like cold weather. If it's below 30 degrees, especially if there is any wind involved, I'm going to hit the treadmill. Add in a little snow and ice and guess where I'm likely to be...Not today. I wanted to run 14 miles today. It was 19 degrees with a windchill that made it feel like 4. Fortunately, it was sunny and most of the neighborhood got plowed (not my street, that was complete ice). So I bundled up - running tights, running pants, running tank, long sleeve tech shirt, fleece half zip, unlined windbreaker, thorlos socks, hat, and two pairs of gloves. (and yes, I really did need all the layers).I decided the safest place to run would be in the neighborhood, as many of the … [Read more...]
