Lovely

Delightful outdoor 3 today.  I really do like winter running (read: temps in the low 40s, sunny skies and clear roads).

I've been thinking about running with a weapon. I do always run in daylight, I vary my routine and always let someone know my general route/ETA; however, there are lots and lots of quiet spots among most of my runs. I am thinking a pistol should suffice.

Week 2...DONE

Last week's runs were fine--let's see if I can recall them:

3 Tuesday in the snow at the blvd. The snow was really coming down when I was running...it was windy. And I couldn't see. But it wasn't really that slippery since the snow wasn't packed down at all.

5 pace at the gym--I was tired but the run felt good

3 Thursday at the blvd--the blvd was treacherous that day...packed down and iced over. It was a little scary and I ended up running on the road. I think I need some traction on my sneakers.

9 on Sunday--it was great, waited until late afternoon, so the temps were lovely...and did the route at my parents' house, which means a flat run.

Loving 4 days of running...that one day of cross training? Errr, I'm working on it.

Huh

I just realized that I am pretty sure no one reads this blog. So maybe I will make it into an old school diary. Full of secrets that I would never dream to share with anyone.

Or maybe I will just keep blogging about my runs...

So just when I thought I had no choice but to add on the Gross Gym...I realized I did indeed have a choice. Called drive 35 minutes to My Gym, do 5 mile pace run, drive 40 minutes back to the town I work in, to fetch Miss G from daycare.

Was it worth it?
Yup.
Clean gym. Cool air. No crowds.
Yup.
It was worth it.

Hoping to get 3 in outside tomorrow...

Snow Run

So my refusal to go to the gross gym near my work/Greta's daycare may have come to an end.

I watched as the snow continued to fall all day and knew it wasn't going to be a pretty outside run (well, of course it would be pretty to look at. Just not to do.)

I headed towards the blvd but at the last minute decided to check out the ET just because it is so much more convenient. The first 2 minutes of the run were bearable. And then I realized I would probably break my ankle since the trail quickly became extremely lumpy/hard/snow covered. I had thought that all of the snow before today was gone, but maybe not because it was so uneven. I don't know, something is jacked up under that snow.

So then I had to drive to the boulevard. It was runnable. With any additional traction on my shoes, it would have been completely fine. There was definitely ice but I didn't wipe out or have any major slips. The snow was blinding for the first half of the run. It wasn't the worst run ever but not sure I would want to repeat it. And my left foot that had finally been feeling better (I did something to it during the Old Port Half) started hurting with 1/2 mile to go.

wah wah wah.

And now I am thinking my pace run tomorrow just may have to be at the gym.

Ew.

Gym Babble

This will hardly be interesting, but I need to work it out.

I have a gym membership...to a gym 5 minutes from my house. As far as gyms go, it is pretty decent. Very clean, brand new treadmills, $10/month. I have maintained membership for years, even though I don't frequent the gym. But with this training, I have no choice.

The problem is that the gym is 5 minutes from my house. Which means it is 35 minutes or so from Greta's daycare. Which means it doesn't work for me most days during the week. Which means I should upgrade. And get the membership which allows me to go to any of the gyms in the chain. Including the one that is a mere 8 minutes or so from her daycare.

Which I went to the other day (long story). But it is DISGUSTING. Overcrowded. Over heated. And treadmills that look like they are from 1990. It is beyond repulsive. But what choice do I have?

I will tell you what choice I have. To pack warm clothes and run through the predicted snow tomorrow. Because that gym? It is that gross.

I guess I just processed through a plan. Perhaps a temporary one. But a plan nonetheless.

One week down

Lovely 4 day training program (well, plus a day of cross training...ha).

Tues-3
Wed-5 pace run
Th-3

Sat-Cross training (snow play/sledding with G for an hour. Seriously--it was exhausting!)

Sunday-8

And the 8 today? Oh, it was one of those runs where you feel so light on your feet. I could have gone forever. I had to sprint a bit at the end to burn off the excess energy I had pent up in my body. It was a great run.

You thought I forgot...

Memorial Day Weekend

Burlington, Vermont

26.2

Me

And Russ

At my pace

(I think all of the above is true. Or it may all be false. But just in case it is true, I am in Week One of training. A nice 4 day/week Hal Higdon program. We''ll see where the wind takes me.)