8 Mile...7 Mile Run

All last week I fought back pain. I talked about it in my Friday post and had been dreading my 8 mile run for Saturday. Not for my normal reasons of having to run 8 miles, but because I was scared my back would go crazy and leave me crying on the side of the road cursing myself for trying to run {I'll end your curiosity now...I didn't end up crying on the side of the road cursing myself}.

I went out  a bit later than I wanted. I had hoped to get out about 9:00 - 9:30 a.m., but I didn't actually get out until 10:15 a.m. Eh. It was cold no matter when I was going to go out, so really what did it matter?

What fun running temps! LOL! I'll be honest, I kinda feel like a badass going out in temperatures like this. I had so many layers on though {wear all the clothes!} - two pairs of pants, knee high socks, a cami, short sleeve shirt, long sleeve cold weather shirt, two jackets, a hat, gloves, and over the ears headphones that cover the entire ear. Running in the winter is my favorite time to run. I much prefer running when it's cold because it keeps me from getting too overheated.

I started out with my fingers in so much pain. It wasn't until I was 1.5 miles in that my fingers felt normal. I ran slow. But, because of the back issues I decided to just go slow and see what happens. I ran in the boring neighborhood that I hate having to run long distances in, but it's only a mile from my car at the furthest if my back kicked in.

Happily I felt good for almost the entire run. I was slower than I would have liked. Not 100% sure if it was due to being careful about my back, all the ice/snow that people hadn't cleared from their sidewalks I had to walk through, or I'm just this slow. I'm hoping it's 1 & 2.

I had some technology issues at mile 4 that I had to stop to fix. Stupid technology. Then off to finish my 8 mile run. Until about 6.75 miles in. I started to have left leg pain as I ran, which turned into a limping run. Since the pain was on the same side as the back pain, I got to mile 7 and called it a run. I am sure I could have gutted out another mile, but I didn't want to make whatever the injury was worse. So, I walked at least a quarter mile back to my car in temperatures that are not conducive to walking. LOL!

So, I finished my shortened run. Not happy with the time, but at least in less pain overall than I thought. I didn't think I'd get two miles in, so seven was pretty nice.

Did you get out this weekend? What it a cold run?



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Got my run in at least

Yesterday I headed to the gym to take the drop-in TRX class. I haven't done TRX since last summer and I was really looking forward to it. The Y now offers a drop-in class Tuesdays at noon and since I don't work on Tuesdays, I thought it was the perfect time to add it back in.

I got there about ten of twelve and entered the parking lot. Then drove around for 10 minutes looking for a space. My gym has a small parking lot, but this is the first time I could not get a space. I got so frustrated I left. I came home. It was noon and I was missing the class I went for anyway.

After arriving home, I told hubby I was going for a run, want to come? He agreed, so we headed off for a 2 mile run each. It was a tad bit chilly at 12*. Eep! We headed off on our own runs and the sidewalks were about the same as Mt. Wolf. Eh. It's a bad winter, whacha gonna do?

And you know what? I rocked my run! A nice negative split from first mile to second and I cut one minute and 18 seconds off my two mile time from last Monday! Oh hello! I was pretty happy with that. I know I won't see this type of improvement every week, but damn it felt good today!

So, even though I didn't get my TRX class in today (must find a way to get parking space next week!), I did get in an awesome run.

Have you been running outside in the cold? How do you stay warm?

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Learn something new

I love running in cold weather. It always makes me laugh a bit when people talk in the fall about slowing down for the winter and what other things you can work on until you start running again in the spring. For me, I go out and run in the cold. I like it. I prefer it to running hot in the summer, where I sweat constantly and just get overheated.

Yesterday I went out for a run, which has not been happening lately. I decided since we were expecting a snow storm to layer more than usual. I put on a pair of lycra pants under my running pants, then did my normal top - cold weather long sleeve, running jacket, then added my heavy jacket because it just seemed COLD. LOL! I finished it off with a headband and gloves.

What did I learn? I learned that those lycra pants were amazing! Normally, no matter how far I run in the winter, my thighs freeze and do not warm up. The rest of me will warm up - that heavy jacket would have been removed had I not been going for such a short run and the gloves helped my hands warm and may have come off too. But, wow. That extra layer of clothing on the legs made such a difference! At the end of my run, I told hubby I need to buy a few more pairs so I can layer up this winter. I'll need it for when training starts for The Love Run in January.

Have you learned something new about running lately? What do you wear when you run in these colder temps? Or, if you're in a warmer clime, what do you wear to keep yourself from overheating?


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Saturday run...WHA????

It's been a bit chilly and snowy here in Central PA lately. All week we've been hearing about a massive snow storm for today, anywhere from 4-8". So last night, hubby and I decided we would try to get up and run before the snow hit since it was predicted to be light in the morning, then heavy in the afternoon and evening.

Saturday morning comes and I wake up about 9:45 a.m. So much for getting up to beat the snow! Then I looked outside and...nothing. No snow, not even flurrying. Hmmm... We hemmed and hawed for a bit, then decided to go out for a timed run rather than a run for distance. We picked 20 minutes and got ready.

As we drove to our normal running area, it started snowing, so now we felt badass for running in the snow. Here comes the snow! We hit the roads and we both went over the 20 minute time, but not by much, just enough to hit the next half mile/mile distance.

I got a lovely 1.5 miles in 21:26 (ugh) and hubby got in 2 miles in just over 20 minutes. While I wasn't happy per se with my 1.5 mile time, I am glad I went out. It was nice to go out and run on a Saturday morning again. And it felt fun being out there running in the snow flurries while people are snug in their homes or driving in their cars. Yup, you sense some smugness there. LOL!

Did you get out for a run this morning? Are you anticipating snowy weather? So far, so good on my end. No snow besides the flurries from earlier. Be safe out there!

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