Cold, cold, cold. Snow and ice-what a week? Crazy winter weather here in coastal North Carolina. But despite the challenging elements, week #4 was a success. Over 77 miles, on 6 days (runs). Couple days of ancillary work too, and my right knee only bothers me on occasion.
Less than a 100 days until Boston- loved seeing the picture posts from the BAA this week on Facebook and Instagram. Also inspired and in awe of all the running people are doing in much, much colder climates than here. Been brutal all over the US it seems.
Have actually become accustomed to dressing in many layers, wearing long pants. Making sure to cover most any areas of exposed skin. Wearing a hoo rag around my neck, and even pulling it up over my face on Sunday morning's frigid adventure run.
So onward goes the journey-trying to constantly remind myself to take it one workout, one run, and sometimes one mile at a time. Have come up with my own little mantra of each mile, which I hashtag in my mind as #eachmile. Is especially helpful on the more difficult parts of run; whether I be struggling mentally at the time, or physically, especially in the midst of threshold or marathon pace miles.
Very blessed and grateful to be on the road to Boston. Had a little moment of prayer and thanks Sunday after the last run of the week was complete, and I was back inside my warm home. Wonderful to be able to share with others. Here's to another fantastic week, and surmounting the obstacles when they come our way.
Week#4 (1/1/18- 1/7/18)
77.4 miles total
Monday: 10 miles. Ran loops in Carolina Beach State Park to alleviate some exposure to the wind and cold. Easy to moderate pace, almost all off road. Good way to start 2018. Run time: 1:18:41 (7:52 pace)
Tuesday: 17.85 miles. WO2. Amended a bit from Jack Daniels plan due to meeting Justin and Colin. Ended up 2E + 7T + 8.85E. Wore long tights like pants that Amie got me for Xmas (love em) w/ shorts over top. Felt fairly decent on T miles. Splits: 6:38, 6:28, 6:37, 6:45, 6:25, 6:52, 6:44. Variations some due to slight up/ down on CBSP roads + wind. Trails w Colin & Justin easy pace thru park, then 1.5 roads back home. Run time: 2:21:21 (7:55 pace)
Wednesday: 9.22 miles. Roads Carolina Beach + trails in state park. Easy pace, legs not too bad or beat up from Tuesday. Good sign. Run time: 1:21:33 (8:51 pace)
Thursday: 11 miles. Snow adventure run! Got about 1-2 inches on top of ice Wed eve. Roads very slick. Trails beautiful. Nice crunchy snowpack; ice on trees looked so pristine and virgin. Bundled up and ran easy pace. Run time: 1:49:15 (9:55 pace)
Friday: 18.08 miles. WO1. 2E + 8M + 1T + 2M + 1E + 2M + 2E. Good workout, especially considering long pants, layers, and having to slow for ice/snow patches on the road. Almost fell bad once, had a bit of a seeing God moment. Though did not fully deter me from perhaps not making the best running choices for safety sake. First few miles felt sluggish, legs no pop. Plus mentally was already bagging it, making excuses. But recovered mentally, and the body followed after several miles in. Also choosing to just run on the main road helped, as was for most part available to avoid ice. Run itself was a hard grind at times; took a lot of effort. But pleased with overall results. Splits: 7:13, 7:07, 7:07, 7:16, 7:42 (slipped, almost fell bad), 7:01, 7:03, 6:56, 6:45, 7:07, 6:51..... 6:48, 6:48 Put head down and went on last 2 miles, did not check watch except for split beep. Checked watched more early on, and kept thinking I should be running faster per effort. So didn't look at as much latter miles-and was faster. But also surface change to avoid ice. First few miles was hitting road patches every other block, or so it seemed-that had to slow down on. Roads to KB, back to CB to north end and back, then KB and back again on Lake Park. Run time: 2:14:49 (7:28 pace)
Saturday: Rest/ Recovery
Sunday: 11.31 miles. CBSP to Dow Chemical plant, Dow-Hamlet Road way back. Freezing cold, wind chill 5. Bundled up. Fun run though w/ Colin, Justin, Dan, English Rob, Rob R. Trails and some bush wacking. Forgot to watch start after a stop, so run probably 1/2 mile longer. Ran around bay area never had been, low tide and ice. Hadn't seen old plant ruins in many years, plus was snow covered. Wish we would have had a camera for a picture. Hands so cold before Dow road and run back, couldn't tie open show. Came back last 2-3 miles w. Rob R. Nice chat about marathon plan, he's doing Wrightsville Beach, and wants to improve on 3:16 December at Kiawah. Into wind, and in shade was brutal-couldn't feel our faces, and my hoo rag on neck/face had become too frozen to wear anymore on face. Took awhile to warm up once home. Legs good, some tightness, slight pain in right knee, especially when bush wacking. Run time: 1:57:01 (pace 10:21).
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