Well...tomorrow is the day we hop on a plane and fly to sunny Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Or not so sunny...cold-maybe-rainy Orlando, Florida. That's right...after all of my looking forward to a 50s/60s temp for the marathon, Florida is experiencing on of its longest cold snaps in years. The one year I've chosen to do the Goofy Challenge...
But, honestly, I am not that upset about the weather. I'd prefer cold to 80 degrees, which they had 3 years ago. We've trained in snow, sleet, rain, 20s, 30s, 40s...I'm probably ready for anything!
My training recently though, has been a bit lacking due to the severe weather we've had here in Maryland. I missed my last 22 mile run due to the 2 foot blizzard, so my taper was actually 5 weeks instead of 3. I had a bit of a head cold/allergy issue and missed the 12 miles the next week. I made up for it by running 6,5, and 5 respectively last week...but then a wind chill of 0 and 30 mph gusts on Sunday kept me inside and I missed 9 miles. This week has been busy, and I'm just hoping to get out for 3 before I begin packing. So, if training hard and then resting really well means a good race...I should be fabulous! I think it will all be ok, though.
Wish me luck! Race reports to come when I return from the Land of Mickey!
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weather. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Blizzard '09
Remember that winter storm I mentioned in the last blog? Well, it definitely hit...and thus I didn't complete the 22 mile run. By the time I woke up Saturday morning, there was already 4 inches or so on the ground, and it didn't let up. We ended up with over 20 inches of snow. Yikes! I have never seen that much snow in my life!
I did get 11 miles in on Friday morning, though. We ran from my house through Eastport, to the Naval Academy, and back. I'm glad that was accomplished, because I still don't think I'll be able to get out on the roads to run anytime soon! There are still huge mounds of snow in most places where the sidewalk should be!
Today, I managed 3 miles on the dreadmill at the office during lunch. My training partner (who ran 20 miles on the treadmill during the snow...crazy!) is out of town for the holidays, so I'll be running on my own this weekend. Since we are now in the taper phase, I have 4 on the schedule for Saturday, and 12 on Sunday. I don't look forward to running 12 by myself, so I've talked my boyfriend into riding his bike on the NCR Trail while I run. He won't be with me, but at least I'll be motivated to get out there!
I did get 11 miles in on Friday morning, though. We ran from my house through Eastport, to the Naval Academy, and back. I'm glad that was accomplished, because I still don't think I'll be able to get out on the roads to run anytime soon! There are still huge mounds of snow in most places where the sidewalk should be!
Today, I managed 3 miles on the dreadmill at the office during lunch. My training partner (who ran 20 miles on the treadmill during the snow...crazy!) is out of town for the holidays, so I'll be running on my own this weekend. Since we are now in the taper phase, I have 4 on the schedule for Saturday, and 12 on Sunday. I don't look forward to running 12 by myself, so I've talked my boyfriend into riding his bike on the NCR Trail while I run. He won't be with me, but at least I'll be motivated to get out there!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Playing Catch Up on This Here Blog
Well, since I last posted on this blog, I've logged 51 miles. Yikes! It has only been 2 weeks, but that shows you how much I've been running!
The 10 miles/20 miles weekend was a tough one. Saturday morning, we ended up running in rain/snow. We logged 10 miles on the BWI Trail Loop around the airport. The weather started out as rain, and gradually changed over to snow as it got colder. My rain jacket doesn't work so well anymore; thus, I was soaked through by the end of the run. We went to lunch afterwards, and it took me about 3 hours post-shower to warm up!
Our 20 miler was a test of will. We woke up to clear skies, but the snow from the day before had frozen over, so the B&A Trail was rather icy. 3 miles into the run, I wasn't at all sure if I could continue. At about Mile 6, I started to feel better, and by 8 I was ready to finish the whole thing. My only issue was a very tight hamstring for the last 2 miles. I suffered through, though.
Last weekend was an easy 6 miles on Saturday, and 12 miles on Sunday. To get the miles in, we actually ran the Anniversary Race through Quiet Waters Park. The race is only 9.3 miles, so we ran 2.7 beforehand. It was, of course, raining. I was soaked again, and chilled again. This run wasn't the greatest...I was tired and didn't want to do it at all. I perservered again, though. Perserverance seems to be becoming my running theme...
This weekend is going to be rough. It's our last long run weekend with 11 on Friday morning and 22 on Saturday. The issue (besides the distance)? The forecasters are calling for a Winter Storm. Of course! That's just what we need for our 22 mile run...snow and wind all day. Lovely. I am planning on heading out to by a new rain jacket...but if it's too bad, I'm going to bag the 22 and just do as many as I can. It's not worth getting sick over...at this point, we've logged 2 20ish mile runs, with back to backs, as well. If we dont' get 22 in, then we'll just have a month long taper. You do what you can...
The 10 miles/20 miles weekend was a tough one. Saturday morning, we ended up running in rain/snow. We logged 10 miles on the BWI Trail Loop around the airport. The weather started out as rain, and gradually changed over to snow as it got colder. My rain jacket doesn't work so well anymore; thus, I was soaked through by the end of the run. We went to lunch afterwards, and it took me about 3 hours post-shower to warm up!
Our 20 miler was a test of will. We woke up to clear skies, but the snow from the day before had frozen over, so the B&A Trail was rather icy. 3 miles into the run, I wasn't at all sure if I could continue. At about Mile 6, I started to feel better, and by 8 I was ready to finish the whole thing. My only issue was a very tight hamstring for the last 2 miles. I suffered through, though.
Last weekend was an easy 6 miles on Saturday, and 12 miles on Sunday. To get the miles in, we actually ran the Anniversary Race through Quiet Waters Park. The race is only 9.3 miles, so we ran 2.7 beforehand. It was, of course, raining. I was soaked again, and chilled again. This run wasn't the greatest...I was tired and didn't want to do it at all. I perservered again, though. Perserverance seems to be becoming my running theme...
This weekend is going to be rough. It's our last long run weekend with 11 on Friday morning and 22 on Saturday. The issue (besides the distance)? The forecasters are calling for a Winter Storm. Of course! That's just what we need for our 22 mile run...snow and wind all day. Lovely. I am planning on heading out to by a new rain jacket...but if it's too bad, I'm going to bag the 22 and just do as many as I can. It's not worth getting sick over...at this point, we've logged 2 20ish mile runs, with back to backs, as well. If we dont' get 22 in, then we'll just have a month long taper. You do what you can...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Update on Last Week's Runs
Last week, on Tuesday I had a very fast and easy, if dark, 4 miles around my neighborhood. The temperature was perfect, about 59, and I had a really easy time breathing. Oh, if only all runs could be that easy!
Sunday, we had 16 miles on the schedule for Goofy training. My training partner has run in a costume for the Halloween 5K in Annapolis for the past few years, and she didn't want to give that up this year. So, the first 3.1 miles of our run were in the 5K race. No matter how hard I tried to keep myself slow, the best I could do was an 11:02 pace. And that was running 2/1 Galloway. After the race, we had a quick break while she got her award, and I planted water, gatorade, and snacks about 4 miles into our 13 mile out and back from the 5K location. We ran from West Annapolis over the Naval Academy Bridge (we walked the hill part to save our legs!), up 450 to Boulters Way, connected up with the B&A trail, ran to mile 3.5 of the trail, and turned around. Our water stops ended up being at miles 4 and 9 of the 13.
It was a stunning day, cool and clear with eye-popping leaf color everywhere! Despite the hills on this route, I felt great for most of the way. My legs were a little tired at the end, but that is to be expected. For the last 13 miles, we averaged about 12 minute miles, including our bridge uphill walks. I was really happy with finishing the run, though.
My first run of this week will be a 3-4 miler tonight. This weekend is a double-header with 8 planned on Saturday, and 17 on Sunday. The 17 will hopefully be a "scenic monument tour" in DC if the weather holds up. I've mapped out a good course around the Mall, Mt. Vernon Trail, Roosevelt Island, Eastern Market, and a little bit of downtown DC. I am hoping I am up to all of this since I contracted a nasty stomach bug on Tuesday, and am just now back at work and recovered. With proper nutrition and sleep, though, I think I will be just fine!
Sunday, we had 16 miles on the schedule for Goofy training. My training partner has run in a costume for the Halloween 5K in Annapolis for the past few years, and she didn't want to give that up this year. So, the first 3.1 miles of our run were in the 5K race. No matter how hard I tried to keep myself slow, the best I could do was an 11:02 pace. And that was running 2/1 Galloway. After the race, we had a quick break while she got her award, and I planted water, gatorade, and snacks about 4 miles into our 13 mile out and back from the 5K location. We ran from West Annapolis over the Naval Academy Bridge (we walked the hill part to save our legs!), up 450 to Boulters Way, connected up with the B&A trail, ran to mile 3.5 of the trail, and turned around. Our water stops ended up being at miles 4 and 9 of the 13.
It was a stunning day, cool and clear with eye-popping leaf color everywhere! Despite the hills on this route, I felt great for most of the way. My legs were a little tired at the end, but that is to be expected. For the last 13 miles, we averaged about 12 minute miles, including our bridge uphill walks. I was really happy with finishing the run, though.
My first run of this week will be a 3-4 miler tonight. This weekend is a double-header with 8 planned on Saturday, and 17 on Sunday. The 17 will hopefully be a "scenic monument tour" in DC if the weather holds up. I've mapped out a good course around the Mall, Mt. Vernon Trail, Roosevelt Island, Eastern Market, and a little bit of downtown DC. I am hoping I am up to all of this since I contracted a nasty stomach bug on Tuesday, and am just now back at work and recovered. With proper nutrition and sleep, though, I think I will be just fine!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Training in the Rain...It's What Happens When You've Committed to a Marathon!
Here in Maryland, we had 4 straight days of rain from Thursday through Sunday morning. Of course, all of my training runs for the week were planned during that time. The temps were also in the 40s, so it was a cold rain.
Thursday evening wasn't too bad. I ran about 4 miles around my house. It actually felt pretty good since I was rested and had managed to find my good rain jacket.
Saturday, I was in Baltimore with my boyfriend and had planned on running 7 miles on the NCR trail while he biked on the trail. We woke up Saturday morning to a very steady, cold rain. I wanted to back out, but he wouldn't let me. Good man. :) It was cold and rainy, but once I got going on the trail, I warmed up and it wasn't too bad. Even in the rain, the trail was lovely. It runs along a river, and most of the trees had begun to change colors. One of the high school cross country teams was on the trail, too. I felt sorry for them...I was at least there somewhat voluntarily! It actually was a pretty easy 7 miles out and back. We'll be back on that trail sometime near the end of December.
Sunday, it wasn't really raining anymore, which was nice. I had asked my training partner if we could wait until 2 PM to run so I could get back from Baltimore and recover from a 6 course meal with wine pairings the night before. Even though we waited 'til 2 I still felt ridiculously heavy from the meal. We also chose a hilly route for our 10 miles, so it was a hard run. We walked more than normal, but we finished. Her legs were tired from a hilly run the day before, so at least we were sort of in the same boat.
My last 2 weekends of long runs have taught me that I need to eat better the night before a long run, and get a fair amount of rest!
This week, I have 4 miles on Tuesday and Thursday, Saturday off (my parents are in town), and then 16 miles on Sunday. Sunday will be made up of a 5K Halloween race followed by 13 miles around Annapolis and the B&A trail.
Thursday evening wasn't too bad. I ran about 4 miles around my house. It actually felt pretty good since I was rested and had managed to find my good rain jacket.
Saturday, I was in Baltimore with my boyfriend and had planned on running 7 miles on the NCR trail while he biked on the trail. We woke up Saturday morning to a very steady, cold rain. I wanted to back out, but he wouldn't let me. Good man. :) It was cold and rainy, but once I got going on the trail, I warmed up and it wasn't too bad. Even in the rain, the trail was lovely. It runs along a river, and most of the trees had begun to change colors. One of the high school cross country teams was on the trail, too. I felt sorry for them...I was at least there somewhat voluntarily! It actually was a pretty easy 7 miles out and back. We'll be back on that trail sometime near the end of December.
Sunday, it wasn't really raining anymore, which was nice. I had asked my training partner if we could wait until 2 PM to run so I could get back from Baltimore and recover from a 6 course meal with wine pairings the night before. Even though we waited 'til 2 I still felt ridiculously heavy from the meal. We also chose a hilly route for our 10 miles, so it was a hard run. We walked more than normal, but we finished. Her legs were tired from a hilly run the day before, so at least we were sort of in the same boat.
My last 2 weekends of long runs have taught me that I need to eat better the night before a long run, and get a fair amount of rest!
This week, I have 4 miles on Tuesday and Thursday, Saturday off (my parents are in town), and then 16 miles on Sunday. Sunday will be made up of a 5K Halloween race followed by 13 miles around Annapolis and the B&A trail.
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