Hard is what makes it great: Ultramarathon training & snowstorms

Training for an ultramarathon is not fun. When most of your training months are in winter, it is down right nasty. It’s March 17. I wake up to 15C and a ton of snow on the ground. Who’s ready to boycott winter with me?

I’m breaking out the big winter running guns – balaclava and long johns – for my LSD. I sit here trying to snap out of it and get moving. I know once I get outside I will be fine. It’s just that I am so DONE with winter.

I’ll be running with the RR marathon training group again. At this point, I don’t think I would run for two hours alone – or I would and it would be very short. Bring on the sunshine. Enough with this snow and cold temperatures. Haven’t we suffered enough?

Okay I am probably going a little overboard. Truth be told? I lost some of my tough girl running cred this winter. I’m just not into running through snow storms and on icy trails anymore. Over it. Done.

More after the RUN
******


Post-Run

I sucked it up. There were four of this – Mark, Karen and Andy. The plan was 21k-22k no matter how long it took. As this is my LSD, I took up the rear. I felt great. But I knew the feeling wouldn’t last long because I made a huge rookie mistake. I put my hydration pack over my jacket. Because it was -25C with windchill, my water froze within 10 minutes. I wasn’t happy. Eventually my legs would feel the brunt of my stupid move.

Karen gave me a few swings of her water but I didn’t want to take too much because it was my stupid error. Why should she suffer? Sure enough within an hour and half my legs were feeling heavy. I was thirsty. The hills were not my friends. Big fail.

I dug deep and kept on trucking. The hills really tested my resolve. But I did it. I managed without twisting an ankle or collapsing due to to thirst. I did it.

Amber said there are “no sissies” in ultra running. She’s right (as always!). I need to channel my inner warrior and get it done!

Happy Sunday. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge