My friend Karen used to always say she enjoyed the training more than the race itself. Depending on the distance, the race itself is over in a matter of hours. Then you’re like …. now what?? All the magic happens leading up to your race …. while you are out on group runs with friends, huffing and puffing on those gruelling climbs, or on those solo, long runs. Lasting memories are created over several months
I was thinking about this while I ran with Claire and Laura on Saturday and again on Sunday when I ran with the Running Room crew. Training can be even more fun when you run with others. I usually run along because I like it, and the schedules with the runners I know usually do not match up with mine.
In the winter, I don’t discriminate. I will join anyone who wants to brave the sub very zero conditions. Simply put I will do anything to make winter running less miserable. (Hence I bought a treadmill last year.)
This week I am house/dog sitting so I won’t actually be able to run on the treadmill as much. That means I will have to suck it up and run outside. I tentatively made plans to run hills on Wednesday night with the RR group. I love running up and down hills. I just hope it is warms up a little bit.
Today it was bloody cold. How could I forget how cold it can get. I was covered head to toe – balaclava and all. I was pretty good top up. But my mistake was not doubling up on the lower half. My legs were so red when I peeled off my “winter” running tights. I think had I been out for another 10 minutes, my legs would have gotten frost bite. I won’t make that mistake again. Double layers on the bottom half tomorrow. I may take Ghost with me if it’s not too cold.
Streaking continues
Only a week to go before this running streak ends. The weather will dictate whether I will continue streaking. Surprisingly I actually enjoy the consistency of running every day. There’s only been a few days when I only ran the bare minimum. My efforts haven’t been that hard so I’m not having any issues with my right leg or my hip. I’ve also been very consistent with my strengthening exercises.
R.I.P Forerunner 910XT
My Garmin has been giving me grief for weeks now – not recording kilometres, not uploading to Garmin Connect and just being a total failure. On Saturday, the strap broke and now I am forced to carry the watch in my pocket while I run. I’ve had the Garmin for about four and a half years. She’s had a good run. After consulting the runners on my social media feed, I decided on a new Garmin. (Who has time to research?) Thanks to a big discount from Goodlife, I bought the new Garmin Forerunner 935. I ordered it directly from the Garmin website and it should be here in about two weeks.
In summary ….. to make running less miserable in the winter:
1. Run with people. 2. Join a running streak. 3. Buy a new Garmin running watch or something that will motivate your butt off the couch.
You got this. Winter is only another potentially four months.
Four more months? 🙂 We should get an update from the groundhog on that shortly! I’ve taken it inside for the longer runs, I’m so slow on the snow/ice it feels like I’m not getting anywhere. Keep it rolling!
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