I would be lying if I told you that my run today was fun or easy. It was a struggle the whole time and I was tempted to take a walking break several times. But, I made it through, at times running at a near crawl, but running nonetheless.
We got our snow last night and a bit today -- luckily not the 12 inches they tried to scare us with, maybe 3 or 4 inches? It's really hard to say because it was 36 degrees when it began snowing and I don't think it's gone below freezing since. So it took forever to stick and it's pretty much been a melty, slushy mess. Which, btw, is the most annoying type of snowy crap to run through. Yak Trax work but you can still slip and slide, and puddles abound. My feet were wet before my warm-up walk was through.
Speaking of Yak Trax, I think mine might make it through the season but I need new ones soon! The rubber broke on both of them in a rather unimportant-seeming place, but when I took one off after my run, it had slid up too far in the front. They have served me well, though, and with the changes in temperature they've been through, I'm surprised the rubber did not get brittle and break before now!
As I told Boulos earlier today, I've smoked three cigarettes since my last run. Now, it wasn't so much that my lungs were achy or anything, but I was really, really phlegmy. This made it hard to breathe and just kind of made the run difficult. Plus I'm a baby who doesn't like running in daylight. PLUS, I was at the very end of my run and really wanted to make it as far as I had last time. But this total dumbass decided to park her car in an alley, completely blocking the sidewalk, in the snow. So I had to stop running and walk carefully around her car because of snow piles. I HATE HER. It was my last minute and I wanted to run full stop! Believe me, I shook my head and gave her a very dirty look. You can't back up your car a little when you see someone running at you? Man, she is really lucky I didn't knock on her window and then slap her.
Um, as you can see, I wasn't in the best mood by the end of my run. But I'm in a better mood now (just still really mad at that dumb... well, insert whichever word you think I would use here. Hint: it rhymes with bunt p.s. there is a street in Chicago called Lunt and myself and other natives discuss how it's our favorite street).
On to week Nine! This one might take more than a week to complete, but I've got time! If I sign up for Cheetah Run 2010 (that's what I'm gonna call it), I have over a month to prepare. Rawr!
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts
Monday, February 22, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Three in a Row! And, Ouch.
Well, technically I have completed week seven, FINALLY!!! I just got back from my third successful 25 minute run. I mean, I had to pause once at an alley to let a car go by, and another time when I dropped my mp3 player (during the last song -- I was taking it out to see how much longer I had!). But such is running on the streets when the park is beneath 12 inches of snow and thus unrunnable.
We're no East Coast/Midatlantic/whatever, but we got 12 inches the other day and it was our biggest storm of the season. My sister suggested I put my feet in Ziploc freezer bags before placing them in my shoes, but I did not and I made out okay. People tend to actually shovel when you get a foot of snow -- it's that three or four inches that they disdainfully sneer at and leave me to fall and die in. So there wasn't too much to run through, except for those slushy messes that gather at crosswalks.
Speaking of the snow, I stayed home yesterday but had to dig out my car in the morning. I woke up today thinking WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO TO MY BACK LAST NIGHT?! Then I realized this terrible, horrible, neverending ache in my upper back and shoulders is due to shoveling. And right now, I am sitting here with achy post-run legs. I kind of feel like a bus ran me over.
The run itself was fine except for that mp3 thing. I wore the ninja mask because it's 22 degrees out, which isn't sooooooo cold, but I was just feeling cold even before I left the house. It looks like I covered just over 2.32 miles, which isn't amazing, but I suppose I have to factor in the snow, and also just deal with the fact that if my pace needs to be a bit slower than I'd like so that I can actually make 25 minutes, so be it.
My plan is to do one more 25 minute run on Sunday, and then begin week 8 next week! I hope I can do it!
We're no East Coast/Midatlantic/whatever, but we got 12 inches the other day and it was our biggest storm of the season. My sister suggested I put my feet in Ziploc freezer bags before placing them in my shoes, but I did not and I made out okay. People tend to actually shovel when you get a foot of snow -- it's that three or four inches that they disdainfully sneer at and leave me to fall and die in. So there wasn't too much to run through, except for those slushy messes that gather at crosswalks.
Speaking of the snow, I stayed home yesterday but had to dig out my car in the morning. I woke up today thinking WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO TO MY BACK LAST NIGHT?! Then I realized this terrible, horrible, neverending ache in my upper back and shoulders is due to shoveling. And right now, I am sitting here with achy post-run legs. I kind of feel like a bus ran me over.
The run itself was fine except for that mp3 thing. I wore the ninja mask because it's 22 degrees out, which isn't sooooooo cold, but I was just feeling cold even before I left the house. It looks like I covered just over 2.32 miles, which isn't amazing, but I suppose I have to factor in the snow, and also just deal with the fact that if my pace needs to be a bit slower than I'd like so that I can actually make 25 minutes, so be it.
My plan is to do one more 25 minute run on Sunday, and then begin week 8 next week! I hope I can do it!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Completing Week Five
Yes, I said completing. I CAN RUN FOR 20 MINUTES STRAIGHT!!! I apologize for the repetitive nature of these celebratory posts, but seriously I think this is the first time in my 29 years of existence that I have run for 20 minutes, including back before I smoked. Honestly this is enough of an accomplishment for me, but I suppose I'll keep going.
It's like 17 degrees here; I wore 2 pairs of socks, the ninja mask (I wore it for about half the run, which is a first. I still think it messes up my breathing, though, so I had it down over my nose and mouth for most of the time), legwarmers, an undershirt, gloves... I've been chilly lately. The thought of running in the cold made me dilly-dally quite a bit before finally getting to the run.
The snow is still around and it's slushy in places but more sidewalks were clear (the park is still a no-go) so running today was a bit easier. One thing that is a problem is my stuffy nose; blowing one's nose while running is kind of a pain in the ass. Also, I'm still running around spitting everywhere. I'm gross.
I had several moments of "dear god, I cannot do this anymore." A couple because I was out of breath, a few about 10 minutes in when my ankles/lower calves were hurting pretty badly, and a few more when my heartbeat seemed to be warning of cardiac arrest. But in the end, the second 10 minutes (she tells you when you're halfway done, thank god) went much more quickly. I thought I would be judging time based the cues for the other days, but I somehow missed notification of the last 5 minute run. I was just thinking, "Oh my god, she hasn't announced that yet, I have at least four more minutes?!?!" when Carli announced that I was done. I was so surprised, I grunted. Not that I usually grunt in surprise, but I didn't have the energy or breath to say "What? Really?!"
Overall it was a good run, on to week 6!
It's like 17 degrees here; I wore 2 pairs of socks, the ninja mask (I wore it for about half the run, which is a first. I still think it messes up my breathing, though, so I had it down over my nose and mouth for most of the time), legwarmers, an undershirt, gloves... I've been chilly lately. The thought of running in the cold made me dilly-dally quite a bit before finally getting to the run.
The snow is still around and it's slushy in places but more sidewalks were clear (the park is still a no-go) so running today was a bit easier. One thing that is a problem is my stuffy nose; blowing one's nose while running is kind of a pain in the ass. Also, I'm still running around spitting everywhere. I'm gross.
I had several moments of "dear god, I cannot do this anymore." A couple because I was out of breath, a few about 10 minutes in when my ankles/lower calves were hurting pretty badly, and a few more when my heartbeat seemed to be warning of cardiac arrest. But in the end, the second 10 minutes (she tells you when you're halfway done, thank god) went much more quickly. I thought I would be judging time based the cues for the other days, but I somehow missed notification of the last 5 minute run. I was just thinking, "Oh my god, she hasn't announced that yet, I have at least four more minutes?!?!" when Carli announced that I was done. I was so surprised, I grunted. Not that I usually grunt in surprise, but I didn't have the energy or breath to say "What? Really?!"
Overall it was a good run, on to week 6!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I Can Run For Eight Minutes!!!!
This is an amazing discovery. I can do it, TWICE. In the snow.
I have no idea who is reading this -- you may or may not know that I live in Chicago. And we had a snowstorm today. I think there's probably like 5 inches or something out there; we're supposed to get 10 total. It's that fine, fluffy snow that is really hard to move in, so running was not an appealing idea (plus it's still in the teens, it's not that 32 degrees and snowing weather). But jumping from 5 minute runs to 8 minute runs meant there was no choice -- I really couldn't take a day off.
By the way, I did the math during one of the walking sections, and this was the first day that the running section was longer than walking. Tuesday, I ran a total of 15 minutes and walked a total of 16. Today, opposite -- ran 16, walked 15. Excellent!
Anyway. I wore two pairs of socks, leg warmers, my Yak Trax and my ninja mask (the mask until about halfway into run 1). The park was blanketed in snow so, yet again, I chose to run on the sidewalks. Some of which were not shoveled; walking and running on that was like running through sand. Thus, my legs are aching a bit again. My form suffers in the snow :( But it's not too bad. Also, both Tuesday and today, when I got home, I smelled weird things. It smelled like a hospital/disinfectant. I mentioned this to my sister (who has run marathons) and she said she used to smell weird things after running. This made me feel like a runner.
So, now... 20 minutes. 20 minutes! But I really thought maybe I couldn't do 8, and I did. And I only kind of felt like vomiting after. And I said "thank you" to the shovelers who stood to the side to let me pass, and this wonderful old man said something like, "make it a good one!" or some similar supportive thing in response, and I'll do 20 minutes just for him! Because I look like a total weirdo running in the snow but I love it, as do kind old men.
I'll report back on Saturday or Sunday!
I have no idea who is reading this -- you may or may not know that I live in Chicago. And we had a snowstorm today. I think there's probably like 5 inches or something out there; we're supposed to get 10 total. It's that fine, fluffy snow that is really hard to move in, so running was not an appealing idea (plus it's still in the teens, it's not that 32 degrees and snowing weather). But jumping from 5 minute runs to 8 minute runs meant there was no choice -- I really couldn't take a day off.
By the way, I did the math during one of the walking sections, and this was the first day that the running section was longer than walking. Tuesday, I ran a total of 15 minutes and walked a total of 16. Today, opposite -- ran 16, walked 15. Excellent!
Anyway. I wore two pairs of socks, leg warmers, my Yak Trax and my ninja mask (the mask until about halfway into run 1). The park was blanketed in snow so, yet again, I chose to run on the sidewalks. Some of which were not shoveled; walking and running on that was like running through sand. Thus, my legs are aching a bit again. My form suffers in the snow :( But it's not too bad. Also, both Tuesday and today, when I got home, I smelled weird things. It smelled like a hospital/disinfectant. I mentioned this to my sister (who has run marathons) and she said she used to smell weird things after running. This made me feel like a runner.
So, now... 20 minutes. 20 minutes! But I really thought maybe I couldn't do 8, and I did. And I only kind of felt like vomiting after. And I said "thank you" to the shovelers who stood to the side to let me pass, and this wonderful old man said something like, "make it a good one!" or some similar supportive thing in response, and I'll do 20 minutes just for him! Because I look like a total weirdo running in the snow but I love it, as do kind old men.
I'll report back on Saturday or Sunday!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Run Fail
Well, today was my first failed run. We've had snow -- not the storm that the East Coast had, but we have a couple inches on the ground. The sidewalks are clear by my house and I figured the park would have some runnable terrain, so I didn't bring my yak trax.
Wrong. I got around once, walking and running way more slowly than I should be traveling, and packed it in. It was simply too icy and dangerous, even in areas covering the grass. I'll admit it: I'm scared of the Yak Trax. My first fear is that I will be overconfident in them and they won't work and I'll fall. My second is that they will come flying off while I run. But I'm gonna have to use them, and now, due to my Christmastime schedule, I'm just gonna have to do 2 runs in a row. Last day of Week 2 tomorrow, first day of week 3 on Tuesday. Wish me luck!
Wrong. I got around once, walking and running way more slowly than I should be traveling, and packed it in. It was simply too icy and dangerous, even in areas covering the grass. I'll admit it: I'm scared of the Yak Trax. My first fear is that I will be overconfident in them and they won't work and I'll fall. My second is that they will come flying off while I run. But I'm gonna have to use them, and now, due to my Christmastime schedule, I'm just gonna have to do 2 runs in a row. Last day of Week 2 tomorrow, first day of week 3 on Tuesday. Wish me luck!
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