Okay my 4th attempt to post today!!

Marie so glad your run went well...love it when that happens!

JoAnn and Mimi I'm so jealous you two get to run together after all this time being virtual cheerleaders! Hope your run is awesome for you both can't wait to hear about it!

My thoughts are with all of you being hit by this storm...stay safe and hopefully warm!

We are flying out tonight so hopefully since we are heading south all will be well...I'm very excited to check out my new running routes! Hope I like it!!

Happy running all! Adios!

Good luck, Susan! I hope you have a wonderful adventure.

No snow in south Texas, yet, but the temperatures dropped down into the teens, with wind chill in the single digits. What?! I did a six mile run on Monday before the front came and was a sweaty mess at the end. This morning the thermometer said 18 and the winds were gusting out of the north. I figured I could find enough layers to protect my head and body during the run, but I worried about the skin on my face. I decided to compromise (with the little voices in my head even when I'm not running ;-)). I bundled up, walked the mile to the gym, then did four one mile intervals on the treadmill, bundled back up, and walked the mile home. Viola! Six miles.

This whole running thing is getting so much better. I'm not getting any faster right now, but I've found that wonderful pace where the movement is done with seemingly little effort. My breathing is a bit heavy, but not labored. My feet fall rhythmically without slamming the ground. My legs tire, but they don't scream at me to stop.

I hope to get in an easy run outside tomorrow if I can figure out how to cover my face without drowning in a scarf, and a long run some time this weekend. I'm headed to the Super Bowl (Go Pack Go) on Sunday, so I'd better work in a run on Saturday afternoon before all of the pre game festivities begin! Long runs are no fun the morning after heavy meals and adult beverages.

Well on the positive side we continue to move forward towards spring. In Massachusetts we are already almost to the top ten in snowyist winters on record for the state. I have a 5k race coming up in less than three weeks and I have only ventured out to run twice in the last month.

I have watched the weather channel broadcasting about the extreme cold/freezing/snow conditions are in areas of the midwest, northeastern, etc.

After living in North Dakota for many years, I can relate to the frigid and bitter cold.  Brrrr!!!

Although it is not even close to the severe cold I have experienced, northern AZ does have its share of intense cold temps/snow conditions; we have had below zero temps throughout the nights after the snowstorm on Monday that enveloped the mountain peaks mostly but the coldness brought down by the wind is keeping many people home; but the schools and downtown businesses are still able to function.

I have run in 15 degree temps a couple of times last week, on the mountain trails, actually ran 10 miles, slow/easy (close to 11min/mile) a week after my marathon.  It felt so wonderful to be out running again, I was going nuts, resting!

But I could feel the fatigue/stress of my leg muscles the next day.  I should have stuck to my plan of running 6 miles; I was just so relieved/invigorated to be out in the woods that I kept running.

So, NOW I know why one should REST at least two weeks AFTER a marathon, or at least not run 10 miles first time out, regardless of how slow and easy it may seem!! I was trying to be the 'exception'!!

GEEZZ, I do learn the hard way!  So lesson learned; mental note for next post marathon run! LOL!

Anyway, I have commited myself to stay in recovery mode by resting three days between training runs which seems to be working for me. I will work my way up to running every other day soon enough.

Since then, I have ran only 6 miles on the trails again on Thursday and cycle for 2 miles, lifted weights.  Felt so much better.

Ran 6 miles again this past Monday on the treadmill (due to snowstorm), lifted weights.

Planning on running tomorrow, on treadmill, about 8 miles with some intervals.  Temp hit a whopping 14 degrees today! 

My next race is Feb. 20th, 1/2 marathon trail race!  I can't wait!

BTW:  I would like to run in the 1/2 marathon in Knoxville, TN, April 3rd.  Anyone familiar with the area/race event?? Never been to TN.  My brother and family live in NC but couldn't find a race in April in NC which I would like to run in.  Anyway, I hope to visit with them.

To everyone dealing with the severe weather; be safe!

I love the quote, PJ.  "He who conquers himself is a mighty warrior" by Confucius.    That's fabulous and SO true!  Good luck with your recovery, your IT and future runs!

Di2079, I think you would enjoy the Knoxville HM http://www.knoxvillemarathon.com/Participant_Info/raceinfo/halfmarathon.htm

I haven't run it, but know several who have. It is a pretty course, but hilly. That shouldn't bother you. It runs through down town Knoxville, the University of TN campus, an old exclusive resdential neighborhood, along the river, back on to some of the greenway trails, and back to end at the UT football stadium, w/ you on the jumbo-tron crossing the finish line. The event is several years old now and has good sponsors, so it should be well organized. The only complaint that I've ever heard was that it is "hilly". But hey, it's east Tennessee....duh. All of the cows here have 2 short legs.

I've thought about doing it, but won't be ready to go the distance and don't want to risk another dibilitating injury. I'll wait an do Disney as my first hm w/ my daughter.

If you decide to do it, let me know and I'll come down and cheer you on!

Loved the Confucious quote. How true.

Art, I've been reading your blog. Nice.

I'm off for my run.... hope I don't freeze.

Marie

Chuck

I'm 64 so my theoretical max HR is 156. Most of my runs I am well into the 160's and I am just breathing deeply not heaving or gasping.  I think the old standard is not necessarily absolute. As a matter of interest i have talked to a few other runners who regularily exceed there "max".  I don't take any drugs, my resting rate is 60 bpm, I am very healthy and I don't worry about my HR. I'll begin to worry when it quits.

I think there is a lot more variability from human to human than any single number for any measure. Blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, hight, weight, show size, body fat.  Just the opinion of a slow runner wanting to get incrementally better.

Good running.

Jack