I've never ran a training run in weather like it was this morning
where it changed so fast. I ran a total of 9.1 miles in an overall
6:58 pace in 1:03, but it was far from fun. First, the wind was
blowing at 30mph with gusts up to 50, and I decided to run right in it
so I could get the tailwind on the way back. The first 4 miles
in the wind were pretty tough but manageable. Then when I was about to
turn around hail started coming down to the point were it hurt because
of the wind drifting the hail/snow in your face, and making it hard to
see. Then it came down harder and it didn't matter what direction
you ran it hit you directly in the face. I was just trying to survive
to make it back home for the last 5 miles. There were times I had to
put my head down and just run because the snow was blowing so hard in
your face that you just couldn't see. It made my face so
cold. I couldn't cover the ski mask over my mouth because the wind
would press against it and I couldn't breath. The wind caused the
underarmour ski mask to suck in my mouth as if I was having it for
lunch. What worked best was putting my head down or turning my head to
the side. The snow was at a blizzard status the last 2 miles of the
run, and the wind was still blowing around 30mph if not harder. I
managed to make it home and I was glad. The snow is still coming down
hard now. This storm was suppose to come around 12pm so I thought I
was going to miss it with the morning run. Lunch:
I hurried and shoveled our sidewalk and driveway so our daycare parents would have a clean surface to transport their kids when their picked up. Then I hurried and ran 5.1 miles on the home treadmill. I ran between a 6:30 and 6:00 pace with a.4 5:40 pickup at the end. I felt tired at first, but got in a groove. The run this morning really made me work, and my face still feels sore from the hail hammering it. At least inside I didn't have to fight a blizzard or hail beating my face only the boredom of running on a treadmill. But I know we complain about treadmills, but they really do come in handy when weather or schedules don't permit you to run outside. I also think that running on a treadmill does burn more calories so there are some good things about treadmills.
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