Psalm 91:1 NKJV He who dwells in the secret place

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.

Temperature today was 16 with 22mph wind like yesterday, but no snow (good news!). I ran mostly on packed snow which of course makes it harder to push off. I did a couple faster miles where there were stretches where the snow wasn't as bad (6:03, 6:26). The last mile I was a little fatigued not sure why, maybe running the uphill in packed snow, or for that matter running most of the run my feet trotted in the packed snow. Totals 10.7 miles at an overall 6:58 pace in 1:14.

This is probably it for me today. I have a busy schedule during lunch. My wife and I will go to the gym tonight and so some strength training.

Lunch

Was able to sneak in 2 miles on the Home treadmill at lunch

Evening:

Lift weights at the gym tonight. Three cycles of quads, hamstrings, calves, and abs.

I'm sure I'll be sore for my run tomorrow, oh well I just like to stay fit and that's more important than running performances to me. 

I ran outside this morning in terrible conditions with the wind blowing and snowing again like Monday, but not snowing as hard. The temperature was 15, but with the wind chill it made it 7 degrees. I ran 11 miles at an overall 6:46 pace in 1:15. I really couldn't pick up any fast miles in this run because of the surface conditions. I could have ran on the home treadmill or gym, but I figured running on packed snow can only strengthen your legs, unless you slip and fall.

The wind played a good part in making sure I was focused, because I ran on a busy road where the visibility caused by the snow , "I'm sure", made it hard for cars to see me. I did the last mile in 6:20 in the wind.

I had to hurry to work because I was in a training class all day till 4pm for our Luminis Portal System.

Lunch:

I hurried home from our training session and was able to get 4.5 miles in on the home treadmill. I ran the first mile 6:15 and the rest in 6:07 to barely under a 6 minute pace.

This morning I woke up weak and tired. I didn't sleep very good last night, because of the stomach pain I had all night. I think it was due to the deep fried mushrooms I had for dinner. I probably got about two hours sleep. I think the mushrooms absorbed too much oil in the breaded deep fried pancake batter causing the stomach pains.

Before I left for the run this morning I digested a big tablespoon of honey, and a drink of Vault Zero to boost my energy level from the lack of sleep. I know most of you are going to shake your heads about the caffeine intake, but it really did help.

I took it slow the first mile at a 7:42 pace to wake up the body and legs. The temperature was 16 degrees with the wind blowing at 20mph with wind gusts up to 30mph. I ran the first 5 miles into the wind (I'm so tired of the wind every morning) and averaged around a 7 minute pace. Then circled around and ran the last 5 miles in a tailwind in stretches and that felt better. My legs were not motivated for any speed at all. My body kind of feels run down a little for some reason. Anyway, overall I ran 10.2 miles at an overall 6:53 pace in 1:10. I did do two consecutive miles at a 6:23, and 6:28 pace to get some effort in the run.

Lunch::

Ran 6.33 miles on the home treadmill.  Did the first mile in 6:49, and the rest around 6:30 to 6:05 pace.  I wasn't in the mood to run faster, because I felt weak all day because of the lack of sleep.  I watched ESPN which was discussing everything you need to know about the players leading up to the Superbowl. 

This morning it was 18 degrees with wind blowing between 25 to 30 mph from Southwest, but really stronger from the West. I ran 13.2 miles at an overall 6:56 pace in 1:32. This run did feel really tough considering over half was uphill and the wind was blowing. I did my standard Satterfield course, but added extra uphill miles to it. I ran one mile that was under a 6:30 pace and some just above that. The wind would push against me at times and just straighten me right up, it was downright nasty. I'm really getting tired of running in the wind, maybe I should stick to the treadmill in the mornings "NOT".

I was fatigued by the last mile and was glad to be done. Very poor traction through the run nothing to where I could have done consistent MP miles. I felt weak waking up this morning and didn't feel in the best shape to run this morning. This is two days in a row where I've felt really weak in the mornings. I think next we I will do a step back week in mileage maybe 50-60 to see if that helps. Maybe it's might be contributed to my diet? I feel I'm getting enough carbs, but who knows.

I will probably do a Treadmill run on my Lunch hour at home, and maybe stick around a 7:30 pace to get more aerobic miles.

Lunch:

Ran 4.6 miles on the Home treadmill felt fatigued the first mile but warmed up and seem to finish the run well.  I did the last .62 at 5:45 to 5:30 pace.  I watched some lifetime movie where the guy met a girl and they lived happily ever after. Mushy Mushy stuff.

That (6:45, 6:35, 6:19, 6:20 "here's where the fall occurred", 6:24).   Then I decided to pick it up even more  

6: 09 - Felt good, but the snow was starting to come down harder.                      

This morning there was a light snowfall, but the wind was calm so that was excellent.  My plan for today was to get a few faster miles in since I'm feeling like I need to increase my fitness in that area.  I feel like I've done  a lot of aerobic training, but probably the pace could still be slower for that which I need to improve on.  I was very surprised to see that the roads were not too slick, even though I fell on one of the back roads that I've never ran on before.  

                         ut I thought my fitness should feel better for this speed.6:20 -  I ran into a slick stretch so I had to slow the horses down a bit to not fall.  No way of picking the speed up.

5:56 - Felt pretty good b

6:00 - Picked it up in spots where it wasn't slick, but I was cautious.  Did find some good sections that I had traction to move faster.

6:28 - Slick couldn't really go any faster.  There was an uphill on this section.

Then I did some slower miles, and the snow was really coming down at

this point.  What was nice was there was no wind at all for the first time all week.

cool-down miles: 6:39, 6:41, 6:43

 First 10.5 miles I did at an overall pace of 6:23

Total miles: 14.1 at an overall 6:28 pace in 1:31.

(Ohana Racers 223)

Good solid week even though I've felt fatigue quick a bit this week.