Breakin' the Rules

Remember last weekend when I mentioned going back to base building and avoiding speedy or hilly stuff? Hehehehe.

After a few nights of insomnia this past week, I overslept this morning. Barely enough time to get up, shower, and get to an early matinee Gopher women's hoops game (which we lost by 2 points to one of the worst teams in the Big Ten). Did a few errands and didn't get home until late afternoon, but it was such a beautiful warm (30 degree F) sunny day that I had to get out and do a quick 2 mile spin around Bredesen park.

Got dressed in cotton sweat pants, a cotton T-shirt with a cotton sweat shirt over the top. All cotton. You know - proper winter running attire. Rule #1 officially broken.

On to rule #2. I decided that since I only had time for 1 loop, I'd pick up the intensity. Starting out I decided on a speedy tempo pace. Once I got going, I decided to air things out a little. Ended up keeping my 1600 meter pace for 2 miles. Max heart rate on today's run = 191, with avg = 176 (my running max is 197 last time I tested it a few years ago). So much for sticking with base building and avoiding speed for awhile. It was the fastest I've run since last summer (although slower pace than I remember at that particular heart rate).

Felt good.

Hope to get a longer run in tomorrow. Have yourself a great weekend!

Tough Week

Had a tough week this week - more of a mental funk than anything. Reading everyone else's blogs, it seems that I'm not alone! I think I'm just sick of the treadmill, sick of sub-zero weather, sick of it being dark when I leave for work and dark again by the time I get home. I guess I'm sick of winter!

Last Sat: Three trips around Lake Calhoun for 9.65 miles. There was some kind of kite skiing event going on, where folks would hang onto the cord from a huge kite and ski across the lake - kind of like the ice version of wind surfing. Cool.

Sun: off

Mon: busy work day, nada. Coulda shoulda run outside in 40+ degree temps, but didn't. Shame.

Tues: was supposed to do a 7 mile tempo run - ended up doing 3 because I just. didn't. feel. like doing more. Shame.

Weds: busy work day, planned day off.

Thurs: strength training, but not much else. Coulda shoulda added some hill repeats, but didn't. Shame.

Fri: nada. Shame.

Sat: 10+ miles at Bredesen park. Saw lots of cardinals and a few woodpeckers! Now I've really got spring fever!

I've noticed another interesting trend the last couple of months running outside in cold weather: my heart rate actually goes down after about 5-6 miles or so, even at the same pace. Typically my heart rate goes up by that time, usually from getting overheated and/or dehydrated. I thought that maybe it had something to do with getting acclimated to slippery conditions: everything is tense at first, then becomes more relaxed after getting used to running on snow. Today the path was clear, so that theory didn't pan out. Things that make you go, "Hmmmmmmmmm."

Less than 3 months 'til Trail Mix!