Thursday, December 11, 2008

Warning: Igloo Ahead

The weather forecast does not look too promising for a long run this weekend. Apparently the only way to describe the weather on Sunday is to depict it with an igloo. That definitely says cold! Also says cold is that the temperature will feel like -39°C (-38°F). Even though my run will be a relatively short two hour run that is about two hours too long to run outside or on the treadmill. Saturday really isn't much of an improvement, so what to do? Friday looks like the most run-worthy day, but given that I have lunch plans with a friend (for Indian food no less) and a massage in the evening it is going to take a little bit of juggling to work. But I have a plan...
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Also important was how to fit in all of runs this week if my long run was now going to be on Friday. Wednesday called for a 45 minute run with strides and Thursday a tempo run/hill repeat combo. Since coach is out of town I e-mailed Richelle to ask for her opinion on what to do. She suggested to do the tempo/hill combo on Wednesday, long run on Friday and strides on Sunday on the treadmill. Sounds like a good arrangement to me! I took off over lunch and it was a gorgeous 4°C (39°F) out. That's good enough for capris if you ask me! I took off on my 15 minute warm up at a nice and leisurely pace. As I climbed the walkway up to the Centre Street bridge it felt like I got a sharp kick in my abdomen. Yowza... I continued along, but wow it hurt. Even though the weather was nice out there was still a pretty significant amount of snow on the pathway up the hill that I picked for my hill repeats. Luckily there was a bunch of gravel thrown down so footing wasn't too bad. As I started in on my hill repeats I knew my legs were tired. I got through my three 1:15 hill repeats, then it was time to take off on a 15:00 tempo run. Initially I was feeling good but a few minutes in the pain in my abdomen was back in full force, this time kind of around my belly button. I had to stop a couple of times and when I started back up again I was having a tough time holding the pace. I probably could have called it a day but I'm stubborn and wanted to finish this out. On my way back to the hill I came to some sort of agreement with this pain and while it hadn't gone away I was able to tune it out somewhat. Once I started my second set of hill repeats it faded away. I finished up the second set of three repeats and headed back on a 15 minute cool down...which miraculously felt amazing.
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My 2000m at the pool last night felt amazing and it was a great way to zone out after a late night at work. For about 15 minutes it was just me and the lifeguards it was so quiet in there...

11 comments:

Brooke said...

I might need an igloo myself if this keeps up!

holly said...

We are going to freeze this weekend, to say the least! I can't wait for the balaclava/ski goggles combo I am going to have to wear.

Marlene said...

Oh man, I had to laugh at the forecast with a little igloo. I don't envy you with those temps already. Brrr!

Good job finding a way to squeeze everything in!

RunToTheFinish said...

-39 OOOOOHHHH I could never ever live there, I would be barracaded in the house

Mel-2nd Chances said...

yikes, there's actually an igloo on the weather report!!! LOL Good luck!

Jen said...

Girl, I know you cannot wait to get to Orlando!!! It was sunny, 82 degrees yesterday here in Tampa! I don't know how you do it!

Alexandra said...

Have you ever run on the track at the Talisman Center? It's an option when the weather is terrible and you can't handle the treadmill. The drop in fee is $12.50 and opens at 7:00 am. The webiste posts the times that the track is open to the public each day. I once did a three hour run there on a Saturday morning when we were in the midst of a torrential down pour! The track is pretty big, a whole lot bigger then at the Y but not quite as big as at the Oval. Good luck with your run!

Rainmaker said...

OMG. At least you're not a male. I'd be very concerned about certain items falling off at that temperature.

Wes said...

Being flexible is the KEY to success :-) Long runs on the treadmill are GREAT mental training though.

Lauren said...

Holy cow! A high of -4 is a good day?! Good luck!

Laurel said...

If I had to deal with that weather, I would never leave my house. You are my hero for training in that garbage.