Last nights run was truely magical. Got home from work about 6:30 shortly after a brief snow storm had left about two inches of snow on the ground. Went for a 45 run around trails and tracks (with head torch), temperature about -3 and absolutely no sound apart from my feet crunching on fresh snow. Fabulous.
Today: Cross train - cycle and rower Why: Cannot run two consecutive days at the moment. Last hard day: Maintenance training only at present. Last rest day: 30 December
Good morning everyone Today - 30 mins constant run inc hill Why - schedule says so Last hard day - Saturday Last long run - Sunday Last rest day - yesterday
Morning all... AM What: 6 mile recovery run (in sub 44:00) Why: Recovery from the weekends excess of races. Also to loosen the legs for the first club session of the year (tomoz) Last Hard: Sunday Last Rest: Monday
PM What: Full Body Strength Sesh, Gym Why: I enjoy me weights, plus it helps make me a 'complete' athlete. Plus I like posing... Rest as above
G'day well done to those who've already been out and enjoyed the sub-zero conditions. KK pose as you wish but please don't inflict a piccy of it on us!
What: club night - probably hill reps brrrrrr why: continuing test of knee, and a lot of aching muscles have got lazy. last hard day : race sunday last rest : sat
Morning guys and gals... What : Nothing Why : Wife up in town for a full days pampering at the Sanctuary with the girlies followed by dinner at the Ivy , very la-di-da.... Still with that and the weekend break in Rome she got for crimbo, I am in huge brownie point credit. So this weeks schedule is a day out of kilter (reps tom,midweek long run Thur,fartlek friday,easy day Sat and back to normal long run on Sunday).
Love this cold weather, didn't stop me sweating like a pig lastnight tho'
thank heavens for the treadmill - no way was I going to do a speed session on the track this morning. call me a wimp if you like but if I want to skate I'll go to an ice rink.
what: 2M warm-up/1 w/down; Variable Pace Continuous 10K, alternating 400m @ 5K pace and 400m @ target marathon pace, you know the drill; came in under 37:20, not too great, not too feeble. why: first proper speed session of the year last rest: last Monday last hard day: Sunday
Another lovely day, should be out on the hills on a day like today. Martin, your run sounds fantastic, wish we'd get some snow and had proper forests to run in. Dustin - you've got the idea! Is this to soften the blow of all those long runs taking up your weekends? Achilles, well done, esp on a treadmill. Glad to see Horvillers back to stake out their place on the forum. WW, want a lift to Helsby?
What: rest Why: need one, have done 3 hard sessions in last 5 days (I know I know, Korsa King does this before breakfast) and feeling it. And got to get long run in tomorrow or Thurs, x country race Sat. Last hard: ice skating at the club last night. Glad I got all those new thermals from Santa. Last rest: Fri
Am I the only one who LOATHES and DESPISES this sort of weather?? <rant> I hate the cold air gunging up my upper respiratory tract; eyes watering in the cold, having to put on extra clothing and feeling that my movement is restricted; having to keep a close eye on the ground as I'm running in case there's some unseen slippery surface ahead. If there's no wind, the risk of frost/ice underfoot increases. If there is, the windchill makes it feel even worse. There can be some visual compensation if visibility is especially clear - but that doesn't count for much after dark - which is when I have to train in midweek. </rant>
what: quality session with Wirral AC runners (the top women plus various others) why: it's Tuesday last hard day: Fri last rest day: Mon last long day: Sun
In view of Helsby being just 12 days away, will reserve the right to cut the session short if it's really heavy. We shall see.
Morning all! well, it's beautiful here, still no proper snow below 500m, but lots of frost, blue sky, and the sun making the tops of the mountains pink. The fjord is that lovely steely blue tht water becomes when it's really cold.
But I'm still poorly, as is Mr LizzyB. I would LOVE to be going out for a couple of hours in this weather. But I can't. But feeling a bit better today.
What: gentle half an hour Why: Panicking about fitness levels dropping off - haven't done any proper running since 28th December (the fateful day I ate oysters and curry)! Last hard: Oh god, yesterday. Did my '16 minutes' route - it took me 25 minutes and I had to stop halfway round to sit down. Don't think I should have been running....doh!
Good luck to everyone battling with the cold - honestly, a scarf or Buff over your face makes it more than bearable. And two pairs of tights are just as good as one thermal pair.
MM - could you have a look at my query on the gear thread, knowing that you're a cyclist.
MikeS - given your hatred of this weather BUT your committment to running do you think its worth investing in a treadmill? I have one and swear by it for really nasty weather. Not cheap (for one that's up to your speed) but think of the saving on cold remedy/arctic kit/elastoplast etc etc.
Still not over my cold/flu yet, so I'm not going to venture out in the cold tonight. Temp got down to -8 last night, and the forecast is for colder tonight, so I'm staying in where it's warm.
Might go for a swim/sauna/jacuzzi tomorrow, and aim to be running again by the weekend.
Last rest: Every day since Xmas day. Last hard: Climbing the stairs this morning!
What: 8 x 800 off 1 lap jog recovery Why: speed session (although based on the times it took me for the reps "speed" is maybe not the appropriate word! Last hard day: Sunday Last rest: Saturday.
Achilles, good time for your 10k. I did the same session last week on the treadmill in 38:21, using a 1% incline. Don't know about you but I find doing it on the treadmill harder than on the track.
Apropros nothing at all. I tried a cheap and nasty treadmill at a hotel recently. It was OK at a very slow walking pace, but on speeding up I found that once per revolution of the belt it came to a complete halt for a split second, then jerked forward again. Whoever said treadmills were boring?
not being made of steel like Laura of the Lakes, I'm with Mike on this freezing weather business - a bit of cold I don't mind, but treacherous roads and pavements (we're talking London here) are simply no fun at all and definitely not good for the health.
falling over might be a lot of laughs out on the country trails, but it's not recommended on concrete and tarmac.
deep snow I don't know about, since we never really get it down here in Softieland, though I'd have to say Martin's run this morning sounds like a fantastic experience.
if you're going for the treadmill option though it has to be a really good one - I only use the ones at the gym which are rock solid and can take you to 4 minute miling if you so choose without any problems (it's quite fun BTW but distinctly hairy and feels much much faster than the same pace outdoors!). I might be wrong but I think a lot of the ones in most people's price range are simply not sturdy or fast enough for serious use - i.e. running rather than leisurely fat-burning. a decent treadmill is going to set you back several years of gym membership to buy for yourself, so it's probably not a great investment unless you don't have an option.
Drew is right of course that you need to use an incline of 1-2% to begin to approximate the equivalent effort outdoors and there is quite a lot of research that suggests too much treadmill running is bad for your running form - but on days like today I'll settle for that.
good luck everybody running tonight and stay safe. you have my admiration. :-)
Yup, slippery pavements here in London ... but running on the sunny side of the road kept me on my pins & warmer !
What : 7 miles in 51 min ... felt faster but the map brought me back to earth ! Perhaps after lots of longer slow runs it is tricky to get the legs moving again, HRM also suggested I was'nt going at 90 mph Why : Maintain the 40 miles/wk Last hard : Sunday Last rest : yesterday
Welcome back Marmite Master! Hope your club session isn't too painful, though there has to be some price to pay for swanning off to Italy for Christmas while the rest of us were trudging along sodden lanes.
Achilles - shoes with good grip are much cheaper than state-of-the-art treadmill. But then we're hard up north - and tight too.
What: just 1.25 miles at lunchtime with the kids at school. Why: I'm resting my back (XC on Sunday was probably not the best way to recover), but I wasn't going to let the kids down. We did a short, easy run as it was so cold (but great conditions). Had to disappoint one kid who wanted to run in shorts and tshirt. They've got to cover up a bit in effective sub-zero conditions (but they're hard here).
Itching to get out properly again, and I'd really like a bit of proper snow.
Comments
What : Average 4 mile
Why : Still recovering after virtually no training over crimbo
Last rest : 6th Jan
Today: Cross train - cycle and rower
Why: Cannot run two consecutive days at the moment.
Last hard day: Maintenance training only at present.
Last rest day: 30 December
Today - 30 mins constant run inc hill
Why - schedule says so
Last hard day - Saturday
Last long run - Sunday
Last rest day - yesterday
AM
What: 6 mile recovery run (in sub 44:00)
Why: Recovery from the weekends excess of races. Also to loosen the legs for the first club session of the year (tomoz)
Last Hard: Sunday
Last Rest: Monday
PM
What: Full Body Strength Sesh, Gym
Why: I enjoy me weights, plus it helps make me a 'complete' athlete. Plus I like posing...
Rest as above
well done to those who've already been out and enjoyed the sub-zero conditions. KK pose as you wish but please don't inflict a piccy of it on us!
What: club night - probably hill reps brrrrrr
why: continuing test of knee, and a lot of aching muscles have got lazy.
last hard day : race sunday
last rest : sat
What: Club night.
Why: To keep warm? There's a prize for any more plausible answers.
Hard: Saturday long run.
Rest: Sunday.
Keep going!
What: 3.5 miles
Why: Its Hals fault again
Hard: Sunday (just a walk but my legs still feel it)
Rest: Yesterday - just a bit of stretching
What : Nothing
Why : Wife up in town for a full days pampering at the Sanctuary with the girlies followed by dinner at the Ivy , very la-di-da....
Still with that and the weekend break in Rome she got for crimbo, I am in huge brownie point credit.
So this weeks schedule is a day out of kilter (reps tom,midweek long run Thur,fartlek friday,easy day Sat and back to normal long run on Sunday).
Love this cold weather, didn't stop me sweating like a pig lastnight tho'
Why: to see if I can do it in a reasonable time, Helsby Half on 19/01.
why- need to get arse in gear
last full rest- New years day
Last hard - Sunday
Last easy - yesterday
Next rest - Friday
thank heavens for the treadmill - no way was I going to do a speed session on the track this morning. call me a wimp if you like but if I want to skate I'll go to an ice rink.
what: 2M warm-up/1 w/down; Variable Pace Continuous 10K, alternating 400m @ 5K pace and 400m @ target marathon pace, you know the drill; came in under 37:20, not too great, not too feeble.
why: first proper speed session of the year
last rest: last Monday
last hard day: Sunday
good luck today everybody and mind how you go.
Another lovely day, should be out on the hills on a day like today. Martin, your run sounds fantastic, wish we'd get some snow and had proper forests to run in.
Dustin - you've got the idea! Is this to soften the blow of all those long runs taking up your weekends?
Achilles, well done, esp on a treadmill. Glad to see Horvillers back to stake out their place on the forum.
WW, want a lift to Helsby?
What: rest
Why: need one, have done 3 hard sessions in last 5 days (I know I know, Korsa King does this before breakfast) and feeling it. And got to get long run in tomorrow or Thurs, x country race Sat.
Last hard: ice skating at the club last night. Glad I got all those new thermals from Santa.
Last rest: Fri
What: Club night 10M fartlek
Why: It's the Tuesday thing to do.
Last Hard run: Saturday
Last rest day: yesterday.
Really concerned about my fitness level, but tonights session will certainly reveal all. I'll report the gory details later ;-)
<rant>
I hate the cold air gunging up my upper respiratory tract; eyes watering in the cold, having to put on extra clothing and feeling that my movement is restricted; having to keep a close eye on the ground as I'm running in case there's some unseen slippery surface ahead.
If there's no wind, the risk of frost/ice underfoot increases. If there is, the windchill makes it feel even worse.
There can be some visual compensation if visibility is especially clear - but that doesn't count for much after dark - which is when I have to train in midweek.
</rant>
what: quality session with Wirral AC runners (the top women plus various others)
why: it's Tuesday
last hard day: Fri
last rest day: Mon
last long day: Sun
In view of Helsby being just 12 days away, will reserve the right to cut the session short if it's really heavy. We shall see.
Not exactly ideal conditions for it.
But I'm still poorly, as is Mr LizzyB. I would LOVE to be going out for a couple of hours in this weather. But I can't. But feeling a bit better today.
What: gentle half an hour
Why: Panicking about fitness levels dropping off - haven't done any proper running since 28th December (the fateful day I ate oysters and curry)!
Last hard: Oh god, yesterday. Did my '16 minutes' route - it took me 25 minutes and I had to stop halfway round to sit down. Don't think I should have been running....doh!
Good luck to everyone battling with the cold - honestly, a scarf or Buff over your face makes it more than bearable. And two pairs of tights are just as good as one thermal pair.
What: my 1st speed session on treadmill
Why: Schedule say's so
Last hard: yesterday 8 miles
Last rest: Sat
Happy running everyone!
MikeS - given your hatred of this weather BUT your committment to running do you think its worth investing in a treadmill? I have one and swear by it for really nasty weather. Not cheap (for one that's up to your speed) but think of the saving on cold remedy/arctic kit/elastoplast etc etc.
Might go for a swim/sauna/jacuzzi tomorrow, and aim to be running again by the weekend.
Last rest: Every day since Xmas day.
Last hard: Climbing the stairs this morning!
Why: speed session (although based on the times it took me for the reps "speed" is maybe not the appropriate word!
Last hard day: Sunday
Last rest: Saturday.
Achilles, good time for your 10k. I did the same session last week on the treadmill in 38:21, using a 1% incline. Don't know about you but I find doing it on the treadmill harder than on the track.
what: interval session, 1 mile warm up the 6x 3.30 mins at 7min/mile + 2 min recoveries then 1 mile cool down
why: it is good for you
last hard: Sunday
last rest: Monday
What: club time trial tonight, going to be mighty cold along the sea front.
Why: club night plus speed session
Last hard: Sat
Last rest: yesterday
falling over might be a lot of laughs out on the country trails, but it's not recommended on concrete and tarmac.
deep snow I don't know about, since we never really get it down here in Softieland, though I'd have to say Martin's run this morning sounds like a fantastic experience.
if you're going for the treadmill option though it has to be a really good one - I only use the ones at the gym which are rock solid and can take you to 4 minute miling if you so choose without any problems (it's quite fun BTW but distinctly hairy and feels much much faster than the same pace outdoors!). I might be wrong but I think a lot of the ones in most people's price range are simply not sturdy or fast enough for serious use - i.e. running rather than leisurely fat-burning. a decent treadmill is going to set you back several years of gym membership to buy for yourself, so it's probably not a great investment unless you don't have an option.
Drew is right of course that you need to use an incline of 1-2% to begin to approximate the equivalent effort outdoors and there is quite a lot of research that suggests too much treadmill running is bad for your running form - but on days like today I'll settle for that.
good luck everybody running tonight and stay safe. you have my admiration. :-)
What : 7 miles in 51 min ... felt faster but the map brought me back to earth ! Perhaps after lots of longer slow runs it is tricky to get the legs moving again, HRM also suggested I was'nt going at 90 mph
Why : Maintain the 40 miles/wk
Last hard : Sunday
Last rest : yesterday
Achilles - shoes with good grip are much cheaper than state-of-the-art treadmill. But then we're hard up north - and tight too.
Why: I'm resting my back (XC on Sunday was probably not the best way to recover), but I wasn't going to let the kids down. We did a short, easy run as it was so cold (but great conditions). Had to disappoint one kid who wanted to run in shorts and tshirt. They've got to cover up a bit in effective sub-zero conditions (but they're hard here).
Itching to get out properly again, and I'd really like a bit of proper snow.