Sunday, 12/11/2016: Rest day.
Yes, it was a Sunday and I didn't run. I rationalized this by telling myself that I had run 15.29 trail miles the day before by running the TrailsROC WTF in Powder Mills Park. Yes, I was a bit sore but that didn't mean I wasn't a bit cranky or grouchy for not running on a Sunday. It was like I was a pent up cheetah wanting to run ... OK, maybe not a cheetah but at least an animal that wanted to run, lol!
I went out to Sterling Optical to finally look at and put a down payment on some much needed eyeglasses. I have some money in my FSA that needed to use up before the end of 2016 and most of it will go there. I think these glasses may be made of gold though!
I watched the Steelers - Bills games off the DVR. That was a good thing so I didn't have to wait for all the commercials as I watched the Bills defense allow Bell to run wild for 236 yards (118 yards in the third quarter alone) and also pick up 62 passing yards. The Bills had a chance but lost 20-27, link here. So .. the Bills will not be playoff bound yet again.
Monday, 12/12/2016: Rest day.
Just getting back into the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday running schedule. A couple of inches of snow fell overnight so I left early for work and had an easy commute.
Tuesday, 12/13/2016: 6.55 miles, 1:00:05, 9:10 pace, 34F, 59% RH, 18 mph SW wind, wind chill 23F, overcast.
I have never run on the canal path in the winter so I didn't know what to expect. Well ... it wasn't pretty but I got it done. The sidewalk leading to the canal path was a kind of crusty snow and ice mix, the canal path itself had 1 to 3 inches of snow and the parking lot was bare. The parking lot itself is a 0.75 mile loop. I may end up running on that all winter. It's bare, has little traffic. it's a lot safer but it's a whole lot more boring ... but it's running on a bare surface, it's during the daylight and it's safer. Anyway ... my splits were: 27. 36, 03, 21, 53, 8:12 and 8:17 over the last 0.55 mile.
Wednesday, 12/14/2016: Rest day ... nothing unusual.
Thursday, 12/15/2016: Rest day ... bitter cold and windy.
I brought all my cold weather gear and then some to work. The snow and wind came just as the morning commute started so the plows didn't get a chance to get ahead of it. The temperature was 15F and the winds were 15-30 mph. So ... the morning commute sucked. It took me 45 minutes to go 10 miles. I ended up going down the 1 mile onramp to W Ridge Rd and then taking Latona and Lee Rd to B601. I got to work 12 minutes late and took it out of my 1 hour lunch. I thought about going for a run around the B601 parking lot but ... I thought better of it. I could have though ... the weather cleared around 12:30 PM for a while. I drove from B101 back to B601 and had no trouble. The snow came again during the evening commute ... lovely. I missed my exit off the LOSP for Greenleaf Rd and had to turn around at Lake Ave to go at it from the other direction. I knew the exit was there on the first try but I couldn't see any track into it. I didn't want to make my own and possibly go off the road so I erred on the side of caution ... luckily there was no one behind me.
Friday, 12/16/2016: 6.55 miles, 55:04, 8:24 pace, 19F, 67% RH, 17 mph WSW wind, wind chill 5F, mostly cloudy.
The weather turned "almost" balmy ... 20F and mild winds. I braved it with my CW-X tights, shorts, long sleeve tech, yellow Brook 1/4 zip pullover, balaclava, yellow Brooks beanie, ski mittens and sunglasses. The only surface exposed was around my mouth. I just ran around the B601 parking lot ... a total of 8 times. I warmed up somewhat and only slipped for an instant once. I took a turn a bit too sharp. My splits were: 8:41, 8:35, 8:33, 8:24, 8:17, 8:13 and 7:54 over the last 0.55 mile. I am sure that everyone that I met running thought I was crazy (probably non-runners).
Saturday, 12/17/2016: 2.15 miles, 33:17, 15:28 pace, 21F, 86% RH, 5 mph S wind, wind chill 14F, overcast.
This morning I saw posts about people getting ready for the Reindeer Run and about running Around the Bay. About three of snow had fallen overnight. I hadn't committed to either one so I was in a quandary. I didn't trust the roads so I thought ... snowshoes! I found them and my ski mittens, dressed with an extra layer and got out there.
I just did a really easy and nice snowshoe run in the Lakeshore Country Club which is just across the railroad tracks from our townhouse. We overlook the sixth green. Today there weren't any golfers. I only saw one lonely cross country trail. My splits were: 15:29, 15:26 and 15:04 over the last 0.15 mile. I was a bit chilled so a couple of mugs of coffee hit the spot afterward.
I learned later that the conditions for the Reindeer Run were quite icy. I could see that in the times that I saw posted on Yellow Jacket Racing link here. The times were about three to four minutes slower than normal. There were only 4 people at the Round the Bay run and the Pointless Hills bike ride afterward was cancelled.
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| Some didn't have the beard on at the start ... |
So ... this week was a light running week plus I have shut down my 2016 racing schedule. I ran 37 races this year which is a far cry from the 58 races I ran in 2015. Why? Well ... I decided to keep an unofficial racing budget this year for one. The good thing is that my running mileage for 2016 is in record territory. I guess I ran long more often than not when I didn't have a race during those "free" weekends.
