Who needs Miami?

We got it going on in balmy Connecticut!

Got outside today (FINALLY!) for my long run. I think it was 14 degrees when I was driving to my start point, it was 27 when I finished. I was prepared though.



Kicking it Arctic Style!

I purposefully went out slow because I knew it could be dangerous for my lungs to force cold air in if I was running too fast. I also wanted my muscles and joints to thoroughly warm up because hitting the frozen pavement could be bad too. It wasn't about pace for me today, it was about adding on some mileage and working with the elements.

I got it done: 9.15 miles, 10:13 min/mile pace. I'll take it. I had to stop once to tie my shoes (AGAIN!). WTH?! Seriously, this is the second week in a row where my sneakers have come untied. I know how to double knot. I can't imagine that I didn't automatically do that this morning but, alas, I looked down around mile 4 and saw my laces flopping around. Considering I was running on patches of packed snow and ice, I thought I'd lessen my odds of taking a digger by not having laces to trip over. I think I need velcro. Seriously. Apparently I can't be trusted to tie my shoes properly.

I also got chased by 2 dogs! I'm not afraid of dogs but I was afraid that they would run into traffic and I didn't want that on my hands. So I stopped running so they would stop chasing and gave the owners a chance to catch up and pick up their dogs. One was a little white yappy thing, the other was a Cocker Spaniel. I know accidents happen but I get pissed at people who routinely let their dogs get out. As annoying as it was to stop and wait for the dogs to get picked up I am more annoyed by owners who would risk their dog getting hit by a car because they're not responsible. Like I said, accidents happen, my dogs have pulled their leash and if I wasn't careful Daisy would run out the front door any chance she got. But for it to happen twice on one run seemed like a lot.

Even with all that, it was a great run. Dealt with the cold, dealt with the wind and got in a decent pace for a good distance.

Total mileage for the week was 25.6. Again, I'll take it. I'm shooting for 20-25 miles a week plus Cross Fit. It doesn't seem to be killing me (yet). I'll have to adjust things in the late summer when marathon training starts up again but that's a long way off.

I hope to run Tuesday and Wednesday this week to give myself 2 days rest before my long run on Saturday. It was not easy going 4 days in a row and, when I think about it, I'm really happy with my performance today because I normally have nothing left when I have to do 4 running days straight.

ETA: I'm glad I'm tracking everything on Daily Mile because I forgot to add in my long run from last week to my ticker. I kept thinking it seemed like it was low, now I know why.