Saturday, January 8, 2022

How Low Will You Go?

When you live in the northern part of the US, you get winter. This week, we had arctic-style temperatures and yeah, it was cold. On Thursday, I was working out with SJ when a fellow athlete walked in and asked, "why do we live here?" 

I get it. I'm not a fan of the cold either. But I do like the snow and when you live here, you have to make the best of it. I grew up in a rural area of Illinois and we played outside all winter long, sledding, ice skating, and snowmobiling. I was an avid downhill skier, although the hills we have for skiing would be laughable to those of you who live out west. 

I've learned to dress for the cold so that I can get my miles done outside. As long as the wind isn't blowing, I can tolerate just about any temperature. But every once in a while, I have to take my runs to the treadmill. It happened once this week. You know it's cold when Cocoa won't stay out for long. 

I ask you this:

Weekly Rundown
Sunday: Cross Country Skiing 5.5 miles
Monday: Trail run 5.25 miles
Tuesday: CrossFit
Wednesday: Treadmill run 6 miles
Thursday: Strength training
Friday: rest
Saturday: Frozen Gnome 10k

Cross-country skiing

My workout schedule was different this week. I woke up Sunday to about 5 inches of beautiful fresh powdery snow. The sun was shining and I really wanted to take my skis out on the trails. I bailed on my planned run with the Trail Sisters and drove to the forest preserve. Only one parking lot was open and I took the last spot. Getting there early meant the trails were undisturbed except for deer prints. The snow was so light and fluffy that I glided easily forward as I blazed a trail. The peacefulness and the beauty were almost overwhelming! There were moments when I stopped and just soaked it all in. As I looped around the main trail, I encountered more people. I didn't see any deer, but their tracks were everywhere. It was truly magical. 

Running

I wouldn't call it serendipitous, but with the pool being closed due to the surge in Covid cases, I was able to return to the trails on Monday for a run! I strapped on my YakTrax and hit the single tracks. Some of my run was on the main trail and I was surprised at how packed down it was from the day before. There weren't very many people in the preserve that morning, probably because it was only 10 degrees. The sun was shining and there wasn't any wind, so it didn't feel that cold!


I woke up Wednesday morning to the sound of my windows rattling. It was sunny but it was 15F and I did not want to battle that 30 mph wind in those temperatures. Ugh. You know what this meant--yep, I had to fire up the treadmill. I was able to push myself to 6 slow miles, watching several episodes of  I Think You Should Leave, a Netflix comedy series that my son introduced me to. 

I didn't run Friday because a) it was below freezing when I got up and I couldn't bear another TM run and b) I had a trail race on Saturday morning! The Frozen Gnome 10k was live this year! I bundled up and drove out to the race site, where I ran into my friend Tricia. She wanted to run together and I was fine with that--this is a very hilly, technical course and I had no goals but to finish. It was pretty cold when we started, but once we got moving, we warmed up quickly. It was a fun, challenging race and I'm so glad I did it again this year! I'll have a full recap coming up. 

Crossfit and Strength Training

Tuesday's WOD had elements of a boot camp: for the Strength portion, we did Tabata intervals of Plank Shoulder taps, Russian KB swings (35#), and Air Squats. The MetCon was an AMRAP of 4x 3:00 on/1:00 off: 9 ball slams (30#), 12 ball hop burpees, and 15 ab mat situps. I made it through 5 rounds and felt nicely sore the next day!



For strength on Thursday, SJ had me do 4 sets of 3 deadlifts(140#) with a 2 second hold on the bottom of the lift. I alternated these with strict presses (35#) 4 sets of 12. We were going to do some pull-up work, but I was feeling a little yucky from my Humira shot, and I took a pass. 

Goals?

Every year, CrossFit has a chalkboard where members can post their goals for the year. I don't really have any firm goals, but I did post 3 things I'd like to do:
  • complete a 50k. Can I do it? Will I? It's a goal. I have a ginormous birthday this year, so this goal takes on added importance for me. We'll see how my year unfolds. My running comeback has been strong and if I stay injury-free, I may just take this one on. If I don't...it's not a big deal. 
  • strict pull-up. Yeah, I did one last year but then I had the tendon tear in my wrist and the broken ankle and foot...so I'm building that upper body strength back up. The pull-up prep work we do has made me so much stronger that I won't be disappointed if I never complete an actual pull-up. I know it sounds weird, but it's all about the journey, right?
  • STAY INJURY FREE! Yes, it's a goal. Last year was ridiculous for me. I'm not sure if it's because I've been feeling so overwhelmed or what, but I have to work on being more conscientious of what I am doing. Thank goodness for the strength training and my ability to bounce back so fast. But yeah, I need to check myself before...
How was your week? I know a lot of people have gotten snow--have you been getting outside and enjoying it? I ask this every year, but how cold is too cold for you? Did anyone race this week? 

I'm linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown. 


35 comments :

  1. I used to be able to do a few pull ups not sure I could anymore. Maybe? We have had an unseasonably cold start as well for us here. I am ok w the snow but we turn to ice so quickly here and that is a big no! I am so glad that your year is off to a strong start. Here's to injury free running!

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    1. We were off to such a good start--now everything is coated with ice. Sigh. Time to fire up the TM, I guess!

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  2. If I was training for something, I'd likely have gotten out a bit this past week but with nothing on the horizon, treadmill runs are just fine by me. The wind and wind chill were just ridiculous though. And now the ice....

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    1. I'm glad you don't mind the TM. Looks like I'm going to have to suck it up this week, lol

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  3. Temperature, as you know, depends on other factors. We get so little sun here, it's really depressing. Then there's the wind. I've run down into the single digits, but that's usually sunny with little wind. And when I'm not feeling well -- nope, not going to challenge myself with that too.

    However, I have always hated Winter! Despite 17 years in TX, most of my life has been spent in VT & upstate NY so I am no stranger to cold, gray, and snow.

    Anyway, congrats on your race and getting out there! Injury free is always a goal for me, and while I have the same big birthday, there are no big plans. Most likely, knocking on wood, I will spend it with my mom. It might be the last birthday I'll spend with her. There will be the rest of my life for big goals.

    I definitely hope you stay injury free & have a great running year this year, Wendy!

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    1. Thanks Judy! I don't hate winter, as you know. I try to make the best of it. I mean, we can't change it, right?

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  4. Yeah, total agreement on winter running and the wind factor. I recently heard that Iowa is the windiest state, and I can attest our winters are brutal when Momma N blesses us with wind. I like the snow, but the wind is a total buzzkill for me. At least in the summer, it's more manageable (when not on a bike, LOL).

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    1. And today we're dealing with ice. All that bad stuff about winter, today reminds me why winter is so hard.

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  5. It's amazing for me to see you to run through such snowy world. I have never lived a similar experience.
    When here it's cold we can run outside because usually the roads are not icy. Only the wind can be boring if it comes from NE or SW.
    Here the races are canceled for covid.

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    1. I heard that the Charleston Marathon is canceled now. Such a shame because it is next week, I think! Otherwise, I haven't heard about many cancelations.

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  6. I totally agree. It's never too cold... you just have to layer up and get out the door.

    Of course the wind makes it worse and sun better.

    I avoid the ice but otherwise I run and it's always better than the treadmill.

    Glad you got to run that race and had fun.

    I hope you continue to have an injuryfree and healthy 2022.

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    1. Me too, which is why I ran inside today. There's a coating of ice everywhere. ICK

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  7. The people I know who really love winter are those who embrace all the outdoor activities. I never did that growing up- it wasn't that rural where we were- so ended up huddled inside wishing winter would be over. It does look invigorating, being out in the snow like that.
    Here's to an INJURY FREE year! I'll be excited to see if you do a 50k. And I agree- just working towards pullups, even if you never do them unassisted- makes you much stronger. I should get out my pullup bar again (sigh!)

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    1. I have a pullup bar but it's still in the box. I need to work on that, lol

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  8. We've got that annoying ice that's so thin nothing will stick in it - I have yaktrax and nanospikes but hardly ever get to use them. Today we were running on long, icy, muddy grass by the side of the path while other runners just zipped along the path on the ice - how did they do it? They were mainly a lot younger than us!

    I have a BIG birthday just about to hit. I was going to do 50k in my birthday week, but that idea left the building when I overtrained and burnt out last autumn. I just want to get back to doing 10 or 13 miles easily by the end of the year, then hope to do another marathon next year. Good luck with your plans, which seem eminently sensible to me!

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    1. Guess I'm getting more sensible with old age? Say it isn't so!

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  9. Hah! Stay injury-free is on the top of my list for 2022, although using the word “stay” is a bit presumptuous as my Achilles is still not 100%. Yay for a snowy race! Looks liek you had a lot of fun.

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    1. I'm glad it was yesterday and not today because we got that ice storm last night.

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  10. Staying injury free is always my number one goal each year. Here's to us both making that goal!

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    1. Staying injury free is always a goal but never one I've stated a an official goal before this. I do not want a repeat of 2021.

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  11. If anyone can do a pull-up, its you! You are my inspiration for strength. And by big birthday- is it 50 or 60? I can't believe it. You are so fit and active. So impressive.

    Bummer the pool is closed but probably for the best as this surge goes through.

    Staying injury free is probably all of our goals for 2022 :)

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    1. Yesterday at the race, they had me listed in the 60-69 age group even though my birthday isn't until September. Seeing that bothered me WAY more than I thought it would.

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  12. I like the goals that you listed, and yes, I think you can do all 3 this year! :)

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  13. I'd much prefer to be outside vs. the mill, but ice is a deal-breaker for me and we have a fair amount of it here.

    Congrats on knocking out your first race of 2022! I like your goals - staying injury-free is the big one for me too! Here's to a healthy and injury-free year for both of us :)

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  14. I feel you. There's a meme that always makes the rounds: "why do I live where the wind hurts my face?" and while I'm winter>summer any day, the wind can be brutal.
    Glad you're up for trail running with the pool closed, and so awesome to blaze trails. Frozen Gnome! I need to do that to join my Frozen Penguin.

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    1. I thought about putting that meme in my post, lol! #greatminds

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  15. The cool thing about the 50k and other ultra distances that many of them include those trails and hiking which really make it fun!

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  16. We do the exact same thing in the summer! When it's 100 degrees with 100% humidity and the earth feels like lava. WHY DO WE LIVE HERE???

    You have recovered so beautifully and I am so proud of you! You are so strong and so determined! Great week and great victories!

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    1. See, that's what I remind people when they want to move to Florida. It's HOT in the summer.

      Thank you so much for your support during my recovery. I'm so grateful it has gone so well.

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  17. My lower limit when I used to live in Alaska was -20F for running outside. But I was tougher then. It's probably around 0 now.

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  18. I've been happy to hang out at my treadmill a lot lately, but I guess I should get outside tomorrow. I like to get outside for at least the long run and tempo days of my week. Now that I'm not coaching I don't "need" to get outside for anything really! I wish we had more snow around here. I had cross country skis when I was a kid, but we don't get enough snow now to use them. I can totally see you doing that 50K!

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