Ice and Snow

About two inches of snow covered most of the ground when I went out to run yesterday. I scooped up a handful just to see how it felt.  Above about two inches of soft, fluffy white stuff was a very thin layer of ice crystals, as if someone had sprinkled salt atop the snow except the crystals didn't melt.  The sleet hadn't yet turned to a layer of ice, it just lay in crystals atop the snow. Blades of grass peeked through the snow at random intervals.  The temperature was 29 degrees.

Ice occasionally stung our bare faces as we ran the on track.  The first couple laps were sloshing through snow.  But that snow quickly packed into slippery slush with each additional lap around the track.  For the last two or three laps of our three mile run we were seeking fresh snow, and a bit wider circle, to run on, as it was too slippery to run the same path.

As we ran I watched about 6 to 10 children sliding on inflatable saucers down the hill between the track and the middle school.  From the excited shouts and laughter, I think they enjoyed sledding more we enjoyed trying to run. Perhaps we would have better spent our time having joined them!

I tracked time only to help me count laps; and I did record my time -- 35 minutes for 3 miles.  But it WAS a workout. My calves and thighs are a bit sore from the effort.  Something about running on snow and slush causes muscles to be worked and pulled differently from a normal run.  

Double Whammy

For the last couple weeks we've been hit with a double whammy. Every running log entry states: cold and wind. The wind chills have been brutal. Tuesday was the worst. The wind chill was -12, and it was a dry cold that seeps into your bones and stays there. I wouldn't have kept going had it not been for the encouragement (sometimes very firm encouragement) of my running buddy.

But today was a double whammy of a much more pleasant kind. The wind was still gusty for the first 3 1/2 of miles of our run, but the temperatures were 58 degrees. So the second whammy was the ever present hills in the Shenandoah Valley instead of bitter cold. Because the weather was so warm, we decided to take advantage of the weather and run our long run today instead of on the weekend when temperatures are expected to plummet again.

And I did this 10 miles four minutes faster than the last time (January 3) I tried; Butch did it 6 minutes faster. So that's progress. We're training as much as possible for the half marathon on March 1 and a second one on April 18.

Wind-chilled Run

Had my running buddy not reminded me of what we've gained training-wise and of upcoming races, I'd have stayed inside today and jumped rope.  It was 25 degrees outside with a windchill of 7.  I put on two long-sleeved tees (one a tech tee), a short sleeved tee, and a fleece pullover; and tights under nylon wind pants.  I also wore my ski mask over my nose and mouth, two pairs of socks, and a pair of gloves.  The first half mile was the worst, with gusts of wind knocking me around and slapping cold air in my face.  

We opted for the park as it's somewhat sheltered.  In the sunny spots, I was actually a bit warm; but that soon changed whenever another gust of wind blasted through.  

We ran slow, but we did it.  And that's the coldest weather I've run in, so I guess that means I set some sort of PR. 

Prickett's Fort: First Half for 2009

Photos are from Prickett's Fort after the race -- when it was raining again!

Saturday's race was sponosered by the Literacy Volunteers of America and raised funds for that program. The volunteers were excellent; the weather was something else. Temps were in the low 40s-high 30s, and it rained for the first two hours of the race. About the 3d mile, I yanked off my cotton outer pants, realizing they were soaked and weighing me down. If I'd have used my brains, I'd have worn nylon outer pants; but Butch got by just fine with just his tights. He just doesn't get as cold as me, I guess. This was the longest distance he's run since his last full marathon (26.2 miles) in 1992.  Lee, Butch's son, also ran this race -- his first half marathon.

And this was my first half since April last year, so our goal for the day was just to finish.  

The course was two out and backs in opposite directions (like a figure 8) and the first four miles felt fine. But at mile 7, I began to wonder if I was going to make 10 miles, the most I've run this season. My legs felt like chunks of ice--heavy and very cold. I chanted everything I could think of to keep going: "Please keep Butch and Lee safe."

"Please don't let anyone get hurt."

"Nete, pay attention to the scenery (We were running alongside a river on one side and mountain rocks on the other with stalactite chunks of ice hanging from them on the other). You were excited about this race because of the scenery. Pay attention."

The second turn around was just before mile 9, and I made it to that point before I decided to alternate walking at every mile marker for a bit and then running again. 

Just past the 9 mile marker,  I ran up to a female duo running their very first race. Since they were doing a walk-run also, we chatted on a couple walk breaks.  After I left them behind, around the 11 1/2 mile point, I ran into a former medical doctor who told me the story of how he found faith.

After 2 hours and 28 minutes I reached the finish line, and was handed a second place finisher's award. I never dreamed that pace would earn an award!  I was so cold all I could think about was getting inside and changing clothes.  To get a prize, too, was a serendipity.

I tried to unpin the key from my pocket but my hands were too frozen. I prayed that Aimee, Lee's wife, would be at the car so I could get in and grab a change of clothes. And she was! She unpinned the key, got the door open and then waited for the guys to come in while I left for the ladies' room to change. Butch came in at 2:32 and Lee at 2:38 (about). So we weren't all that far apart.  Lee said he'd reached three goals: he finished, he finished in less than three hours and he ran his first half marathon.  

This is a race I'd love to do again -- in better weather!

10 Miler through Daphna

Butch and I are contemplating a Half next weekend (the 10th).  We had set our hopes on a race in Florida on the 17th, but that race was cancelled.  We can't possibly be quite ready for a Half by the 10th, so if we go, we may have to walk some of it.  But if the weather holds, the January 10th race, will serve as a panacea for not being able to run in Florida.  We might also be able to see Butch's son that day after the race. We've also pre-registered for two other Half Marathons -- one in Florida the first of March and the Charlottesville Half in April.  So half marathon prepping was the reason for yesterday's LSD (long, slow distance run).  

The temps were in the high 50s, low 60s, so tights, and a long- and short-sleeved tee shirt was enough.  Even in the winter Daphna is pretty with its winding roads up hill, and woods and streams alongside.  Cows, goats and sheep cheered us along the way (I KNOW they were cheering! Well, maybe they were just staring at us. . .)  Motorists were cooperative for the most part.  

This was indeed an LSD -- I averaged only 11:30 mile pace, an hour and 57 minutes.  I did the whole Charlottesville Marathon in 2:01:53.  So I have some work to do to get back to that pace; at the rate I ran yesterday 13 miles would have taken 2 1/2 hours!  

Grace

The starting line was packed, as most starting lines are, at Generations Crossing's New Year's Eve 5K (twice around the downtown loop) just after 3:00 p.m.  Runners were anxious to start as the race started a few minutes late.  The temperatures outside were in the low 30s to high 20s with wind gusts between 45 and 60 mph, according to the weather reports, and we were cold.

Finally the the shout, "Ready, set, go!"

The runners took off -- except for the young man next to me who did a gutter dance.  Just behind him a man tripped over the stumbler's feet; both brushed me as the second man dropped and rolled.  The dancer stopped and turned around, "Dad! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, son. I just wanted to avoid falling on you."

Relief poured over Son's face, and both took off running again, dad just to his son's right rear.  And I ran off as well.  Grace had set the tone and won the race.