Funny that you mentioned cold weather running, OGF. I am back in Kansas where they high will be -8 today. I just can’t (or won’t) do it - just too much ice.
I know some prefer winter over summer when it comes to exercising but you can’t dress for the risk of falling ;-).
There must be a gym with a dreadmill around here somewhere!
We’ve been lucky here this winter so far Surfermom, Sunday morning was actually the coldest morning this winter and although below freezing, it was dry and frosty, so not much ice except on the few puddles. The frost was quite crunchy underfoot, so actually gave some decent grip.
There are cold mornings that I wouldn’t consider running on, one such morning was last winter where it had rained in the night and then dropped below freezing.
The result was that the roads and pavements (sidewalks) were just one sheet of shiny ice. I managed about 500 metres before I realised I was running on a skating rink. I actually had to hold on to the garden walls and slowly work my way back home…
I would always prefer to run in the heat rather than the cold…
It is 8:00 AM and I am decked out in my running gear, willing the sun to shine and raise the temperatures in the arctic-feeling prairie - with no success. I do want to get out there, but having frost-bitten my ears when I attended a hilltop university, exposure to extreme cold brings on incredible pain, like likes of which I usually ignore.
Pain and suffering in the name of fitness?
Or cozy about and give up bread for the day?
Decisions…decisions.
One month knocked off of winter - yay!
Alrighty. I am back home (again) after another marathon drive to Kansas and back and happily, it looks like I have no plans to run off until I get this winter blubber worked off. My eating habits have been horrible (blame my sweet mother for that) and now there is nothing between the me that is in here somewhere and thirty miles a week - aside from keeling over, that is.
I ran four terrible, sloppy miles today, but that will make it a lot easier to have a better performance tomorrow!
Haha, welcome back Surfermom, I suppose with all that eating you now look like ‘Bella Emberg’…Not!
We’re talking Stars and Stripes here Surfer…
Well done on the four struggling miles Surfermom, welcome to my world…
I set out at first light this morning and toe permitting managed a steady five.
Strange how the toe hurts when I walk on it, but virtually goes unnoticed after my first couple of miles of running.
With better weather on the horizon it’s time we both put our shoulders to the wheel and started doing some quality training and inject some life into this neglected thread…
How in the world did you get that photo of me, OGF? You really should ask permission before outing me on the the forum though 
.
And though I do feel a little like that, minus the boots, the sun is out promising a nice - and lengthy - afternoon run.
I can’t help but wonder what the science is behind that diminished pain when running. I wonder whether or not it is a primitive survival technique. One doesn’t need to be thinking about achy feet when a sabertooth tiger is on one’s heels.
Now back to the topic at hand which is daily exercise. There are some ladies on the forum who practice yoga daily. While I do it every once and again, I am not sure I participate enough to feel the benefits.
Just how flexible are you all out there?
Running report later…
I’ve just got home from my first ever Yoga class. It was tough but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m expecting to be walking like John Wayne in the morning as I was using muscles I’ve never used before lol
Afterwards I did a 20 minute power walk on the treadmill then finished off with a 30 minute swim.
I FEEL FABULOUS
I would feel exhausted LD, well done!
Thanks Mags, I’m so glad to be back exercising but obviously using my noggin and not overdoing things. I felt so delicate after my diagnosis and was afraid to exercise but doc says it’s fine as long as I’m not doing high intensity work like Spin and Running.
Yes, your diagnosis must have been a shock to you and you are doing right by gentle exercising.
LQ, I am thrilled to hear that you had such a good day. What a workout!
So what do you think about the yoga? Do you think you will attend regularly? I think it’s an excellent addition to your fitness program. Good things your way!
At last I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, or at least, the other side of the field I run beside on my five mile course. Since the shortest day back in December it seems to have gone against all the odds and continued to get darker…
It eventually pushed my start time back from six thirty to seven, and then even 7:20am, where some mornings I was stumbling around in the dark on my first mile over that rugged field. Not to mention the odd running shoe filled with icy cold water from an invisible puddle…
Good dry conditions this morning and no puddles to avoid, although not proper daylight, it was good enough to navigate the path without incident. All was going splendidly until I joined the lane on the last mile. The local farmer had decided to prepare his field for the forthcoming growing season and his stubbly tractor tyres had turned up almost half a mile of mud on the lane.
Fortunately with no rain to speak of for the last couple of weeks the lane was dry and it was easy to find solid ground to run on, but I’m not looking forward to running down here after the rains which are forecast soon. Looks like plan ‘B’ and a nice clean road route for a while…
So a decent five this morning but nothing to write home about…Or the forum…See what tomorrow brings…
Reporting fresh from a run, that finally offered sunny skies and plenty to enjoy after a couple of weeks of soggy weather. I like the changing skies and the sensation of running in fog or ran, but in the end, nothing beats blue skies and warmth on my back. I relate with OGF in that the dark really limits one’s ability to run. I can handle most of the elements, but darkness is a bit of a threat to safety, not just because of potential bad guys lurking in the bushes, but for the holes and bumps that I always manage to find.
Gravity storms are the worst sort!
Five miles and change. I am happy, happy, happy.
We’ve had some wild storms moving through, knocking squirrels’ nests out of the boughs and causing the neighbors’ shingles to scatter down the lane. Even as I type, the wind is roaring and the dogs are curled up on the rugs and sofas in tight circles, signifying stinging chill factors just outside the door .
Before the front, when the front was compressing the humid air in front of it, I dashed out long enough to squeeze in a long warm run with the pelicans overhead. I ran the beach with angry surf warning of the wild weather coming, leaving me side-stepping and hopping over incoming waves while sinking into the soft, wet sand every now and then.
I am noticing that I am having a tougher go of it this winter, and thinking that my fitness is down from a lack of surfing. Spring can’t get here soon enough! Still winter brings empty trails and beaches which is heavenly.
5.5 miles today 
, 0.0 tomorrow 
.
Nice going Surfermom.
All those storms are due here in the next few days…
I love going to the coast when it’s rough…
Stand by for graphics…
With the wind howling around the house and the rain pelting the window I zipped up my hooded waterproof and set off for my (long?) Sunday run. After I was intimidated by the BBC weatherman and the sound of the wind in the chimney I had made up my mind to cut it to just a six miler…
With the wind behind me and just light rain blowing in the wind I covered the first four mile comfortably. I felt really good as I reached the junction and automatically turned onto the eight mile course.
With occasional gusts from a strong crosswind it didn’t feel too bad, although it kept blowing my hood off and allowing the now driving rain to trickle down my neck. Avoiding bits of falling branches was another problem while trying to keep my hood in place with one hand. In the end I abandoned the idea of running out of balance, released the hood and let nature take its course.
The road was now awash with puddles that stretched from side to side, trying to avoid wet feet wasn’t a problem anymore, so I splashed through anything that blocked my path. I arrived at the river bridge, it’s higher than anything else around, and the wind was following the river and blowing under and over the bridge. As soon as I reached the crest a huge gust of wind almost lifted me off my feet, adrenalin was pumping and so were my legs to get me off that bridge as soon as possible…
The worst was yet to come, the next mile (mile seven) rose up from the the little hamlet of South Bramwith and provided no protection from the now gale force wind that was full in my face. With head down I dug in to the small climb to the top, almost running on the spot every time a gust hit me square in the chest. Driving rain pricked the bare skin of my legs, which had now turned a weatherbeaten glowing orange colour. Nothing to do now than just hang on and fight to the end of this wild open stretch of country road.
At last I made it to the shelter of the village and a smile ran across my face, after everything that storm Ciara had thrown at me this morning I had made it home, despite her best attempts to thwart me, and I realised that I am probably in the best shape of my life considering my age…
8.2 miles but a very poor time…Who cares…
You were very brave to venture out on an 8 mile run in this weather, Bob … a pat on the back for you
I hope you don’t suffer for it later…
I just loved this account and most especially in your determination to get out there no matter what. I can relate to all of those feelings and obstacles, often through squinting eyes while being pelted with rain.
What I liked even better was that you turned a planned six into 8. That is the mind of a runner, if ever there was one.
I felt the same winds you did today, at one point feeling like I was like a cartoon character running in one place despite wildly pushing forward only to be nearly lifted like a kite in the opposite direction. I only ran five with the sun shining overhead nary a hood to be seen.
I imagine the hot shower and cup of tea afterwards were pure bliss.
Well done having your way with Ciara, OGF!
Thanks Mags and Surfermom, I seem to have survived unscathed by yesterday’s experience. If I have learned anything after being a runner for so many years is that the mind will always want to take the path of least resistance.
The amount of times that my mind says ‘No’ but my body says ‘Yes’ and once I’m out there it never seems as bad as I thought that it would be. Something that I’m sure Surfermom has experienced on many occasions.
I must admit, that a hot shower and steaming mug of Yorkshire tea is something to be enjoyed after combat with the elements…
Yes, the mind is strange about going despite the odd aches and pains, but what is especially cool is that while I leave the house lazy, I come back getting things done like a CEO at the speed of light. Not wanting to waste that productivity, shower and treats are delayed until my brain slows down to the recovery speed my relaxing body. I’ve definitely learned to make the best of tapping into that energy before it sneaks away. The downside is the suffering of the poor souls who must be in the room with my zooming, perspire-y self! Eww.
I slogged my way through the pea soup fog this morning, the object of all that condensing water vapor. 5.25 miles, a spotless kitchen, and shampooed carpets.
