Rolled out of bed @ 5:59 on a Saturday…
More simulated ultra training today. Started before dawn in 9 degrees with a light snow falling. I knew this would be a rugged one so I had my pack with plenty of water and bars/gels, etc. I ended up doing 13.5 miles in 3:07 including stops, etc. Conditions were tricky.
I ran to a state park a few miles away and did a loop through the woods and rock formations. I was running on top of 2-3 feet of snow for a few miles. It was nice where it was a frozen surface, but there were extended sections where I would punch right through and would have to slog along. It was beautiful, though. Here are some pics taken by someone else:
It was nothin’ but white today…
I ran on frozen mud, choppy/frozen snow, deep wet snow, fluffy snow, and hard water ice. The past couple of days have been over 32 degrees in the daytime, so everywhere that melted turned to solid ice overnight. Combined with a dusting of new snow, things were pretty sketchy at times. I biffed pretty good going around a corner and had numerous other close calls. Finished up feeling good. Can’t wait to go again!
Another night run
Did 14 after work tonight. Very hilly. The concrete path was feeling pretty firm by mile 12 or so.
It was awesome to start the run headed west into the sunset knowing that I would still be running well after it got dark. I took my hydration pack, xtra gear, headlamp, food, etc. and treated it as a simulated ultra pace run. I dialed in the cruise-control to a HR of 140 and chugged along. I think I went a little too slow at first, I really hit rock bottom at mile 6 and felt lousy. Picked up the pace by about a minute and felt much better in another mile or so. Ended up at a 10.5 pace overall. Avg HR 142. Right where I wanted to be.
Two Speeding Tickets in Two Days
Funny thing is, I wasn’t in a hurry for either of them. They just put up some new 25 mph signs near my neighborhood (but not in a residential area), and are cracking down on people left and right.The first one I got on the way to work I was doing 40. The deputy was really cool and said they weren’t out there to bust anyone bad, but just to get their attention. He wrote me up for 9 over – one point on the record and it doesn’t affect insurance rates. 40 bucks.
The second one was coming home from my 12 mile run in the sub-freezing darkness. My brain was numb. This time it was on our side of the river which is a different county. This deputy was not in a good mood. He clocked me at 35 in a 25 and wrote me up for the full amount. 72 bucks and 4 points on the license. Great.
Guess I can’t complain since it’s been about 15 years since I last got a ticket. Just need to slow down on that stretch of road – hard to do because it drives like a 35/40 road, and I’ve driven it that way over 4500 times in the last 9 years. Hard to teach this old dog…
The Scene Begins 