Checking the Tank

29 degrees and snow flurries. No real snow to run through, just flurries, but it did make it slick in a fee spots. Decent run, just running some base miles. Busy day of work, I would love a nap on these days... 

19 and snow flurries again. Everything is clear so there was so slick surfaces, but man is that wind cold! Good run, I was not planning any fast running, but funny how when you are cold you want to get that run done! 

30's and windy, but a pretty decent run. Took it easy (8:20/mile) and it felt nice just to look around today. Work was crazy, I tell ya this time of year is hectic. 

Interesting am run today. I had drama practice this morning so I figured I would just run this afternoon. Well my part is near the middle, but what I did not expect was we did my part very early so that kinda left me done, but I had to wait for the other fam members. I did not have any running gear but I thought, well what the heck. So there I went in jeans, my old worn out New Balance running shoes (now relegated to walking shoes- prolly over 1000 miles on them) down the way. Oh, I forgot to mention we were in a winter weather advisory so it was snowy and windy. I only put in 5 miles, but it was full of resistance and running 8 min/mile in jeans was a little effort :) The other people in the drama looked at me like I was nuts when I got back.

 PM Quick 3 Miles, felt pretty good, but slick and snowy.  

18 degrees with a pretty brisk wind (8 degree wind chill)... great day to break out of two day slump due to an impossible schedule! Anyway, despite the 15 pounds of clothing the run felt pretty good.

11 and 2 degree wind chill. I hate treadmills, but today I would have welcomed one. Wind was biting today. I did some fartleks to keep things moving this morning and then off to another long day of work. 

Another cold day in mudville. I believe I am having a case of the Monday's... wait... its not Monday. Our drama is tonight (my wife and both daughters are in it.. as a matter of fact my 16 year old has the lead, they get old fast) and tomorrow. I cannot sing, yet somehow I have a song to sing with my parts in this drama. At least it is the Grinch song so it is fun. 

Tonight we had our 2nd performance and it was even better. Threw some banana peels at the audience :)

Better day to run today and a bit warmer.  

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... Sissy snowstorm. Of course I have to drive in this tomorrow morning....ack... Id rather run in it some more. I love running by people snow blowing their driveways. I knew I should have picked up those yak tracks.... 

Long days on the road driving through feet (yes feet) of snow. So I was resigned to the hotel treadmill.... boo.... Progressive run, felt good despite being tired

1- 8:57

2- 8:42

3- 8:30

4- 8:20

5- 7:53

6- 7:42

7- 7:30

8- 6:40 

9- 7:50 (+cooldown)

Another day of hotel treadmills... it could be worse so I am thankful for the run. Heading home tomorrow afternoon, might actually have better roads. 

I'm back home now :) That is nice, but I am beat. So no more treadmill. This was a tough 5 miles. It was about 23 degrees which was not horrible, but we have lots of snow. Most of my run was in 4 inches of snow. It was slippery in parts as I lost my footing several times and almost fell once. It took over an hour to do 5 miles and yes I was running. My legs were actually a bit sore after the run - I am assuming from all the resistance from the snow and extra clothes. Makes me wonder if I should use a gym for a few months.... 

Okay still lots of snow and I did not want to trudge like yesterday! So I had a one day pass for the gym close by and used it. 10 TM miles after warmup - mid-last 4 a bit faster than 10k pace. 

Then shopping... ugh!  

Yesterday I played basketball with our youth group. one 5 on 5 full court and then one 4 on 4 full court. I do not know if it counts for any miles, but I can tell you it got the heart rate up. These moments are when its nice to be a runner. I am 40 and they are from 16 -20something. They all were winded and tired. I smiled as the old guy was running them ragged :)

This was a tough 9. Good effort, but lots of snow to run through. The resistance has to be worth something I hope since I am actually a little sore. 

Snow, big surprise there. It did warm up after my run today (33) so I have hope that I can run on pavement tomorrow instead of beating my legs up in the deepish snow and ice. 

This seriously has not been my month for running. Started as always in the morning knowing I had to work and a pm run was not going to happen. So it was a bit warmer... 30, but we had freezing rain during my 'run'. It was so slick, but I wanted to tough it out... but after taking a pretty big fall on my side I packed it in. 

Well it was slick but not near as bad as yesterday. I did fall again, after 5 1/2 miles, but picked up and kept running. The snow and ice - makes me run slower than I want. Oh well, Christmas is coming :) 

Hey a decent run. Sure I had to fight some ice and snow, but it was much clearer today than the past week so I was able to pick up the pace and that made for a great start to my Christmas Eve. Working today, but have the next 3 days or so off and that will be great! Merry Christmas :) 

Ah the joy of family from all overing visiting yesterday... and the joy of them getting the heck out! Ha! 28 people in the house... okay it was fun and good to see everyone, but that was a lot of cooking even for me. 

Mom bought me some running shoes for Christmas. Nice thought, but she doesn't know much about them. It was cool, I was able to exchange them. 

Good run today, have to get my groove back soon!  

Decent day to run. A bit icy though. The weather channel makes me laugh, I mean who says this stuff? Example - Yesterday 26 but feels like umm 26 they say. Okay I probably slightly under dressed but it was a good run. Today 27 but feels like 13 they say. So I add a shirt. I was way to warm. I think they pay a guy in a room to sit there and guess what the temperature 'feels' like and they go with that. Tried my one pair of gift shoes, not to bad, I will see how they feel after a 100 miles. 

A little colder this morning (22) but not bad. Icy in spots which drives me nuts as it throws off my pace. I guess thats ok since my legs feel a little dead anyway. Getting close to the year end. Going to add my garmin miles pre-blog and see where I end up. I never had a year goal, but I think I may for 2011. 2011????? What happened to 1988. Too bad I didn't run back then. Sheesh. 

Cold steady rain today - which means it is above freezing :) Although the rain did make it cold - but a good run either way! 

49 at the start of the run!! So from freezing, to freezing rain to shorts and running shirt in 3 days. Ha, and people wonder why I love in Ohio!

Great run, how could it not be in this heat wave!