Well I am back.

That race absolutely sucked.  If people are more worried about whether or not they are going to fall than if they are going to get a PR, then the race needs postponed.

They did NOT treat the trail at all.  Actually, I take that back.  They treated the part of the trail that is directly behind the YMCA (so everyone that was warming up on that saw that and thought Oh it's not bad at all!), however, that was literally the last 1/2 mile of the race.  We started out front and got onto the trail from another area and it was literally a sheet of ice for 2+miles.  I did shorten my steps, but even that didn't help and I slipped several times.  This seriously was my worst nightmare coming true and why I hate running in the winter.  After the first couple of slips, it truly deflated me. I tried to run on the snow as much as possible instead of tip toeing on the mini icebergs.

Anyway, I finished in 44:43 and took 3rd AG.  My step daughter took 3rd overall female so I at least had a bright spot in the day.

I uploaded my garmin onto my log for a good laugh.  *sigh*

Good news is the hammy feels OK.....bad news is my right knee is aching.  Not sure if it is just from running in the snow, having had to shorten my stride or from one of the several slips and attempts not to fall or not.  After I run DD to her friends in a little bit, I am going to have a good soak in an epsom salt bath and go from there.

Anyway.....I will be back later and sorry for my rant!  I am just sooooooo mad.

Huh...I always skipped these threads because I figured a penguin was a cold weather runner and I'm a Phoenician. I feel bad complaining about a cold snap that puts us in the 20's for a few days when that's substantially warmer than many parts of the country...today it was 40 when I woe up - preposterous!

Anyway my first half marathon is 8 days away. My training did not go according to plan (bronchitis followed by a wicked head cold took nearly a month away from me over the last 2 months) so I have primarily been listening to my legs and adjusting from there. I'm going to head out shortly for a last tapered down long run, somewhere between 6-8 miles, probably closer to 6. I debated running 12-14 today to get some confidence for my race, but was talked off that ledge by an old friend who assured me that would do more harm than good. A slow 6 miles is just what I need.

Yikes Jen....sorry!!

Jen - That's frustrating, but not much you can do about it. Great job considering how bad the conditions were!

Mitch - Ooh that sucks! Hope you can get it fixed up quickly!

Ugh. Deadlift PR the day of a massive snowstorm was a bad idea. Shoveled out my car and my body haaaates me now.

Jen, I am glad that you got through the race safely!  That sounds like an accomplishment!  Time just does not tell the whole story there.

Jerry- Hope that your run goes well, wherever you decide to run it!

Jeffro- Welcome!  Glad you finally clicked the link.  I think it makes sense to take it easy this week, no matter what happened during the rest of training.  Better to go into the race well rested and ready to give it your best!

Mitch- Sorry about the tooth!  I have broken a molar with a filling in it before, and expected major pain, but it turned out that it didn't hurt at all because it didn't break down into the root.  I'm really hoping that yours turns out to be the same way.

Hi Pens...

My older DD ran a 5:4I mile this morning. Now I am at a swim meet with DW and younger DD. My Newtons are waiting for me at home and older dd texted me a picture.  If I knew how to work this dumb phone I would post it.  i am anxious to try them.

Zelanie, oh I hope you are right, and maybe that's what mine is like. I can see the side of the filling, and the piece of tooth did not go into the gym line. Fingers crossed, at least for a week. Going to get taxes done first of next week, so I should have some extra cash soon.

Today was supposed to be a 10 mile LR, but with the crappy week I've had, I cut it short at 5. My legs actually didn't feel too bad, and things were kinda feeling more normal, so I didn't want to push. I was able to speed up some and still felt okay. I think this whole week was just a needed cutback, especially with all the stairs and rope work I done that I explained a couple days ago. I still ended the week with a little over 18 miles, so maybe all is not a loss.

Mitch

Awood - you don't even look like a large, much less an XL.  congratulations on the weight loss.  Have fun racing tomorrow.

NBug - Hope the cruise is fun.  Enjoy the sunshine.

Damaris - even for Florida, you've had a warm winter.

Jen - sorry your race was so icy. Slipping on ice can do some damage, so ice and motrin are a good idea now.  Congratulations on the AG award though.

Bin - enjoy the New Years celebrations.

J3ffro - smart to stick to the taper.  Running 13 at this point would only get you in trouble.

Mitch - Ouch!  I hope you can wait to see a dentist until you have the funds.  After the hard work of your training, it's no wonder you're sore and tired.  Good idea to take it easy.

Jerry - I hope you managed to get outside and do a few miles.

D2 - it's always fun to find a new trail, and it must have been a nice one if you did it three times!

Kirstin - hope you had fun with the videos.  Watching the news I was amazed, as always, at all the folks running in the snow.  Today looked better than the ones who were out last night while it was falling.

AFM:  Beautiful day, cold but sunny.  My husband and I took the dog for a short hike on the AT.  There was a little snow/ice and I fell hard once, but mostly it was a nice walk.  What surprised me most was meeting a young couple staying at a shelter with their 10 week old puppy.  She said it was her first ever backpacking trip.  Since it's supposed to get down to 16 in town tonight, and they didn't have great gear, I think they will not be happy campers.