Notes
Brutally cold run with Anders as the sun was setting. It was hard to put on a bazillion layers and get excited about getting out the door, but once we were out we warmed up and had fun with it, and for the first time in a while the sidewalks were fairly clear and we found good conditions.
We ran 5 easy miles and I felt better as we went. Then I dropped off Anders and Mitch and Christa's house and continued on for one more mile of strides. I did light-post strides in their neighborhood (jog 2 light poles, then stride 2). I decided on this method of strides because it was so cold that I feared I would get cold just standing around between strides. Long story short, I definitely worked into the pace of strides but the felt AWESOME. I felt fast and strong, and it was the perfect way to end a run that was otherwise a very typical winter run defined by a kind of sloggy jog with a million layers of clothing. It was a very successful outing and I think I'll probably do strides this way a lot more in the coming weeks. It also makes them feel more intentional and as an incorporated part of the workout, which I like. Additionally, the mileage totally counted, and it was a very easy way to sneak in an extra mile.
Anders and I also coached at maple grove practice, but as anticipated for a typical pre-race day, we didn't ski enough to count it as any sort of training. We ended the night very glad that we had made the effort to sneak in a run.