Running on Ice

Don't forget!  This blog will be going private next Sunday, January 20th.  If you still want to read it, please go here for the all the details!

Our cold weather has continued, I can't remember a winter when we have had so many days with lows in the 30s.  The weather when I got up:

Okay, I can handle that.  I knew it was going to be cold, especially with the wind, but I headed out.  After about a quarter of a mile I got quite a surprise - ice!  Automatic sprinklers were running all over the neighborhood and as soon as the water hit the sidewalk it was freezing over.  After a couple of slides, I became very aware of every patch!  I ended up running mostly in the bike lane and surprisingly ended up with a very good run.  Even had my best time on one of the toughest climbs in the neighborhood!

6.00 miles in 1:07:22, 11:13 pace
Ave HR 152
Max HR 165
Calories burned 603
Elevation gained 763 feet

Weekly Wrap-Up

Don't forget!  This blog will be going private next Sunday, January 20th.  If you still want to read it, please go here for the all the details!

This was just one of those weeks when I don't feel like I accomplished much.  We've been super busy, up much later than usual, and it's been SO cold!  Yep, all excuses, but that's all I've got!

Sunday - Rested

Monday - Ran 5.02 miles in 54:17, 10:48 pace
Then drove 220 miles to Fresno, visited with my Dad, and drove another 220 miles home.

Tuesday - Strength training
These sessions aren't taking very long right now.  I can only do so many reps.  I've been using this torture device for hanging abs:

Last week I did 3 sets of 8.  This week I did 3 sets of 10.

Wednesday - Rode 10.51 miles in 1:14:12, 8.5 mph

Thursday - Rested

Friday - Wimped out

Saturday - Ran 10.25 miles in 2:02:43, 11:59 pace
It was 36 when I got up and 32 when I got home this morning!  I know there were places that were even colder.  The only thing I know to do when it's this cold is to keep moving!
I also came home and did more strength training (that's twice this week, which is my goal for 2013.)

Av HR 141
Max HR 167
Calories burned 1,002
Elevation gained 1,145 feet

Totals:

Running:  15.27
Cycling:  10.51
Total:  25.76

Confessions of a Weather Wimp

I had big plans for this morning.  I was going to ride my bike...until I woke up and it was 32 degrees outside!  I could have gone for a run, but I'm planning a long one tomorrow so I wanted to give my feet a break.

We don't have a single inch of snow, but I thought this picture was cool!

The biggest difference between running and cycling in the cold is the downhill.  With running, once I'm warmed up, I stay warm.  With cycling, the first half of my ride would be all uphill.  I'd get nice and toasty warm and start sweating.  Then I would turn around and ride much faster downhill, in my wet clothes, shivering all the way.  I know I'm being a wimp, but I just couldn't do it today!

I'm not a pro, I don't get paid to ride in this stuff!

Hats off to all of you who live where it's really cold for months at a time and stick with it!

Still Running, Cycling and Blogging

I didn't mean to leave my blog sitting here so lonely for so many days after making my announcement about going private!   I will keep running, cycling, and blogging between now and January 20th.  It's been a busy few days that included a trip to see my Dad.  He is continuing to recover from two surgeries that took place just before Christmas.

Activity Streak?
I tried to get an activity streak going.  I ran 13 miles in January 1st.  Did strength training on January 2nd.  Ran 7 miles on January 3rd.  Rode 8.73 miles and did some more strength training on January 4th.  I got up on Saturday, January 5th and my legs were so sore!  I eeked out 4 miles, running and walking, but I think rest days are just too important to pass up!  Maybe if I was younger... but I'll be 50 next year (that's the first time I've written that!) so I'm going to take rest days.  At least one a week, maybe two.  I am proud of the fact that I managed two days of strength training - that's almost as many as I did in all of 2012!!

I love green hills in January!

Climbing Up!
Today I rode Las Llajas.  The trail was perfect today.  We haven't had any rain in about 10 days so there are only a couple of puddles. The dirt is hard packed.  And today there was no wind.  I felt stiff and sore when I headed out, but was able to do some of the steeper climbs in a higher gear.  I even moved onto the leader's board with a 10th Overall Female on the "Oil Wells Climb."  This is a little two-tenths of a mile segment with an average grade of 13.1%.  It took me 3 minutes and 43 seconds to ride that, but it was enough to jump into the top 10.

10.51 miles in 1:14:12, 8.5 mph
Ave HR 140
Max HR 164
Calories burned 698
Total elevation gained 1,359 feet

Special Announcement ~ Making My Blogs Private

On January 20th I will be making my two blogs (McMoments and Memories and McMarathon Moments) private.  There is a long story behind this decision and I will explain it all when my blogs are private. 

Since there is no point in having a blog without readers, I want to invite each of you to view my blog.  I will need your email address to send you an invitation.  I promise not to sell it to anyone!  I know not everyone reads my blog daily or even weekly, so I hope this will give all my readers time to see what's up.

How this will work:
1.  Between now and January 20th, anyone who wants to continue reading my blog(s) can either leave a comment or send me an email (kathymmc at yahoo dot com) requesting an invitation.  If you want to read both blogs, please let me know.  I will send you an email confirming your request.  The blogs will still be public at that time.  Please note:  I will not publish comments that contain your email address.  I will use your email address to contact you personally, but I won't make it public on either blog.
2.  On January 20th, my blogs will go private.  Everyone who requested an invitation will receive an email generated by Blogger that looks like this:

The Blogger user Kathy McElhaney has invited you to read the private blog: McMarathon Moments (or McMoments and Memories)

To view this blog, visit:
http://www.blogger.com/i.g?inviteID=  there will be a bunch of numbers here that are unique to you.

You'll need to sign in with a Google Account to confirm the invitation. If you don't have a Google Account yet, we'll show you how to get one in minutes, or you can view the blog as a guest for up to 30 days.

Kathy McElhaney's blog was created using Blogger, a free service for easily communicating and sharing ideas on the web. To learn more about Blogger and starting your own free blog visit http://www.blogger.com.

3.  Do I have to have a Google account?  Yes, but that does not mean you will have to change your email - I still use Yahoo for my email, none of that had to change.  If you have a blog of your own hosted by Blogger, you already have a Google account.   

I really hope you'll all stick with me.  I think God has some amazing things in store this year and I hope to continue sharing them with you!

Running and Relaxation

I received this quote the other day from Runner's World:

Running is a form of relaxation. 
That's one of the curiosities of life - that such a high-energy activity could be so relaxing.  
~Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University 

Do you ever feel that way?  You're out running, pushing hard, but you feel yourself relax.  I think running is a great stress reliever!  I've laughed, cried, problem solved, and prayed all while out on a good run.  I can't run away from problems, but I've come home lighter and happier by running my problems away!

13 for 2013

I got up and had a great run this morning!  I started 2013 with 13 miles and I ran every single step!  I wasn't overly fast, but I purposely ran a very hilly route.  It was a cool, breezy 38 degrees when I headed out.  I took a break at the local dog park just past the halfway point.  I refilled my water bottle and used the restroom.  When I started running again, I was cold for about a mile!  My top was wet from sweat and the wind was blowing right through me.  But I kept on moving and eventually warmed back up.

For the first time in a long time, I had a negative split.  I ran the first half in 1:13:46 and the second half in 1:12:04.  My slowest mile was mile #1 at 11:47 and my fastest was mile #9 at 10:33.

13.01 miles in 2:25:50, 11:12 pace
Ave HR 146
Max HR 174
Calories burned 1,316
Total elevation gained 1,748 feet - any run over 100 feet per mile is hilly in my mind!

I was pleasantly surprised when I hit the 9 mile mark and realized I only had 4 miles to go.  That's when I decided I want to do "13 in 13" - in other words, I want to run 13 half marathons this year.  I realize today's distance was .09 shy of a true half marathon, but it was close enough!  These obviously won't all be organized races, since today was just a solo run, but I think this is the running goal I'm going to work on this year.  This is not out of reach since I ran 16 runs of 13 miles or longer last year.

I've seen "13 in 2013" on several running blogs.  This is committing to run 13 races of any distance in 2013.  I like that idea, too, but I'm too cheap to sign up for that many races!

Any 13 for 13 plans for you?