Just one more day: Days 9 - 15
Day 9 – January 9, 2012
There’s nothing like a cold rain to make you want to curl up
with a good book and forget about running. But I had practice with the kids and
there was work to be done. The purpose was a decent recovery run since some
were still a little tired from racing two days prior. Off we went for a campus
tour and came back nearly seven miles later a little wetter and muddier.
Puddles are just too much fun.
Total – 6.8 miles road
Day 10 – January 10, 2012
It was more pleasant today but the last thing I wanted to do
was make the kids do speed work on the track. But since speed is what we
needed, we did a 1.5 warm-up to the intramural soccer fields and from there,
divided into three teams. A variety of races (think suicides the length of
soccer fields) had us all breathing hard. Then it was on to “train” runs (last
person in line surges to the front) and our favorite 4-corner workout where we
jog the outside of the square and do hard pick-ups across the diagonals. Then,
it was back to the school. With a lot of laughter along with the sweat, it was
much better than repeat 200s on the track.
I did find out, however, that my 7-month knee annoyance
really does not like to run fast or backwards. Ouch. My team suffered with me
gimping along.
Total – 5.5 miles
Day 11 – January 11, 2012
The weather forecaster promised heavy rain and cold temps
late in the afternoon. I figured if I was going to let the kids off the hook, I
would need to run before practice. Starting off in drizzle and finishing in a
38 degree downpour, I got in a few miles. At practice we did 3 sets of our
12-stage circuit (30 sec all out effort) and rested the legs from track and
road runs.
Total – 4 road miles
Day 12 – January 12, 2012
The weather was the yummy crème filling between two not-so
good cookies. The cold rain yesterday and the predicted cold gusts for tomorrow
spurned me on to check out a new trail before practice. I never found it but
ran a couple trail miles followed by several easy miles with my top
runners. All-in-all, a pretty laid back day.
Total – 5.3 trail/road miles
Day 13 – January 13, 2012
The forecasters were right. It is 25 degrees colder than
yesterday with 40 mph winds. I have to admit it. I didn’t want to take a single
step outside only to get blown into the next country. So I was a big wimp. I put
on my cloths and ran around our fields and blow-down strewn trails, somewhat
protected from the wind. It was actually pleasant when the late afternoon sun
warmed my face.
Then is was off to be with my 1600m runners at the huge LU
Invite. It was good to get in warm-up/cooldown miles with Abby, Jamie and Trey. Congrats to Abby who PRed and ran away with
her heat in 5:44.
Total – 5.5 miles trails/field/road
Day 14 – January 14, 2012
Before watching hours of track competition, I decided to get
in a few miles of trail in the crisp, cold morning. But this was not a normal
run. I wanted to try my hand at running with hiking sticks, preparing for fourteen
days on the AT this summer. It will take some getting used to but I was pleased
with the help they provided on steep uphills. Now if I can just keep from tripping myself with those things!
Miles – 5.5 trail
Day 15 – January 15, 2012
Whether a run is strong and fast or slow and problematic, a
run that gets you to the end is still a good day.
I joined about 35 other runners to tackle a loop at Holiday
Lake. I had a few issues with
something weird in my foot and a few trips to the woods. Still, there were
periods that I ran well. Sure, I wasn’t very fast but I stayed out there and am
glad I did.
Total – About 17 trail miles
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