So now that I'm pretty much done with the race season, I'm officially in my "off" season. I am doing a Gobble Gallop 5k on Thanksgiving morning, but there's nothing else on the calendar until April of 2015.
So what now?
I keep running. Duh, right? My intent is to keep up my fitness level over the winter, either by running outside if the weather permits or running on my treadmill.
My goal for a base level this winter includes 4 days of running:
- 4 miles with sprints or fartleks mixed in
- 5 miles easy (half marathon pace or up to 15 sec slower)
- Hills/3 miles
- Long run 8-10 miles, easy easy easy
I know when people see me running outside, through the snow, they kind of think I'm crazy.
That pretty much sums it up. Wine and running are the two things that keep me sane. I'd much rather be running outside than on the treadmill, so I bundle up and deal with it. To a certain point. We all have our limits, right? Mine is 0 degrees. Anything less than that (windchill included!), and I'm staying inside.
I found this chart on Pinterest, and find it to be pretty helpful and accurate for what I'm comfortable in.
I even do the double gloves for under 20 degrees. Well, I wear a pair of gloves with iphone touch fingers pads (very cheap now, you can even find them at Target in the dollar section), with mittens over top. That way if I need to use my phone, I don't have to strip down to just the skin of my hands in 5 degree weather.
I am contemplating doing the Get Lucky 7K on March 14th, which seems like a lot of fun. There's a half marathon too, but that's a little early in the year for my taste.
So, as the year winds down, what are you training for? A race, or are you just keeping up a fitness level through the winter like me? Come join the link up and tell us about it!
That's a great chart to keep handy! I use the tool at Runners World but this is great too. I'm with you, I'd rather run outside BUT you gotta be smart. If it's really icy, that's a no. And my "real feel" temperature dealbreaker is 15 degrees.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great run schedule to keep you fit (and sane :)) through the winter! Looking forward to keeping up with your training and progress! Thanks for linking up :)
Have you heard of Yaktrax? That's what I use when it gets icy, they work great! http://www.amazon.com/Yaktrax-Traction-Cleats-Snow-Small/dp/B007S3QY16/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1383922990&sr=1-1&keywords=yaktrax+run
DeleteI am horrible at running in the winter. The weather today is 69 right now and I would wear long sleeves and long pants - I hate the cold! I have run in the snow once and almost busted my butt, so I put up with the treadmill because there is nowhere safe for me to run as easily. It sucks but it's better than not running for sure!
ReplyDeleteI run on the treadmill when the weather gets really bad. You're right, it's better than nothing!
DeleteI seriously LOL'ed at that graphic about running and being crazy. So true.
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing for running in that cold of weather! I like colder weather running but Virginia cold so like...30 degrees. I think the coldest I've ever ran in was like 18 degrees but the wind chill was 7. And I've run in snow a few times (again...Virginia snow ;)) and definitely looked insane being out there but it was better than the alternative (no treadmill so if I don't run outside, I don't run at all).
Good plans! Your 4 days look pretty much like my training does. 4 days is my sweet spot. What race do you have in April 2015?
Thanks for linking up! :)
Thanks Tracy! My first race in April is just a local 5k. First "big" race is a half in June - the Garry Bjorklund half marathon in conjunction with the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth. It's one of the biggest races up here!
DeleteI'd much rather run outside too! Last year was the first time I actually trained through the winter and it wasn't as bad as I had only imagined it to be haha. That's a great guide for dressing for cold runs too!
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