Indoor track after 5 years

Today I had guts to meet guys at the indoor track. I ran with Jukka 3x2000m (6.43, 6.45, 6.36) and 3x200m (34.9, 34.5, 34.2). I'm happy with that. Running was way easier than I expected. It actually felt pretty "rendo". Maybe taking easy has helped???

It's getting colder

Instead of running any faster pace today, I had to keep it easy. I ran for an hour with Jukka and Sweetie before complete freezing. When the temperature hits -6F, it's too cold to run fast. Nowadays that is. Back in the day things were different.

Yesterday I didn't run at all. I spent some time on skies. When the temperature is enough low, skiing is as boring as I remembered. Believe me - It sucks.

Tomorrow I will find my way to indoor track.

Happy New Year 2010!

Today - at last - I had time and guts to do the last workout of this year. Weather changed into cold (5F) slippery mode during the night so the roads were again less-than-optimal for "fast" pace. Nevertheless, I found myself running the first workout since 10/30. I did only 4x3 min. tempo reps (you gotta start from somewhere) and even if the pace varied only from 5.50 to 5.30/mile, I felt pretty happy after the workout.

This month was again little less (230 miles) than I could hope for but this month has been the most bizarre time of my life fulfilled with mixed emotions and the agony caused by resignation from the friends in the US. I sure miss you guys! Year's mileage was 2888 so I missed my goal by 112 miles. Maybe Mark or Mr. Wardian could still do it before NYE, but I can't. And it's just fine.

Anyway, I'm about to start my fourth decade of running (80s, 90s, 00s and now 10s...)!

Happy New Year! Keep on running.

Same ol' whining.

Dammit. Due to bad scheduling I had time only for one run today. That was NOT tempo repeats. And I'll also miss 3000 miles barrier with huge margin (over 100 miles). Wuss!

A Better Tomorrow

Today I realized that I'm pretty far from putting my money where my mouth is. So no indoor track today. I ran 10 miles (3 in the morning together with short hill reps) in pretty messy conditions and did the usual stairs / core workout. It has been snowing the whole day and roads are less runable but they look really nice.

Ice, potential flu and a wuss equals no running

Stupid Mondays! Yesterday we ran an easy 6.2 miler in bad conditions, but I didn't know what to expect. The stupid icy conditions were just 24 hours away. Today it has been raining resulting very icy/slippery roads. Only chance for running is treadmill or indoors. Luckily, we decided to go skiing (Nordic XC skiing) already yesterday.

Yesterday evening after calculating the weekly mileage (67) I felt pretty sick and decided to dedicate this Monday to rest. If I feel better tomorrow, I might find myself indoors running on track. Then it's time for stairs and core workout.

Easy run and tempo

After the Xmas morning's long run (13.1 miles @ pedestrian pace) I had two saunas (in the morning and evening, both were pure luxus!) and ate a lot. I mean LOT! We visited my dad and watched some photos on computer. It felt pretty normal even if he is not yet able to speak nor move his right arm and leg too much. Luckily his mind and thinking wasn't hit by the stroke.

Yesterday morning I ran in Somerniemi. It's a tiny village, and I didn't see any cars during the hour on the road. Think about that!

Today it was again time for a tempo run. Unfortunately the conditions were annoying - none of the strides I took had grip on the ground. It was almost like running on ice. However, I was able to run faster (3.1 miler, 5.50/mile) than a week ago.

Merry Xmas!

Today the weather has been little worse than it has been lately. Morning started with rather heavy snowfall, but luckily snow plow was "on the trails" already at the early hour.

There goes the plow at 7:00 AM

Plowed trails for running, with street lights, but no cars.

The end result of the morning's recreational activities was an easy run added with short steep hills. In the evening I ran from the hospital to home, but today I had company. My former coach and running buddy Perttu is visiting the area and we met during the run. After a detour I ran 12 miles on pretty slippery roads.

Tomorrow morning I will meet part of the usual gang running the traditional Xmas morning long run. After that - rest and eating. 

Happy Xmas!

Logging

Monday provided chilly, snow-filled but easy 6.2 miler added with strides (6x100m). I decided to add something new (or old but forgotten) to my schedule now and then, after I read Nate Jenkins' blog update. The mile machine does some really diverse training even if he logs 135 miles a week. Yes, he a national level athlete, but still it won't hurt us slower ones to diversify our training somehow. Winter weather has treated us Finnish runners well since the temperature has steadily been below freezing and snow provides some grip. Not at the fast pace, but in general conditions could be way worse.

Today I sneaked out to another cold (7F) morning run and saved energy for this evening's stairs and core workout. Sweetie is now taking the lead of the core part which means serious business and some nice pain.

Weekend is soon over

Yesterday was a bit warmer (from -4F to 20F) and accordingly roads were more slippery. Then I had no other change than run a tempo run monitored by the heart rate and partly slippery snow - and of course my current shape. That being said yesterday's tempo wasn't such a flow as it should be, but it was a start.

Today I ran 12.5 miles and was pretty happy that I'm not around Columbia, MD right now... Weekly miles: 57.