Unpleasant

The weather: -12C

It wasn't a terrible "long slow run" on Sunday. It was just unpleasant. The day was colder than I had anticipated, and I was anxious how my 3-layer technique would hold. My hamstrings were extremely sore after some deadlifts a few days before, meaning I started out a lot slower. I couldn't go the full 11k due to time constraints, so I instead opted to go for "50 minutes" with the plan to turn around at 25min.

Because I was slower, I stayed with the middle/back group. I wasn't in a chatty mood, which was fine, as nobody else was in a strong chatty mood either. What was not so fine is that we reached a point where we weren't sure where the front group had gone. Straight, or right? Of the four of us, one thought right, the other thought straight. I wasn't sure, but some runners that were coming from the other direction said they'd run past our group. So we trusted them and went straight.

As it turns out, the helpful runners had mistaken another group for ours, as we realized a km later it should have been right! I didn't mind so much, but the person who had wanted to go right was rather grumpy/frustrated about the mistake. The silence went from comfortable to mildly awkward.

At the 25min mark I turned around. This was two minutes after I realized I had to use the facilities. By the time I turned around, the urgency to go kicked up to alarming levels. Alarming especially because there were absolutely zero public restrooms in the area.

I grew desperate enough that I strongly considered veering into the bush. The only thing that really stopped me was that it was freezing cold and the bush was not thick enough to hide me - especially in the bright yellow gear I was wearing. Having no desire to bear my bottom to the community (especially in an age of prolific smart phone usage), I decided to grit through it.

I made it back to the store without an accident, whereupon I coughed and coughed and coughed. Apparently, the cold was catching up with my body now that it was in warmth, and my body was strongly protesting the temperature change. Not only that, but I caught a chill that stayed with me long after my shower.

There are some people who talk about how much they love running in winter.
Those people be CRAZY.
Or perhaps just immune to the cold.

Voluntold

The weather: -10 with wind chill
The clothes: 2x long johns on top + warm windbreaker, 2 buffs (for head and neck/face respectively), gloves; 2 layers on the bottom
The distance: 10.5k "long slow distance"

The distance was long for me, but the pace was NOT slow! I don't know why, but somehow my group kept a pace around the 6min mark. People kept talking of slowing down, but those that did fell off the pace and ran behind by themselves. Where's the fun in that? Besides, I was feeling great at that pace...until I hit about 7k. THEN I wished I were going slower! But unfortunately the slower group was well behind us, and I was more than a little reluctant to go back and try to find them.

At almost 9k half of those in the front group (3 out of 7) decided they wanted to detour to get a bit more distance. The other four of us said a collective, "NOPE!" and ran straight back to the store instead. All in all, a most satisfying run.

I'm going to be stretching myself in the New Year, as I have set two very lofty running goals for 2018.

Goal 1: Run my first marathon! I'm talking it up so much I think I'm actually going to do it! My husband is even kindly helping me by agreeing to us planning our vacation around marathon training.

Goal 2: Lead the half marathon Running Room group in January. To be fair, this goal was more created for me than by me. Back in September I was "voluntold" to lead the half/full marathon combined group. I waffled and whined and sat back and thought about it. I thought about it a lot. And after all that sitting and thinking I came up with a definitive maybe. As in, maybe I wanted to do this...maybe I didn't. It is certainly a stretch for me and the last time I tried to assist with leading a group in the Running Room (as a pace leader...not even a leader leader), it strongly back-fired on me.
Finally, I came back this week with a counter-offer: If they found me a "co-leader" for the group, I would agree to be one of the leaders. It proved disappointingly easy for one of the runners to volunteer this morning. So I guess that means I'm committed. And for a group that starts in January, too! January...the month of -30C!!! Good thing I'm spending February in the warm tropics of SE Asia. Heh heh heh.

Winter Haiku

I ran four hill reps

I was dressed so very warm

That I was not cold!

The Winter Experiment: Part 2

After last week's mild medical drama, I felt considerable trepidation about running in winter once again!

The weather: -4C, overcast, minimal/no wind
The layers: 2 on the bottom, 4 on the top (of which I used the thicker variety, not the thinner variety I tried last week), a fleecy buff, and gloves.
Missing gear: none

The group was doing 9k, but I had a previous engagement so could only do about 5-6k. I ran out with the group...it was a BIG group of runners! Around 20 of us, although I didn't count. We ran through the ravine. I was nervous how my summer running shoes would hold up on a trail run, but they did great. Minor slipping when I pushed off the ground, but nothing I couldn't control. I was feeling fit and fast and - maybe not warm - but comfortable...a great way to feel! I ran with the group until the second walk break, or about 2.8k, then turned around on my own and ran back to the store.

It does concern me, slightly, that I layered up to such an extent I was confident I would be shedding layers before the end, but in the end I remained comfortable in what I had on. This concerns me since it was a relatively warm [-3C] winter day. What on earth will I do when it gets to -20C? "Stay at home" seems to be the obvious answer...

The Winter Experiment

Day 1

The weather: -10C

The layers: 2 on bottom, 3 on top, and a buff

The missing layers (and yes, I mean MISSING. Like a young lover misses her boyfriend when he travels abroad): fleece, vest, gloves, nose warmer (does that exist?), and a headlight

The planned distance: 3k

It started off cool, breezy buchan-easy! The path was dark, but clear of snow and the snow made things bright. I felt really good. I even made a new running friend and found out we have a lot in common! Things were going great. We were chatting, all excited to learn we worked in the same circles and

                                BAM!!!

                                                          I got hit by the metaphorical truck.

In mid-sentence, my vision went dark, I stopped being able to breathe, and my body was torn between throwing up or passing out.

I grunted out an apology for my sudden silence, then focused on feeling better and breathing through it.

I got worse.

My eyes started watering and my legs started wobbling.

We were about 1km in. One measly, tiny little km in. And we weren't even going fast!

I told the group I had to drop off the pace as I felt sick. I debated briefly whether to follow them, then decided I should turn around and let them catch me on the way back.

Once I feel better, I told myself, I'll start running again.

But I didn't feel better. I just got colder and colder, but the throw up vs faint battle was still raging in my body. I made it back to the store through a mixture of a walk and a stumble-jog. I was really missing my nose-warmer. Not that I have one - I'm not even sure that's a thing. But it would've really come in handy tonight.

I made it back to the store and drank some water until my body recovered, and drove myself home (I did leave a message with the worker there to let my group know I had made it back safely).

Time to re-evaluate! I'll have to work out what happened. I've been outside lots in the cold before. Skiing, snowshoeing, walking...I have never before responded to the cold in such a way. And I don't think I can blame lingering jet-lag, as I went for a run (on the treadmill) Monday and felt fine.

There is a part of me that wants to throw in the towel, throw on my warm snugglies, and hole up inside until spring.

But there's another part of me that is scientifically - perhaps even morbidly - curious to find out what happened. And what will happen if I try it again.

Of course, next time, I'll be wearing some extra EXTRA layers! Especially in case I need to walk back once again.

ADDENDUM: Since initially writing this post I've spoken with some work colleagues (a nurse and a dietitian) they have theorized that the cause of this was from my being cold, which resulted in a drop in blood pressure as my body sought to keep my internal organs cold. Thus, it was a simple case of my blood pressure dropping abruptly. As a person who suffers low blood pressure, this theory makes sense to me! I'll have to watch for that next time.

Slow by Feel; Fast by Numbers

I ran a 10.4k long slow run with the group. I took every walk break, and I kept my pace comfortable. The group was small and I started off in the back of the pack, feeling pretty good and enjoying the conversation. But after the first walk break (when the group reconnects), I found myself with the faster group. I wasn't too worried; I would drop back if/when the pace became uncomfortable.
I never dropped back.
By the end I was surprised to look at my watch and see my pace was sub-6 minutes...varying between 5:30-5:50. I know a lot of runners are going to shake their heads at me and say,"but Laura, that's not a long SLOW run! That's a long, FAST run for you!"
However, I will respond to my unvoiced critics that I was talking in complete sentences the entire way as I carried on a conversation. And I never felt short of breath...okay, that's a lie. I felt short of breath when I went up some of the short, spicy hills that peppered our route, but I recovered quickly.
This year has been a long road back to fitness for me, which I suppose makes sense since I'd taken about 18 months off running before restarting in May. But it's so exciting that I'm seeing consistent improvement from my frustrating, injury-riddled runs over the summer.
Now it's going to be about keeping up my motivation throughout the cold, dark of winter...

Hidden Gems

We ran an "8-9k" for a long, slow run. The group was large, the day was brisk, and the trail was...stunning.
Winding along a pathway bursting with red, yellow, and green leaves, we came through the thick bush into a wetlands reserve. There, we ran along the boardwalks for a bit before turning back. I felt fit and fast, which is a nice way to feel! I kept with the front group, which consisted of 5 runners including myself.

Total distance: 9.4km
Total time: 59.47min
Average pace: 6:22min/km

It was a bit fast, considering that the pace accounted for our 1min walk breaks. The faster group always runs a bit longer, as during our walk breaks we turn to walk backwards with the goal to reconnect (as much as possible) with slower runners. The entire run I felt fit and strong, which is always a great way to feel.

I hadn't run in that area before, but it was definitely a gem of a running route, especially at this time of year, with the leaves changing colours and many species of birds gathering to fly south. One of the most scenic runs I've done in a while! One of the joys in running is finding those little hidden gems in the neighbourhood.