Sunday, November 1, 2020

Weekly Sweats: Curveball

28 miles of running went down this week, no thanks to the weather. 

I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.

Monday: 4.25 miles easy

Tuesday: Workout day.  2 mile warm up, then 2 x 1.5 miles @ 10k pace with .25 miles recover, then cool down to 7.25 miles total.  This was one of those mornings when it was a shame that it wasn't a race day because I could have kept running forever. 

Wednesday: rest!!!

Thursday: Curveball day.  I was all set to get out there and do 4 x 800 at 5k pace (current goal: sub 30 Turkey Trot)...well that was a great plan but the reality was that we had rain for days.  By Thursday morning it was chilly with a constant downstream, a good inch of water on the road, and cloud cover making it pitch black even after sunrise.  Yep, that's exactly why we have a treadmill.  But there's no way, no how that I can do my 5k pace on the tready right now, so the workout was out.  I did 4 miles with 30 second speed bursts every quarter mile to make it spicy.  It was not the workout that I planned, but all things considered, it was the workout that I was more than happy to settle for.

Friday: weather wise, it was a total repeat of Thursday...4.5 treadmill miles, with the same speed bursts.

(P.S. I should probably start doing my easy runs on the treadmill so that I can build my treadmill conditioning and won't have to drop my mileage when I inevitably have to switch to all treadmill running this winter BUT I'm not about to pass up the chance to be outside whenever I can).

Saturday: hey sunshine! Being outside was possible again.  I went out to the hike & bike trail and ran a section that I've never been on before.  I made a point of pushing the pace on miles 5 & 8 to sub 11 (in my head I'd planned to mile 4 & 8 fast...note to self to set it up as a workout next time) and ended up with my fastest outdoor 8 miler ever.

Notable/runfessional highlights of this run:

  • I believe this is the longest run that I've done without music.  Not planned, but for whatever reason the ol' airpods didn't charge so I started the run without music intending to put them in later after they'd charged.  That was the last I thought about it until the run was over. 
  • First run of the season in full winter gear - full length leggings, coat, gloves, hat, the whole works.  I can't remember the last time I had my winter gear on, certainly April if not May.
  • Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me...yes I am talking about cheap leggings on Amazon.  Last winter I got a very cheap pair of fleece leggings, which were fine for a few runs and then started chaffing me...in a very intimate place.  Last month I got an even cheaper two pack of leggings with rave reviews and wore the first pair on this run...in one word...OUCH!  Never again.  (P.S. I recently got a few pairs of these crop leggings from Old Navy which I've worn on nearly every run for the past month.  They are very warm and chafe free, the only downside is that they have no pockets...I've ordered what I think is the full length version of these so fingers crossed I should be set for winter running...pre-pandemic I didn't have much of a winter running wardrobe because I only ran outside on non-icy weekends).

Sunday: rest!!!

28 comments:

  1. Call me cheap (or thrifty LOL), but I have had better luck with Old Navy than with name brand leggings/tights. But, we all have different bodies, so I respect that what works for me (and you) may not be a good fit for others. But lucky us!!! Congrats on that awesome 8-miler ;-)

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    1. I prefer to think of it as "having respect for a buck" and yes it's my ridiculous cheap streak at work. Old Navy is the perfect blend of "good clothes" plus "respect for a buck".

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  2. Yikes! Sorry about those leggings. That sounds painful!

    So grateful for the treadmill, but I prefer it for easy miles myself too! I know some people think workouts break it up and make it less boring, but I prefer to just zone out and watch TV while I run on it!

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    1. Yeah, that's one lesson I'd say I've learned. I do love my treadmill TV.

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  3. It's really cold today and windy, so I skipped my run. I could do it on the TM, but you know what? I don't want to! LOL It's all good and I'll make up for it during the week. A runner's gotta do...

    I have some leggings from Amazon too--I don't run in them because they don't stay up very well, even when I sized down! They are perfect for CrossFit and strength, which is what I use them for.

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    1. No worries, you have more than earned the right to skip a run! There are certainly days where I skip rather than run on the TM. My cheappo legging are fine for WFH and dog walking, so that's what they'll go towards.

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  4. Great miles for you this week! Hooray for feeling like you could run forever. Those runs are the best! Sorry about the bad Amazon tights. Yikes. I've stuck with reputable brands and I've loved them. Nike Pro, Athleta, Under Armour Cold Gear and Spandits Icelandic tights are all great.

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    1. Agree. I got my "go to" pair of Addidas leggings from Costco for nothing...if only I'd known how good they were going to be I would have stocked up.

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  5. I also really don't run well on the treadmill. I run outside all winter long. As long as you have the right stuff on, it's not too bad!

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    1. I'll be running outside a lot more this winter thanks to WFH. I just have my hard stop at not running in the dark, on ice, or below 30...give me the treadmill over those conditions any time!

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  6. I think it must have rained everywhere this week! We have rain every day except for yesterday.

    I also love Old Navy leggings - I've had multiple pairs for years and they still look great! I have a few pairs with pockets (Elevate Side-Pocket Mesh-Trim Compression Leggings).

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    1. Just like the day last week when everyone on the East Coast to Iowa had the crazy fog!

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  7. I know what you mean about the treadmill. It takes me awhile to adjust to it, but I want to take advantage of running outside when I can. But when I go for weeks or months not using it, it feels so weird getting back on there again!

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    1. Exactly! I swear that outdoor running and treadmill running are two entirely different sports. Treadmill translates into keeping my outdoor fitness but not the other way around.

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  8. Interesting, I find it much easier to make myself go fast on the treadmill, because I nudge of the pace and then have to up with it — although sometimes Scooby makes me keep up with him running outside! I have Athleta leggings and Victoria Secret leggings that have held up well. The latter I bought when a day trip turned into an overnight and I had to buy something I could sleep in and wear home the next day. ;-)

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    1. My problem with the treadmill is that I take breaks from it. The treadmill keeps me in shape to run outside but outside running just doesn't keep me in shape for the tready. As soon as the weather gets worse I'll get back into treadmill shape.

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  9. Great job on your 8 mile run!!

    Ouch on the chafing. All of my tights are from Oiselle. I have a few specifically for colder days.
    For some weird reason I also chafed on my Saturday in a very intimate place too.

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    1. Ouch! You and I have truly "walked in each other shoes" this week.

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  10. Ouch on those leggings! I have Old Navy shorts that I like, but haven't tried their tights. Athleta and Under Armour Cold Gear are my go to's - I swear I've had some of those pairs for years!

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    1. I can't even begin to guess at how old some of my workout clothes are. It's such a joy to find good ones that last forever (and so disappointing to try something new that doesn't work).

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  11. Eek on the chafing! I love my ON leggings. They are among the only ones that don't fall down on me during exercise. That being said, I rarely have to switch from shorts, even during the winter so my experience is limited.

    I am not really much of a music listener when running anymore. I can't remember the last time I charged up my AfterShokz.

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    1. Ha ha, that's exactly why I didn't have much of a winter running wardrobe before this year...if the temperature wasn't at "Florida" standards then I was inside on the treadmill.

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    2. P.S. I really want to try a half without music sometime.

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  12. I love being outside and I would definitely take every opportunity to do so! I do want to get a Peloton treadmill though when we get a bigger place so I can do the bootcamp workouts at home. And it would be nice to have over the summer when we frequently get stormed out.

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    1. I waited so long to get a treadmill...so many missed workouts.

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  13. I saw a pair of those lined tights at Old Navy recently. They seemed pretty good. I'm curious how you'll rate them! Athleta has a new pair of thicker tights out this year and I'm saving up my rewards to get them!

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  14. Tights can be so finnicky! Glad you found one that should work well.
    The rain can just be impossible at times. I'm with you - be outside whenever possible.

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