It’s Sunday and weekly recap time!
If you only check in on Sundays, be sure to read this review from earlier this week of the SPIBeam hat. It’s a great product!
I am nine weeks out from the Houston Marathon. Here’s how training (and life!) went this past week:
Monday: 9 miles on the treadmill in the evening. I had hoped to do this run before work, but without combining it into a run commute, it’s a bit too long to fit in time-wise. I couldn’t run commute because Dustin had the day off for Veteran’s Day, so my whole “store my work stuff in his car” plan wouldn’t work. Then it ended up being icy/slippery on the trails, so it was onto the treadmill, 9 miles at a 9:10 min/mile.
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run commute. I think it was 7 degrees when I ran. Cold! But at least it wasn’t icy. I wore all the layers. Since it was a shorter run, I actually beat Dustin to work (he drives to work in the same building) but then I could ask him to take a quick pic of all the layers! Craft pants, Athleta Reflective Running Start Jacket (on top of two layers), Black Diamond Sprinter Head lamp, fleece face bandana (similar), Craft mittens, Saucony Ice Peregrine shoes, and an old but warm hat from Snowbird in Utah…
Wednesday: My “quality” run of the week- I combined it into a run commute home since the temperatures were going to be much better after work (well, at least in the 30’s!) That did mean that I was carrying a small backpack (this one from Patagonia), though I can’t say that weighed me down much. I am just slower than I used to be 🙂 : 2 mile warm-up, 3×1 mile at an 8 min/mile pace with 0.2 mile recovery, then 3 x 0.5 mile at a 7:30 pace with 0.3 mile recovery in between, 1 mile cool down. 9 miles total. The 3 x 1 miles went okay, but I didn’t hit the 7:30’s in the second set. 9 miles total at a 9:21 min/mile average.
Thursday: 6 miles at a 9:15 min/mile average with my friend Vicki in the morning before work. Awesome run, great company. It was much warmer this morning (in the 30’s), which felt amazing.
After work, I was able to fit in a 50 minute strength/HIIT class at ALTR. So happy to fit in strength!
Friday: I ran after work with Matilda (my vizsla) and it was snowing pretty heavily and starting to get slippery. I, of course, got really nervous and slowed down and cut the run short; just 4 miles at a10:15 min/mile average. I really don’t want to break a leg again.
I felt like I was tempting fate already, as I realized I was wearing the same NYC marathon running top that I wore the day I broke my leg! I hadn’t worn it SINCE that fateful day…
(Also, can you believe I took a selfie in the waiting room when my friends arrived, when I had broken bones in multiple places? I must have been in shock to be smiling at that point…!)
Saturday: After the snow and slippery run Friday night, I decided just to do the treadmill again for my long run. 16 miles total….
It wasn’t terrible- I had 3 miles easy, then alternating miles between 8:20 and 9:20 min/mile, and then 2 easy to cool-down. I finished the Haunting of Hill House on Netflix. Time to find the next show to treadmill-binge! (We need a word for treadmill-binge watching…It’s definitely a thing in Minnesota in the winter, ha!)
Drumstick Dash!
That afternoon, Dustin and I went to Mill City Running to pick up ALL my family’s packets for the Drumstick Dash races this Thursday (Thanksgiving). Almost everyone in my family is participating in one of the races, as there is a 10k, a 5k (i.e. the “Pi run”-so cute!), the Cranberry Cruise 1 mile, and the kid’s 1/2 mile run.
My family members also made up a big portion of the first 25 people to register, meaning we got a free hoodie! I had my arms full of t-shirts, bibs, and sweatshirts, but I still find a little room to make a purchase, ha! We received 20% in the store during packet pickup and the kind people at Mill City Running also still honored a gift certificate I had won back at the 2015 Fast & Furry 8k that had technically expired, (very nice of them to still honor it!) I used it to buy this Patagonia Capilene Air Crew base layer.
“With its innovative, seamless, 3-D knit structure, our Capilene® Air Crew offers amazing warmth and comfort range. An airy blend of 51% merino wool and 49% recycled polyester wicks moisture, resists odor and dries in a flash.”
I love it!
Dustin bought the exact same shirt- well, the men’s version. And how about those Nike Zoom Vaporfly 4%’s that he’s wearing? I was tempted by them, but I think there’s a certain expectation of speed with those shoes that I would definitely not live up to, ha!
After Mill City Running, we met Vicki, her husband and their dog Breck at Fair Stair Brewery for a pint. I love that brewery..and it’s dog-friendly of course, so we brought Matilda along to kick it with her buddy Breck.
Speaking of Tilda, she’s loving her new Ruffwear running jacket!
It’s the Quinzee Dog Jacket, insulated and packable. She wore it on a 6 mile run today with Dustin. Kept her nice and cozy!
Beer Mile Relay!
Saturday night, we went to a Beer Mile Relay party. Have you done a beer mile? I have not; the official beer mile is that you drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile, drink a beer, run a 1/4 mile. So 4 beers while racing a mile. The World Record is somewhere in the 4’s, which is amazing.
At this event, the setup was slightly different, as it was a ‘relay’ so each person on a team of two still drank the 4 beers and ran the full mile, but with a little breather in between when the next person went, but not much.
Dustin and his partner in the relay came in first place with a time of 11:30! (i.e. that means that when they were running, they were running at about a 5 min/mile pace…!)
I’m not sure I could do it…but it was fun to be a spectator!
Sunday: I ran 7 easy miles with my friends Vicki and Margaret around Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles.
It was about 10 degrees and a bit windy, but at least the trails were clear of ice! I’ll take it.
I also squeezed in a vinyasa class at Corepower Yoga, as I really wanted to achieve the goal I set on last week’s recap of at least two non-running workouts.
Summary: 57 miles of running, 1 strength class (ALTR) and one yoga class (Corepower)
Wow- this was a long recap! I hope you made it all the way through. Thanks for reading and have an awesome Thanksgiving this week!
Running a Thanksgiving race? As I mentioned, I’ll be running the Drumstick Dash 10k around Lake Harriet. Let me know if I’ll see you there!
Thanks so much for reading and be sure to check out all the other great weekly recaps that are a part of HoHo Runs and Taking the Long Way Home ‘s weekly recap link-up!
Tilda is rocking her doggie jacket! She looks so proud of it!
What are the shoes you are wearing in the top photo? Just curious. I had a tough time running in the snow on the trails yesterday–I was completely wrecked today. If I’m going to do winter trail running, I need trail shoes. My Mizunos just didn’t cut it. I’ll spare you the details but lots of stuff happened to my body out there.
Nice week of running! Oh, one more comment about shoes–why don’t they make women’s shoes in red? Just saying.
They are the Saucony Ice Peregrines! They are winter trail shoe, waterproof and better traction. I linked to them above! They’re pretty great. If I do Antarctica this March, that’s what I’ll wear.
I have Saucony Peregrines but without the “Ice”. What does that bit signify, I wonder? Harder lugs?
Maybe- and they’re waterproof
Tilda is such a gorgeous “model!”
All the layers, yet you’re not the pillsbury dough woman. Winning
Good luck with the Drumstick Dash, what a great name and yay hoodies & good shopping. What a fun idea to have a Pi(e) race. I had to choose between a 5 and 10K for the Troy Trot and while I don’t always love 10Ks, I like them more than 5Ks.
Why, thank you Cari! We think she’s gorgeous too 🙂
10k’s are tough! I think I prefer 5k’s because they’re over faster!
Wow your mileage this week is super impressive!! So glad you are feeling so incredible. That patagonia base layer looks great
Great job of training this week! The Drumstick Dash is such a clever name for a Thanksgiving Day race. How cool you’ll be sharing the fun with so many family members. The hoodie is a great bonus too! There is no way I could do a beer run. That’s way too much liquid for me. Congrats to Dustin though! Thanks for linking.
Thanks! Drumstick Dash is a fun name but I love the Pi(e) run/3.14 miles 🙂
Another solid week of workouts! It feels really weird that we are getting so chilly weather so soon. We had 17 on Thursday morning and I had to remember what I wore in those temps. It’s so tempting to wear every single layer! I love my Saucony Peregrine Ice for the wet trails and snowy roads. They keep my feet toasty and have great traction.
Yes! Those Peregrines are great! (Though heavy)
Oh I know! “Netflix and ‘mill” ! Bahahah
I am waiting for those single digit days here in Chicago. I was worried about coaching the group run Saturday because of slick conditions and warned everyone to take it easy. Luckily no falls.
Have a great Thanksgiving and good luck in the 10k! I’ll be doing a rogue 8k race (unsanctioned so no streets closed).
Thank you Becca! Good luck to you too on your 8k!
I love that so many family members are doing the Drumstick Dash! We have our local Turkey Trot, which has 1, 2 and 5K options) and none of my kids are interested LOL I”m one of the organizers, none the less, and they’re still like “we’ll see ya when you come back home afterwards.” Oh well 😉
It helps that the race is right near our house and the kids don’t mind the short races 🙂
I love all your layers and was a bit surprised at your hospital pic – definitely shock! Good work this week and great going on two non-running workouts.
No Thanksgiving races here, for obvious reasons. no race booking for me until 8 Dec, when I know if I got into London Marathon through the club ballot, then I have to decide on a slightly later pre-ultra mara.
Haha yes I still laugh about that selfie because really I was in so much pain!
Matilda is so cute with her jacket! I love it!
I really love your Patagonia top!! I saw on their website that they also have a hoodie- I think I would really love that, too. I may have to check it out!
Sounds like you had a great week! Keep up the good work! Can’t wait to read about your Thanksgiving race! 🙂
The Patagonia top is so great- worth the price. Warm, quick drying, doesn’t smell!
Girl, you DEFINITELY can wear the Vaporflys! I just bought them and zoomed to a half marathon PR last month. SO WORTH IT! I love all your winter running gear! I give you so much credit for running on a treadmill for that long, but totally understand why! ps, I have done the beer mile and was actually pretty good at it (I guess that’s not a big surprise since I am a decent drinker?).
Haha alright, I’m sold! I’m buying a pair!
I’m so impressed that you did a beer mile! I guess every runner/beer drinker should try…next year I will!
What can you tell me about the Saucony Peregrine running shoes? Are there spikes on the bottom? Good luck Thursday at your 10K.
No spikes! They are waterproof and have more traction. They are kinda clunky/heavy though.
I keep eyeing the Vaporfly 4%s but haven’t pulled the trigger. Which I now regret after missing my lifetime HM goal by 2 seconds this fall!
My running group calls them “shoe doping” (similar to the swimming speedsuits at the Olympics). I’m considering buying them in the spring, since I have more money than talent.
Did Dustin shoe dope to win the beer mile relay? 😉
Haha he didn’t wear them in the beer mile but it would have been hilarious if he did!
Those shoes might have given you the two seconds- maybe more!