Easy 5

Today I ran 5 easy miles in the subdivision.  I wore shorts.  All felt good after my race through the swamp on Saturday.  I have been doing a lot of easy runs.  I need to get serious and come up with a plan and train for something.

Geocaching

Today I took a day off.  Yesterday's swamp race was tiring.  Today we decided to hike.  Wildwood has been advertising geocaching.  We have never done geocaching.  We decided to give it a try.  You put an APP on your phone and then find a location.  The location has a box with tokens.  You take a token then turn them into Wildwood for some kind of prize.  We had fun hiking to various locations.

The Olympics are finally over.  I enjoyed watching all the winter sports but I was ready for it to be over.  When we were watching ice skating they were talking about how the skater's legs are so tired after skating two minutes that they get a bonus for doing jumps in the end of the routine.  After two minutes?  Have they ever tried running four hours?

Castlewood Cup

Today was the Castlewood Cup Race.  It has rained all week.  It rained most of the night.  It was supposed to rain today but we had a window where we got the race in without rain. This was more of a trudge through a swamp than a race.  The trails were wet, muddy, slippery.   Some of the hill trails were turned into small creeks. There was an area in the flats by the creek that there was ankle deep water for about 100 yards.  This made for a very slow but memorable run.  I walked through the water and some of the slippery mud.  When I ran I was very conservative.  I did not want to get hurt.  In the end it was fun.

Jim fell when he stepped in a hole that was hidden under the water.  (This is why I walked through the water).  He had mud from his ears to his toes.  Nothing was hurt but his pride.

The course was shortened to about a 13k or 8 miles because the park did not want us to run on the grass.  400 people running across the grass would have killed it.  They also took out the creek crossing because there was fast running water in the creek. 

When I took my shoes and socks off I had mud between my toes.  It was the muddiest run I have ever done.  (New accomplishment for 2018).  I never did a mud run on purpose but I think this one counts.

When I got home I did my runner's yoga cool down.

I came in first out of two in my age group.

Tapering

The definition of taper:  to diminish or reduce, gradual narrowing.

This is how I taper - I run less miles with less intensity.

This is how Jim tapers - he sits on the couch and watches the Olympics.

Tapering means gradual reduction not coming to a compete halt.

Today I ran three easy miles in the subdivision.  Jim tapered by staying home.

Cold

Today I went for a short run after work.  I ran in the subdivision.  It was 27 degrees and misting.  It took me two miles to warm up.  My hands were cold, my face was cold, my body was cold.  I came close to turning around and going home.  I finally warmed up.  Or maybe I was frozen and did feel the pain.  The last two miles were fine.  I ran four miles at an easy pace.

Runner Jim decided it was too cold for him.  He stayed home and worked on tapering for the race.

Saturday's Castlewood Cup looks like it will definitely be muddy and probably raining.

Jim and I also signed up for Holy Infant's Shamrock Shuffle 5K on March 3.  It's a fun race close to home.

Thunderstorms

Today there were thunderstorms most of the day.  There was a chance of thunderstorms all day.  It was warm enough to run in shorts but I stayed inside.  It's not wise to take a chance with lightning.  I have been working on my arms, squats, lunges and planks. 

Willow Time

Tonight I went to visit my granddaughter.  I am sure she will run one day.  She has already been for many walks in her stroller.

Today it rained all day.  We are supposed to get more rain this week.  This will assure a very muddy Castlewood Cup race on Saturday.

Back to Church

Discussions with Jim:

Jean:  Kathy and I are going on a Sunday morning church run.  Do you want to join us.
Jim:   What time.
Jean:  Nine.
Jim:  That's early for church.
Jean:  Not it's not.  What time is your church?
Jim:  Ten.

He came with us.

We started at the Al Foster Trailhead.  We did what was supposed to be a very easy 6 mile warm up.  We ran around 10 minute pace.  Then we got back and ran one mile repeats on the trail.  Jim's stomach was not feeling good so he went back to the car to take a nap.  I did three repeats and they felt really good.  Kathy was doing 5 or 6 repeats then a cool down.  The repeats were supposed to be about a 9:15 pace but we were faster.

The trail was a bit sloppy.

Running in Snow

This morning there was a free training run sponsored by PNC Bank and Go St. Louis.  We woke up early and saw we had a little snow.  First we decided not to go.  Then we changed our minds and decided to go.  Then we flip flopped back and forth a few times and decided to go.  By the time we got there it was snowing pretty hard.  There was a choice between 3 miles and 6 miles.  Since I want to save my legs for my slug sister church run tomorrow we decided to do the 3 mile run.  It was not a race.  We took it easy because there were slick spots and we didn't want to get hurt.  There were 50 or 60 people who showed up.  After the run they had bagels, coffee, banana and granola bars.  Jim is always happy when there is food.  An added benefit - they said they would e-mail a discount code for any of the Go races to every one who signed in.  I like running in the snow.

Shorts in February

Every month of the year there is at least one day where I can wear shorts comfortably.  I wore Short Dec 3 for the trail half marathon.  I wore shorts January 25 on a warm day.  Today was my February shorts day.  It was 80 degrees.  Jim and I went to Sherman Beach at lunchtime.  We ran to the port-a-potties and back at an easy pace.

The Olympics

I have been watching the Olympics - skiing, skating, curling, etc.  I like it all.  There are hundreds of athletes that made their Olympics team but are not contenders for a medal.  It is a big deal to make the team.  They may come in 57th in their event but they are an Olympian.  This is like I will be at Boston.  I will be way back in the masses of runners.  I will not be a winner or even close but just being there is a big accomplishment.

Today I worked out inside.  I have been working on arm strength and planks.

Sherman Beach

Today Jim and I went to Sherman Beach for a four mile run.  I let Jim set the pace.  We ran at a good pace.  I threw some strides in the last mile.  It felt good.  My hip/glut issue is much better.  I think the rest definitely helped it.  Jim is running strong.  I think he will do well at the Castlewood Cup.

I continue to enjoy the Olympics.  I think the Nordic Skiing is the closest thing to running.  They look like they are running on skis sometimes.

Rest Day

Today I took a rest day.  I worked all day then I went to visit my new granddaughter.  Holding her is the best feeling ever. 

I also watched the Olympics.  The other night we were watching figure skating.  The commentator was talking about he effort it takes to skate the 4 and a half minute long program.  He said that she put in the same effort as a marathon runner.  Really?  Obviously this commentator has never run a marathon or even has a concept of how hard it is.  I know skating for 4 minutes with all the jumps and spins is hard but equating it to a marathon is ridiculous.

Hiking

Today Jim and I went to Sherman Beach and hiked the Stinging Nettle Loop.  The trails were a bit slippery.  It was cold but we were dressed for the weather.  There were not many people out on the trails.

We  have continued to watch the Olympics.  Today we were watching the women's hockey team.  When they showed close ups of the players I realized that most of them were wearing full makeup.  It reminded me of the women in the get your butt kicked race with makeup on.  Who gets up extra early to prepare for the Olympics and takes the time to put on makeup?  USA women's hockey team that's who.  The ice skaters wear makeup which I understand.  I am going to watch the skiers and snowboards to see if they wear makeup.

Happy thought of the day:  One month from today daylight savings time starts!

Jim's Birthday Run

Today is Jim's 63rd birthday.   He finally realized that I had not run outside for a while as asked when we were going to run again.  I told him we could run today or tomorrow.  He wanted to run today.  He asked me where and when we were running.  I told him since it was his birthday he could decide.  He wanted to run hills at Castlewood so we went and ran most of the Castlewood Cup course.  Then we went to visit our new granddaughter.

More Elliptical

Today I did more elliptical training.  I have decided that whatever I have is allergy related because a cold does not last this long. 

The winter Olympics is starting!  I love the Olympics even though there is no running.  I think they should add an event - a winter trail marathon.  None of the winter event involve running.  I think that speed skating is the closest thing to running.

In the House

I exercised in the house again today.  I am just getting over a cold and the frigid air bothers my lungs.  I am giving them a rest from the cold.

Back to the Blog

I have been away from my blog for a while.  Here is a recap of the last several days:

Friday:  I went to the hospital to see my new grand daughter.  For Christmas one of the gifts Jen gave me was a race with her and the baby (who will be in a stroller).  Jen was pregnant when we did the I Love Forest Park 5K in August so she has already been in a 5K.

Saturday:  Jim and I went to Castlewood and did most of the Castlewood Cup course.  We did everything except the last loop around the field.  We went slow and walked up most of the hills.  The course was in good shape.  There were only a couple of places where there was mud.

Sunday:  Superbowl with my slug sister and the slug husbands.  We watched grown men run across a field with a football.  Jim played football for many years.  He does not see a need to run any farther than the length of a football field.

Monday:  I have had congestion and a cough for over a week.  I don't really feel sick.  I decided that running in the cold air was not helping me so it is best that I hit my elliptical trainer indoors until I can breathe better.

Tuesday:  I found a yoga for the common cold video on Youtube.  I made a hot toddy.  My hot toddy recipe:  hot tea, whiskey, honey, lemon juice. 

I guess part of the reason I have not posted is because I don't have along term running plan.  I have the Castlewood Cup coming up then probably a spring time half marathon.  Right now I am just maintaining and trying to have fun.  The good thing with not doing any intense workouts my hip/glut issue is much, much better.

Grandma Run

Today I ran with a grandpa.  We ran 4 miles at lunch.  It was a good run.  I have been battling a cold but running feels fine.