Fun, Mucky Trail Run

You know, I'm a little jealous when I see pictures of Aron from Runners Rambles running up trails that looks like this in February.  The ones around here look like this.

These lower trails are partly snow and ice covered, and I stuck to them rather than the higher ones, which were more snow and ice covered, and steeper.

The flats, however, were ugly.

So when the dog and I got back, we looked like this:

(Really Nicole, again with the shoes?)

I complain but really, it was alot of fun.  I'm trying hard to do most runs on trails, and they're gonna look like this for awhile yet.

Fun!

Dirty, wet shoes.  Check.

 Happy, wet and sandy dog.  Check.

Six miles in the snow and slush done!  Yay!

Treadmills

So I did my 6 on the treadmill this aft.  We bought ours about 3 or 4 years ago and both me and my husband use it regularly - either when we don't run outside due to weather or a messed up schedule.  It's been so worth the $2000 it cost - ouch!  So it need a new deck (we think) because it feels bowed in the centre.  I went back to where we bought it recently and - yay! - it's still under warranty!  So, free new deck and belt.  Now we just have to install it ourselves...

I ran on the TM today cause I have exercise-induced asthma, though other things like weather and allergens set it off too, so maybe just regular asthma ;) It's been bugging me lately and made my run outside yesterday really shitty.  I always find I like to do speedwork on the treadmill but tend to run faster outside than inside.  Because inside on the TM seems like so much more effort.  My "normal" easy pace outside is around 8:30 or so and inside that feels SO hard to start with.

I'm going to give this Daily Mile thing a try.  I tend to like to log my miles in a book with, get this, a pen and paper.  I KNOW!  I'm so old school.  Me and this guy.

So I'm Running a 50K...again

I tried a 50K trail run last summer.  I failed miserably.  Oh ya, I finished.  11 hours after I started.

11 hours.

My main problem, I know, was fueling.  In hindsight, I can see I was out of gas completely.  Trying to climb hills and feeling like I could barely walk, let alone run.  That, and not training enough on trails.  I did shorter runs on local trails around my neighbourhood, but my longest 25 mile run was completely flat.  Yes, I know, I should have known better.

That's why I'm trying again.  I have 4 months to train.  I've done up my schedule - it looks daunting.  But I get motivation from other running blogs, mainly Skinny Runner and Runners Rambles.  If Aron can manage 50 miles, I'm hoping I can reach 31, feeling proud and good about how I ran!

Only 6 on the schedule today.  Here we go!