Showing posts with label running in the snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running in the snow. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2013
That's How I Roll
Doesn't it just figure that I have the *one* kid who loves to ride in the jogging stroller...at almost age 6...in 10 inches of snow! And Jameson, he's happy as a lab can be! Happy Jogging Day, everyone!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Workout Wednesday: Snowshoes Anyone?
I missed out on the first snowshoe race of the season here in Northern Ohio held on January 26. Rats! However, with a little searching, I found another equally as exciting snowshoe race for this weekend. This one is at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark. And how exciting, it's on Groundhog Day!
There's a distance for everyone - 2.5K, 5K and 10K. I haven't been in my snowshoes for at least a year so I'm going to try for the 5k distance, since I know I can at least run that distance. I'm definitely going to earn some serious Nike+Fuel for this workout!
If you're interested in trying out snowshoeing, and it really is quite a great workout for runners, there's two more races to sample. On February 12, the Sasquatch Snowshoe race will be held in Russell Township. On February 19, the Polar Bear Snowshoe Race is in Brecksville. Both of these races are sponsored by Northcoast Endurance Coaching and Vertical Runner. No snow? No problem. The races will be run on the trails - so come prepared!
And maybe celebrate with a nice cup of hot chocolate post-race!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Dirty Love 10k Trail Run
Brrrr! When I arrived at the race site, I initially sat in my car contemplating taking a DNS. I thought about running inside the shelter, picking up my race bib and mug, dashing back to my warm car, and driving back to my warm house! But when I went inside the shelter, saw all the runners hanging out, smiling and chatting, I knew I couldn't leave. Time to suck it up! Afterall, it was 18 degrees and the wind wasn't THAT bad...yet!
We lined up for a cross country-style start. As we listened to the race director say that runners will be crossing a creek during the first mile, I glanced over to my warm car. Hmmm...I could just slide out of the crowd unnoticed and drive away in my warm, DRY car. But alas, I reminded myself I do not DNS (except the one time when I had rotovirus. Today I was healthy so no excuse.) A couple more announcements and we were off trampling through the fluffy snow. This might actually be fun. Could that be?
The creek crossing at a quarter-mile in caused an 8-minute log jam for everyone to cross. No biggie because this wasn't a "race" to me, but rather was a great excuse to run 6.2 miles with company. After about 20 minutes in, I was over-the-top happy. All body parts felt good and I wasn't going to die of frostbite. Good fun! The volunteers were great at water stops at 2.5 miles and 4 miles. Loved the ups and downs of the trail and enjoyed the beautiful view afforded to all of us on this snowy morning.
I crossed the finish line with a huge smile and gave out many thank you's to all the kidnd volunteers. We are lucky to have such an active running community here in Northern Ohio.
Post-race, I grabbed coffee and hot cocoa for my girls and we had great fun playing Country Dance on the Wii. What a great start to Sunday!
We lined up for a cross country-style start. As we listened to the race director say that runners will be crossing a creek during the first mile, I glanced over to my warm car. Hmmm...I could just slide out of the crowd unnoticed and drive away in my warm, DRY car. But alas, I reminded myself I do not DNS (except the one time when I had rotovirus. Today I was healthy so no excuse.) A couple more announcements and we were off trampling through the fluffy snow. This might actually be fun. Could that be?
The creek crossing at a quarter-mile in caused an 8-minute log jam for everyone to cross. No biggie because this wasn't a "race" to me, but rather was a great excuse to run 6.2 miles with company. After about 20 minutes in, I was over-the-top happy. All body parts felt good and I wasn't going to die of frostbite. Good fun! The volunteers were great at water stops at 2.5 miles and 4 miles. Loved the ups and downs of the trail and enjoyed the beautiful view afforded to all of us on this snowy morning.
I crossed the finish line with a huge smile and gave out many thank you's to all the kidnd volunteers. We are lucky to have such an active running community here in Northern Ohio.
Post-race, I grabbed coffee and hot cocoa for my girls and we had great fun playing Country Dance on the Wii. What a great start to Sunday!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The March of the Penguins
That's what I will feel like as I tackle my run tomorrow in the tundra - yep, 10-12 inches forecasted for Friday. Did the groundhog make a mistake or did Mother Nature change her mind? Shiver me timbers, these frigid temps and constant white ground covering needs to end! We have spring races to train for...seriously!
Today's guilty pleasure: a nonfat latte from Erie Island Coffee with the most amazing foam... Great blend of that wonderful bitter coffee taste and the lightness of pure milky foam...mmmm!
Today's guilty pleasure: a nonfat latte from Erie Island Coffee with the most amazing foam... Great blend of that wonderful bitter coffee taste and the lightness of pure milky foam...mmmm!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Pulling An Audible
Audible: A play change at the line of scrimmage. The quarterback changes the play using spoken code.
According to Greg, I am the Peyton Manning of running. A play has been called, but I go up to the line and make a last minute radical change. And that my friends is how I checked off the state of Colorado.
I was originally scheduled to run a 7k snowshoe race in Frisco, Colorado Sunday morning, about 90 minutes from Denver and 7 miles from Breckenridge (my favorite ski town). However, an unanticipated snow storm moved in closing portions of 70 and making the Eisenhower Tunnel challenging at best with Loveland Pass closed. Since we're driving the Gerard Butler car (Chrysler 300) and it has less traction than my running shoes in an Alaskan blizzard, we opted to skip the race. On a whim, I checked to see if downtown Denver had a race and they did. Hot damn! The 30th state would get checked off afterall. So with my trail shoes and lots of shivering, not to mention a hope and a prayer that the altitude would not wear me down (hello super-thin air!), I toed the line at the incredibly icy start and finished the Super Bowl 5k run. Best of all, we met folks from CLE and ended up having a hell of a good time! We knew they were from Cleveland because he was totally decked out in a parka and gloves with Browns logo all over. So cool to see. He hadn't lived in Cleveland since the early 80s, yet would only root for the Browns no matter where he lived.
Runners gathering at the race start - check out the ice under the snow!
Proof positive that I was in Denver!
I wish I had a little Captain in me, but this pic was taken to show the snow Denver received!
The course was wicked icy because Denver had rain most of Saturday, followed by a snowstorm Saturday night into early Sunday morning. But the post-race shwag was kick-ass and the small race feel couldn't be beat! They served coffee and bagels. Sketchers passed out pedometers. Cascadian Farms, Larabar, Sport Beans, Pop Chips and Muscle Milk all passed out free samples. Nice, friendly, small race that may turn out to be one of the more fun races I've tackled!
According to Greg, I am the Peyton Manning of running. A play has been called, but I go up to the line and make a last minute radical change. And that my friends is how I checked off the state of Colorado.
I was originally scheduled to run a 7k snowshoe race in Frisco, Colorado Sunday morning, about 90 minutes from Denver and 7 miles from Breckenridge (my favorite ski town). However, an unanticipated snow storm moved in closing portions of 70 and making the Eisenhower Tunnel challenging at best with Loveland Pass closed. Since we're driving the Gerard Butler car (Chrysler 300) and it has less traction than my running shoes in an Alaskan blizzard, we opted to skip the race. On a whim, I checked to see if downtown Denver had a race and they did. Hot damn! The 30th state would get checked off afterall. So with my trail shoes and lots of shivering, not to mention a hope and a prayer that the altitude would not wear me down (hello super-thin air!), I toed the line at the incredibly icy start and finished the Super Bowl 5k run. Best of all, we met folks from CLE and ended up having a hell of a good time! We knew they were from Cleveland because he was totally decked out in a parka and gloves with Browns logo all over. So cool to see. He hadn't lived in Cleveland since the early 80s, yet would only root for the Browns no matter where he lived.
The course was wicked icy because Denver had rain most of Saturday, followed by a snowstorm Saturday night into early Sunday morning. But the post-race shwag was kick-ass and the small race feel couldn't be beat! They served coffee and bagels. Sketchers passed out pedometers. Cascadian Farms, Larabar, Sport Beans, Pop Chips and Muscle Milk all passed out free samples. Nice, friendly, small race that may turn out to be one of the more fun races I've tackled!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Newest Purchase
Ever since I took my first snowshoe class in Keystone, Colorado two years ago, I've been hooked. So I finally broke down and ordered my first pair of snowshoes. I did a lot of research - yes, I call it research...YOU might call it wasting time on Google. Tomayto, tomahto, Whatever...it will result in a brown box being delivered to my doorstep and a subsequent tromp in the snow-laden northern ohio trails. I can't wait! And besides, it will keep running fun and interesting being out! And I know my black lab will love bouncing in the snow - bonus!
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