Training in Montana

4 TM miles at the Y at Noon. -5F in the morning and family had the day off school so I didn’t feel like getting up early and putting on all my warm clothes. TM running is much easier and shorts and a tank top are way better than 3 layers, hat, neck gaiter, gloves, and micro spikes. I’ve been doing 0 incline and did the same today - need to increase that in the future so it will better mimic the real world. Warmed up at 6 mph, and increased every 1/2 to 1 mile, ending at 12.4 mph, which was flying (4:45 mile), for the last 0.1 mile. Yikes. The world elites are amazing.

3 TM miles @ 2% incline during the Noon hour at the Y. 2% incline is much harder than 0%, so cut the run short. I still kept a solid pace, and pushed myself. Need to keep doing this as it will get my legs back quicker than just an easy 0% run.

Decided to sleep in this morning and forego my planned run to instead make pink pancakes for the family. A good idea. Ran a bit before noon, and continue to improve. Ran at 2% incline and was able to go 4 miles without stopping, and progressively got faster. Started at 10:00 for first 1/2 mile, then bumped to 8:57 next 1.5 miles, then next mile at 8:27, then 1/2 mile at 7:57, then dropped to 7:29, then 6:57, and last .25 at 6:29 or so. Felt good to go faster without the legs giving out or needing to stop. Onward and upward.

Woke up early as I had a Noon meeting, but didn't realize how much it had snowed and drifted until I got out the door. I had all the gear and microspikes, but it was a lot of snow in places and on most of the road. Turned around at mile 1 as I didn't want to be on an unplowed 50 mph road, just wasn't safe, and I knew I had quite a bit of shoveling work ahead of me. Finally got to work at 8:30 am. I need a plow on something next winter (which if it doesn't snow at all would be fine with me).

4 TM Miles, 2% incline. Slower but still very sweaty. I realize I need to go slow for a while and let me legs catch up.

6 miles! It was 20-25F out, so no worries about total cold, but still brought the gear and needed it into the wind, but was very warm with wind at my back. Glad to go so far, even though it wasn’t far for me.