Training in Montana

Running uphill on snowy sidewalks is a bit like running on a sandy beach, but it was nice being outside. It was 15 degrees out with windchills of 0 so I layered up well, and probably could have done without a layer. Ran my normal 4 mile out and back and oddly I didn't see anyone out running today. Wimps.

AP 8:49, avg HR 156, max 171. Much slower than I thought I was going, so the snow must've affected me. Or I'm just slow (think it's the latter).

Ran outside again today. Nice day, 30 or so, but a bit messy with snow melting and cars splashing me. Enjoyed being outside. 1 minute bicycles, 1 minute plank, 25 pushups.

Played 1 hour of basketball at night. Instead of 3 showers for the day I let the sweat dry and slept great. It was a 9 PM game then had to stop at Wally-World to buy some spray paint for this week's pinewood derby. Was amped up for the night so got to bed late. The pinewood derby and me - we're not friends. I hate it on an annual basis. Only 4 more years to go! I can't wait.

Ran 0.8 miles on the TM before Boot Camp, then we did a ton of running. It was a great sweaty workout. You know you're sweating good when your bandana headband is dripping sweat from it's tails. Pretty decent abs work and a few other muscle groups but mainly it was cardio.

4 TM miles due to -20 wind chills outside. Got a great workout. Did the hills program for the first time and it is a killer! Only ran at a 6 MPH pace for most of it but the incline baselined at a 1.5 and topped out at 7.8 for 1 minute intervals. Last 5 minutes went to 0 incline and 7.5 MPH pace, then bumped to 8.3 for 1 minute, and last minute on 10.0, then 5 minutes cool down. I think I'll start doing more programs like hills or intervals when I have to run the TM although that should be ending shortly with the advent of Spring... possibly.

Avg HR 156, max 179 (yikes!)

1:15 bicycles, 1:00 plank, 30 pushups.

I need to start doing something on Fridays as I take a complete rest day so I can go out to lunch, which I'm doing today.

However, I did 30 pushups at home last night, and 30 pushups this morning while the shower was getting hot (we have an instant hot water heater and it takes a while). 30 is definitely my max right now, but just a few months ago it was 15. I'd love to get up to 60 eventually, but that seems like Mt. Everest at the moment.

11.2 TM miles due to waking up to -8 F this morning + wind chill. That's the longest distance I've ever done on a treadmill and it was rough. Didn't get a TM near a fan or up front near the TVs so had to suffer through monotony listening to a local sports show, which is pretty pathetic. I much prefer national sports talk. Ran most of it at 6.5 MPH, started with a 2 incline but that was a bit much for my typical long runs, so bumped it down to .5 then to 0 for the last 9 or so. After 5 or so I bumped up the speed to 6.8, then at mile 9 bumped up to 7.5 MPH for 1 mile and finished the last mile at 8.5 MPH. HR monitor freaked out on me- think the watch needs a new battery - so not sure of avg or max HR but it was in the 170s on that last mile. Didn't use body glide as I didn't realize how much I'd sweat. I was soaked and the nipples are a bit raw. Won't make that mistake again. Overall, good workout. Hopefully won't have to do that again as the below zeros should be well gone now.

Did 1 minute bicycles, 1:15 plank, 15 pushups.