Training in Montana

16 total miles today. Did 12.2 outside on 5-6" of fresh snow. In lots of spots it felt like running on sand. 14F for the high today, bright sun, no clouds, no wind. It wasn't too bad. Brought hand warmers for the gloves and that was a really good idea. Wore ice spikes and that helped a little bit but not much. I think it affected my gait a bit as my feet and toes felt weird afterwards. Needed my neck gaiter in a big way and kept it on my chin most of the run but a few times in the last few miles my nose needed some heat so I took off the sunglasses and pulled up the gaiter to my nose and breathed through it. Heated up the nose quickly.

Got home and quickly changed into shorts and a singlet, different shoes, and did the last bit on the treadmill at 1% incline. Most of it at 7 mph, but last mile did 8.3 (7:15 mph). That was hard but only because it was uncomfortable, not because my legs were tired. That's a good sign. I need to run more miles in that uncomfortable 7:15-25 zone so that I get used to it.

AP for the long run was 8:42. I had lots of problems with my music so that slowed me by a few minutes. Also, the snow slowed the pace a bit but I think it ultimately gave me a better workout than I would have had on normal roads.