This weekend was a chilly one here in Calgary! I was supposed to run long on Saturday, then run a strides/hill repeat combo run on Sunday. I even had plans to run with Kelly on Saturday even though we knew it would be super cold.
Saturday morning dawned and it was really, really, really cold. Like –27C with the wind chill. Somehow the thought of running for up to 3.5 hours in that temperature sounded rough. I’m definitely building up my winter skin and I may have been up for a short run, but nothing that long. The forecast for Sunday looked a lot better so even though Kelly was tight for time on Sunday we agreed to shift our long run. Yup, we chickened out on running in the cold.
With that decision made it was time to get to the gym to hit up the treadmill for my strides/hill repeat combo run. The strides were really straightforward, 6 x 1:00 hard/1:00 easy. I then had 6 x 1:00 hills/1:00 recovery. In order to avoid moving the incline of the treadmill up and down between the repeats I just slowed down and walked the hill on the recovery. The run went really well and I was very happy with it!
Sunday morning was another chilly one. It was –15C, although it was supposed to warm up to –4C during the day. I had faith that things were going to improve and that it really would warm up. I really didn’t want to run for 3.5 indoors! Kelly wasn’t so sure so she opted to run inside. I drove to Edworthy to start my run.
It was definitely cold. I was bundled up in a lululemon Swiftly top, my Star Runner pullover, the lululemon Bundle Up jacket (I called this my no excuses to run in the cold jacket) and a pair of CW-X tights. As I ran down the pathway the people running towards me had some crazy icicles forming on their faces. It felt like my behind might freeze off and my gels were solidifying. At least there was a great view of the city from the top of McHugh Bluff!
I ran down to Eau Claire where there were some pretty Christmas decorations up.
I ran underneath a lion on Centre Street bridge!
Brr, it was still really cold out if you can’t tell by how I’m trying to keep my neck and chin covered by my scarf! As my run went on I realized that my legs were still feeling really good. I expected to hit that point where your quads feel like rocks and you just want to shuffle home but it never happened. I stuck with my walk breaks, sipping my nuun and taking a GU every 45 minutes. Was I feeling good because because I was running in a veritable ice bath? Were my legs feeling good because of my amazing CW-X tights? Are my legs just adapting and dealing with the fatigue? I’m not sure what it was, but it was such a mental boost to have a great one after my last couple of not so great ones. I made it 17 miles in 3:30.
And that wraps up week number three of HBBC!
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Running: 33.27 mi = 33.27 points
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Walking: 1.5 mi = 1.5 points
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Fruits/veggies/FB participation = 9
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TOTAL = 43.77 points
Gah, I can’t do the cold weather and running. I’m too much of a baby! I bet I know where you ran on the treadmill…my guess is the Crowfoot YMCA 🙂
You can run in -15C and I was complaining yesterday about being sunburnt in 25C, now I feel like a real weakling! Great work Leanna!
BBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Holy cow. And I was complaining about 40F and rain. Way to get out there and hit the ‘mill when you can’t/it’s not safe. Doesn’t look like there are too many others willing to brave it out there with you, those streets looked pretty deserted.
You are doing great with the HBBC!
Good for you for getting out there in the cold and enjoying it too!
Wow you are awesome! I don’t know if I could do it. It’s “cold” now to me here in AZ. I’m a wimp!
Way to get in a great run in the cold!