Frozen Half Marathon

As I walked into my garage this morning to start my car, my digital thermometer read -26 degrees F. My car started just fine, unlike a few others at the office today. Several had frozen batteries. Others just needed to wait for a jump start to turn over the crank shafts. A few others had to stay home with children as most of the schools in Minnesota are closed due to the cold. That's right, not a snow day, or ice, or wind. It's just plain too cold to be outside.

So what a great time to register for an outdoor running race!

I've been planning on doing it for a few months, but I made it official today by registering online for the Frozen Half Marathon in St. Paul.

As I've said before, I have run a couple marathons, and my last solo race (outside of the triathlon and RAGNAR Relay last summer) was a half marathon at Grandma's Marathon in 2007. I paced at 8:30 miles then, and that's what I'm shooting for next weekend again.

I will admit, I haven't run nearly as much as I think I should have. I run, on average, about 4 miles a week. My longest run in the last year was 8.5 miles, and that was back in September.

My total distance during RAGNAR (last August) was about 14 miles, split out over three legs, so I know I have the distance in me. I truly feel that dividing up the mileage over three separate runs over 48 hours was a lot more difficult that running it all at once as well, so I think this should go smoothly.

My reasoning for not running high mileage: I have been cycling on the trainer 2-3 times a week; rotating random interval workouts with 1-2 hour high tempo spins.

I've also done something that I said I wouldn't do again: joined a gym. I joined primarily for the use of the pool, to be honest. I really want to improve my overall cardiovascular fitness, and I saw major benefits last year after just 3 months in the pool, twice a week, 25 minutes sessions. Everything from lung capacity, to anaerobic threshold during short runs improved dramatically last year, and I want to build up a base again and try to work swimming into my weekly routine full time. My first triathlon of the year is slated for June 14, so I have a while before my first swimming race, but I just wanted to get my butt in there and start earlier and get the routine down so I can really put the hammer down this year early in the race and cut a few minutes off.

I'm currently compiling my list of annoying and disgusting observations that I've had in my first week back in the gym, so I'll save that rant for another post, but I will say that, deep down, I missed going to a gym, and am very happy that I signed up again.

My third day in the gym, I did another thing I said I'd avoid with all my might: run on a treadmill.

After just one mile, I immediately remembered why I said I'd never do it again. The clunking with every step; trying to find that right pace setting with slippery buttons; being surrounded by a bunch of other people's clunking footsteps; and most importantly: it's friggin' hot without a fan and not being able to take off your shirt. It's got to be at least 78 degrees in the cardio room, then add all the respiration and perspiration from all the new year's resolution people (item number one of my upcoming list of observations, btw) and it makes for an overly sweaty run. I'm talking steam room sweaty.

I ended up running just 3 miles on the treadmill, and tried another 3 two days later. I came to the conclusion that I'd much rather endure the cold and ice covered sidewalks for my runs. I'm pretty sure I have all the necessary clothes for the 2 hour run next weekend. The one thing I still need to pick up is something to cover my face should the temperature stick around below zero. Anything out of the single digits (above zero) and I can get away without a face covering, but the race starts at 9 am, so I just want to have my bases covered should there be a long wait at the starting line or something.

I haven't been outside for anything but running though lately, and there isn't anything else to report on other than the slow build up of training that I'm planning in the next couple weeks in preparation for spring.

I'll be sure to post a race report of the Frozen Half after I cross the line. I'm hoping there will be someone to take pics, 'cuz as the saying goes, "Pictures, or it didn't happen."

The good news is that I'm planning a small gathering near the finish, and this will be the picture in my head as snot freezes to my upper lip:

There is a possibility that the only pictures you'll see will be me holding a pint of a yummy wheat beer, but I'll do my best to post actual evidence of my pursuit of endorphin release.