Slogging through 13k on the treadmill 😩

[SaskAlliecat]

I had been looking forward to my 13k run this morning, but given we are in a polar vortex with wind chill approaching -30, I decided it wasn't worth risking frost bite over. I'm comfortable running in cold weather, but the wind chill pushed it over the top. I often have to pull my face covering down mid run, so frost bite was a real risk (plus frozen eyelashes and nose hairs kinda suck). I really struggle with running on the treadmill (and have mad respect for those who are able to run distance on them!) but decided I had no choice. We're heading north to my father-in-laws and the weather is not forecast to improve any time soon, so it was run today and not again until later in the week. My right hamstring and calf have been quite tight after running on the treadmill in the past, so in order to set myself up for success, I set the incline at 0 (instead of my usual 0.5-1 %) and planned for a short 30-60 second walk break every 19 minutes to give my legs a bit of variation in pace. I normally run on feel and tend to run these longer runs a little too quick at the start, ending closer to where the pace should be so I used this opportunity to set the pace about a minute per km slower than my comfortable 5k pace. After watching the Legendary Beasts and Where to Find Them the other day, I recorded all the Harry Potter flicks that just so happened to be on the tv. I have never actually watched the whole series and with a kiddo that is getting quite interested in fantasy stories, decided that may be the distraction I needed on the treadmill. I found I still clock watched way too much, but managed to run just over 13k, with a 2 minute warm up, in 100 minutes. Yay! My legs and lower back were tired by the end - sitting on the floor all day yesterday building and sorting Lego had me feeling my lower back this morning - but my breathing was very comfortable the whole time. I even mastered running and drinking, with only 2 episodes of missing my mouth 😆. Although it wasn't how I wished to run this morning, I achieved my goal of 13k today.....and my second week of 3 runs per week! ✅. Will now be getting a longer running break than I want and likely won't get the skiing in we were planning on over the Christmas break but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Mother Nature 1 SaskAlliecat 0 ☹️

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas 🎄

[Fishypieface Graduate10]

Wow, 13k! Well done...I can't ever imagine being able to run that!! Especially on a dreadmill. Did 7km this week and nearly finished me off!

Have a great Christmas x

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Fishypieface]

Thanks FPF. The treadmill is never my run of choice. Last week I barely got 3k done on it before I had to stop. Fortunately my stubbornness paid off today!

Congrats on the 7k!

Merry Christmas 🎄

[HeleneCorsa Graduate10]

Well done on managing 13k on the treadmill - not easy at all! But yes, definitely better than frostbite...

Merry Christmas to you too xx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Thanks Helene.

[HeadInTheClouds]

Blimey that’s mind bogglingly impressive..!! Well done... no frozen nose hairs for you 🤗 I hope the weather improves.

Have a great Christmas 🎄🎁🎅🏼

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to HeadInTheClouds]

Thanks HITC. It really is a horrible feeling but I think frozen eyelashes that try to stick together every time you blink is worse. This polar vortex is really putting a damper on our holiday plans. Oh well. Guess we'll be staying in and drink wine instead. I was really hoping to be able to get out while visiting the in laws though. It'll be a long few days......

[HeadInTheClouds in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Oh no, that’s not good... lots of wine lovely, LOTS of wine..!! 🍷 🍷

[Decker]

Way to go Sask! 13k on the dreadmill! That is truly impressive. Not what you hoped for but much safer than frostbit appendages. Hope the temp warms up a touch so you can get out there and enjoy the outdoors again with your family.

Merry Christmas to you as well! Hope your early Christmas today went great.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Decker]

We did it yesterday and it was the perfect day! I don't think I've ever spent the entire day in my PJ's before. Other than the sore back from sitting on the floor building Lego all day, it was glorious! A nice quiet day spent with my 2 favourite guys 😊

Enjoy your family time, as well!

[Decker in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Glad you had a good day Sask. Sounds very relaxing. Just watching the kids build their Lego now too, though ours are old enough now not to need help any longer. Sigh. I may just help anyway 🙂

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Decker]

We were "co-playing" 😆. I built my dream house, then my son helped build the furniture to fill the rooms. It took me back to my childhood. This was the first year where I wasn't having to build all his kits for him. It'll be so much less painful when I see the kits dismantled later on to build his own creations....

[Sandyscroll Graduate10]

I am in awe! I tried 5k on treadmill the other week, but despite being pretty determined, I had to stop after 3.5k. I went back to it to complete the 5k after a session on the cross trainer, ut the treadmill and I really, really don't get on. Maybe the only way is to have a very unfriendly polar vortex going on outside...but I have a suspicion I'd not survive the test. Well done you. 👏👏👏👏

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Sandyscroll]

That was me last week. I stopped after 3k, not because I was tired or had an issue, I just didn't have the mental strength to get through the run. I usually limit my treadmill runs to interval workouts so I'm always changing things up. I didn't know if I would get through this one, but fortunately I did. Hopefully I won't have to rely on it too much, but at least it's there if I need it.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10]

Brilliant Sask😊....I did read this and want to say Well done..that's a great distance. Kudos from me✋xx

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thanks Jan. Unfortunately our weather isn't improving anytime soon, so my next one might have to be another treadmill run 😖. C'est la vie. I've proven to myself I can do it, so I guess I'm out of excuses now. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Hi Sask, yes lovely thank you. We stayed with my daughter and hubby in their new house not far from us on Christmas Eve and Day , and now they are staying with us for a few days (so we can all have a little drink😉without driving )

My son in law will be starting c25k in the New Year....I got his running shoes sorted.😆

I will run next week...

Your Christmas sounded great, family time Lego making and Harry Potter ...perfect.xx

Have you seen Star Wars yet?..we are going this weekend...

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas with your family, and you recruited another runner 👏✋️. Yay! You'll be such a wonderful support for him.

We weren't able to go to Star Wars on our planned day, my son wasn't feeling great and didn't want to risk him getting sick in a crowded movie theatre. We're heading back home from my father-in-laws tomorrow and should get home early enough to get to the early show. Then I have Friday to run a few errands, before I'm back on call Friday night. It was a wonderful holiday, but as usual, feels too short.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10]

Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10 in reply to Maddee_6333]

Thank you. We sure did other than the extreme cold curtailing some of our planned outdoor activities. We ended up eating and drinking a lot more than planned, but it was a much needed break regardless. Will be back to the grind stone soon enough.