mfamilias I think they shipped Gary off to the cold windy prairies as a punishment for your amazing success in your HM. If it isn't him, it could be his twin brother (Barry?) or perhaps a close relative. Some gremlin was messing with me last night and today. After a busy first week with my new work schedule, today is my only day off for the next 7 days and my only chance for an outdoor run. The tech I was working closely with yesterday was coming down with something and called in sick last night for today. I got home from a school fundraiser last night with a tickle, just starting to feel foul, so armed myself with a piping hot mug of cold 911 tea from David's tea as I did some laundry before bed (placebo or not, I'll be drinking mug after mug of it today). Just as I shut the tv off to crawl into bed, I could hear the wind howling.....again 😩. I woke up to a fresh blanket of snow, ok temperatures but the wind still blowing. It wasn't gusting like last night, but wind is my nemesis, especially cold wind. It was -7 but that damn wind was making it feel like -15. Perhaps I should do a couple more loads of laundry before I go. Losing my normal midweek laundry day and a precious running day will be the biggest adjustment to my new work schedule. If I'm going to do laundry, I might as well get caught up on some of the tv shows on my PVR right? Perhaps I should take another peak on HealthUnlocked and see what my running friends are up to? Hmmmm, let's make a list of everything I need to get done today.... Yikes! If you're running, it's now or never. So I get my stuff on, look up at the tree tops, look at the thermometer 😬.... I'm kinda cold, but I'll warm up, right?!? I head out to the pathway I use for my longer runs, since today was going to be the day I was going to try a 10:1 run:walk in hopes to find my mojo and actually complete that darn HM this month. Wow, it's windier over here, lots of blowing snow, but I park the car, find my interval program on Runkeeper, find my newest Spotify playlist, pull my buff up over my face in true ninja runner style and off I go. Crap, I didn't realize i hadn't turned off the 5 minute warm up. There is no warming up walking in this weather so I normally forego it for a slow jog as I allow my muscles to slowly warm up. So I guess the first interval will be a 5 minute warm up PLUS the 10 minute run but that's ok. Nope, there are a pile of snow drifts on the pathway today so I stop to put my spikes on that I was at least smart enough to put in my pocket before leaving the house. Standing on a windy snowy pathway isn't conducive to putting these awkward rubber do-ma-hickey's on my shoes. So pretty much the entire 5 minute warm up was spent doing this, and taking off my gloves to do it, and getting covered in snow....bugger off Gary, or whoever the heck you are! You will not mess with my run today!!!!! First interval, that was ok, some snow some open pathways. I'm ready for my short walk, but crossing the steel pedestrian bridges that for some reason have no snow, with little metal spikes on the bottom of my runners, is a little awkward. Oh well, there is only 4 steel bridges, 1 wood bridge, 1 cement bridges to cross and then repeat on the out and back I'm running today. It'll be ok, I can do it, just do it gingerly As I cross the first 3 steel bridges and the cement bridge, I find the "real" snow drifts! Wow!!! I should've brought my snowshoes, that would've been easier going with them. I kind of throw the 10:1 out the window at that point, it is just survival. Run through the snow drifts until you can't, then walk until you find an area with less snow and run until the next snow drift and repeat. It was hard going today, but I ran it (well, I ran/walked/hiked). I was tuckered by the end, but managed 11.11k in 1:16:58, including all my faffing about getting my spikes on! Whoohoo! Take that Gary! You're not going to win here. You can just carry on and find someone else to bother 👊💪
Did they ship Gary overseas mfamilias? 🇨🇦 - Bridge to 10K
Did they ship Gary overseas mfamilias? 🇨🇦
Wow Allie...an epic running expedition today...huge kudos to you on beating those nasty sneaky gremlins..they should know better than to mess with you, and on the only day you can run!
Sounds like that tech may have passed some germs on to you..😯hope you can shake it off...
Great post and I can't imagine how you manage to do your runs in those conditions...
Take care 😊xx
Thanks Jan. We're just getting into an incredibly busy time at work where getting sick isn't an option (without really impacting the other vets, which I hate to do) so it'll be mind over matter for me. I'm definitely feeling a little off today, but hopefully the power of positive thinking will work it's magic 🙏.
I just got home from running the last of my errands and the sun is shining and the roads are a mucky mess. We're just above zero and are supposed to continue with daytime highs above zero over the weekend. We get below freezing overnight so the pathways (and roads) will be treacherous. After my fall earlier this year, I'm quite nervous running in those conditions. I'm hoping we'll be warm enough over the next week for dry pathways by the time I can get outside to run again 🤞. Our weather swings have been so huge lately. I won't be packing away my winter gear yet 😆. It is amazing how well you can acclimate though when you're immersed in it. I had my gloves off by the first km and was a sweaty mess by the end of it again. But slogging through the snow was tough work😅
I think you just kicked Gary’s (or Barry’s?) butt to the kerb. Nicely done Sask! You rock! Over here it’s Larry, Garry’s second cousin twice removed. I will be exchanging words with him tomorrow morn.
Use your sternest Dad voice and send Larry packing! Tell him to pick up the rest of his crew and get outta here
Yup, that’s the plan!
Harry is on a Roman holiday right now. Wish me luck in driving him away later on... 
Just put a football match on the television before you head out. That should keep him busy 😁
He followed me, the persistent fellow, and even tinkered with my Garmin... but I still managed to enjoy myself all the same (well, mostly, and it was only a fairly brief excursion). 1000x better than not running though!
Indeed it is. I had Larry barking in my ear at the foot of every hill today. He eventually got fed up and wandered into the nearest pub.
Blimey, I don't know how you do it! And that's quick too, even with shoe faffage. Gary can get stuffed and do one! You can't catch and neuter him whilst he's over there?! I'm pretty sure some of his offspring are lurking around my neck of the woods, giving me a right pain in the arse - quite literally ! I have a niggly butt injury...but.... I can barely drag myself out anyway. How you do it with all that snow and sub zero-ness, well it just makes me realise I've got to get my act together! You are doing an awesome job x
I'll be at work all weekend...... so you just never know ..... if he thinks he's going to follow me to work.... 😂
Hope your niggly butt starts to feel better soon. I could definitely feel under my right bum cheek by the end of my run and haven't stretched yet. But I have a while before I'll be able to run again so I'm not worried. I'll have to make time for my stretches this weekend.
Cripes, that sounds more like an ultra than à 10k. Gary is shivering in his underpants at the very thought of going to Canada, and says you got his cousin René, who used to jinx a lumberjack with that Monty python song to stop him doing c25k. Well done, and let's hope that Spring gets à wiggle on.
😂
That's dedication and determination. I don't think I'd have the motivation at the moment. I think Gary has a number of kids, who he's sent round the world. One of them is definitely over here in Munich, maybe you've got his oldest son?
Brilliant report, I feel knackered just at the thought of the snow drifts!
Those snow drifts definitely added a whole new set of hard to the run. I wouldn't dream of running through thick soft sand, yet didn't batt an eye to keep on going through the deep snow drifts. I'm surprised my legs aren't more sore today - maybe that is yet to come.
That really is an epic run! True grit. A great time too! I can only imagine how you will fly come springtime, if you are so sprightly in such difficult conditions. I really am impressed and thoroughly enjoyed reading your post.
Hope that whatever the tech seems to have shared with you will not manage to get a grip. I imagine most germs worth their salt would have been scared away by now.
Unfortunately the power of positive thinking and cold911 tea has failed me this time. I went to bed with a scratchy throat and woke up way too early feeling like I'm swallowing razors. Oh well, I'm off to work in a couple hours and the pharmacies aren't open yet, so hubby will have to pick up some throat losenges and Tylenol for me today.
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. Hope it passes quickly and that work isn't too punishing. What a pity you can't allow yourself a day in bed.
The entire week has been crazy, so we shall see.....
Goodness, well done!! Gary's cousin Graham hangs out at my place - they are not good houseguests, glad you outdid whoever is with you.
It is quite the prolific family, I see 😂.
Im in awe of you x
Thanks Flick, but it really is just survival. I'm not willing to stop running in the winter, I don't have access to an indoor track and although I'll use my treadmill in extreme circumstances, I really dislike it 🤷♀️. What's a girl to do 😆?
I hate the treadmill too. But outside I would be slipping and sliding in those conditions 
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