We've had really high temperatures during the day (which I love) but are still getting below freezing over night, which causes the huge puddles of water to freeze into giant sidewalk glaciers. I'm not talking about a little puddle of water; I'm talking about a 10-foot long sheet of ice that covers the entire sidewalk.
Needless to say, it's basically impossible to run over these things at a good pace without risking a fall. Fortunately there was about a .8mi stretch of bike path and road in front of our apartment complex that was basically free of sidewalk glaciers. As long as I was willing to slow down at one section and do to some hairpin turns, I was good to go on my repeats. I figured I'd push myself as best I could and be happy with anything under an 8min/mile considering the stopping and turning. I felt great throughout the whole workout ( I did 8mi total) and, even though it was a lot of back and forth over the same ground, I was able to keep focused and push myself through each interval.
I was totally floored when I got back home and checked my Garmin. 1:10:58? For an 8mi run? That's super fast for me. I felt like I was going at a good clip during the warm up and cool down, but I had to stop and walk a few times to navigate icy spots. And then there were the interval times: 7:15, 7:22, 7:38. What the what? I find myself making excuses for why the 7:38 was "so slow"- I had to do two hairpin turns on that one- but the truth is I would have been thrilled with three 7:38s on a good day with no turning.
So were these times real or a figment of my Garmin's imagination? On the one hand, I felt really good, I pushed myself during the intervals, and I have done some good speed sessions on the treadmill. On the other... they just seem too good to be true. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how other workouts shape up.
It's supposed to be really warm today (like 49 degrees- woot!) and tomorrow (55- let's all have a party) but rain some overnight or tomorrow morning, so I have no idea what conditions will be like. I'm supposed to do a 6mi tempo run tomorrow, and I really want to get out to do it- even if it means going back and forth over the same stretch as yesterday- but I'd be fine with doing a treadmill run if it comes to that. This morning is lower body weights at the gym and a little elliptical.
Hope the weather is improving wherever you are. Have a good Wednesday!
