Fitness Goals - Week 6

It's starting to feel like winter running is coming to an end. I'm so looking forward to switching to shorts.

Runs

Tuesday 7am -4º feels like -11ºC 37 minutes. 

Thursday 7am -1ºC  43 minutes. There was a few centimetres of wet snow overnight and everything was coated in a layer of snow. This only happens when the temperature is close to zero. It made for a lovely run in a winter wonderland. I saw some people biking through the snow. I don't know how they manage to bike.

Sunday 10am -8ºC feels like -17ºC 42 minutes. It was very windy. My hip was achy after this run. I am terrible at stretching, in fact the only stretch I regularly do is an IT band stretch. For some reason, I haven't been doing it recently, I need to make sure to do it after every run. I hate getting injured.

Fitness Goals - Week 5

I love my trice weekly running schedule - it's enough to feel fit without feeling like I'm running all the time. I also love running early morning, I run, shower, and I'm done for the day, generally before 8am.

Runs

Tuesday 7am 2ºC feels like -5ºC 42 minutes. This was my wettest run so far this winter. There was a few centimetres of wet snow on the ground, which due to a mixture of snow, rain, and freezing rain, was rapidly turning to complete mush. The traction was okay but my feet were soaked. I had to stuff my sneakers with newspaper when I got home.

Thursday 6am -12ºC feels like -22ºC 60 minutes. My balaclava got in another run. I felt fine but Tyandra was freezing for the entire run.

Sunday 9am -4ºC feels like -10ºC 45 minutes. I was actually too warm on this run, yep, there is no pleasing me!

Weights
Once again, weights were replaced by washing and painting doors, baseboards, and trim, but it looks so good when it's finished. Our house will soon be perfect and then we'll sell it!

Fitness Goals - Week 3

It was a good week despite the very cold temperatures. I would definitely prefer a more consistent winter. I'm not a fan of the temperature fluctuations we have been having. My first five Canadian winters were spent in Edmonton, where it gets cold and then stays cold all winter. Sometimes it was a little too cold, but I would take that over the melting-freezing cycle we are currently in.

Runs
Tuesday 6:45am -26ºC 39 minutes. I wore my balaclava. It doesn't make an appearance very often but when it's this cold it is nice to be able to pull something over your mouth every so often. My fingers and toes were cold for the first half of the run. I just wore my usual running gloves and light socks. I've forgotten how to run in the cold!

Thursday 6am -24ºC 58 minutes. The novelty of cold weather running was wearing off slightly. I considered going on the bike trainer instead but had planned to meet Tyandra. I knew she was really busy at work so was expecting a cancellation text from her. She was expecting one from me due to the cold, but since neither of us sent them, off we went. I was better prepared this time and wore mitts over my gloves and warmer socks, and had a great run.

Sunday 10:30am -15ºC 52 minutes. It was beautifully bright and sunny, a welcome change from running in the dark.

You would think that after a run in -26ºC, the first thing you would want to do when you get home is jump into the shower. Not a good idea, numb legs in the shower sting like crazy. I wait about 10 minutes and then have a nice long sting-free shower.

Weights
I did 3 weight work-outs, again all less than 25 minutes. This week I am definitely going to fit in 4 workouts.

Bike Trainer
No bike trainer again!

Fitness Goals - Week 2

Another good week last week!

Runs
Tuesday 6:45am -10ºC 37 minutes. Did my usual 40 minute route but I'm doing it faster now.

Thursday 6am -10ºC 52 minutes. Ran with Tyandra, my favourite run of the week. There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground.

Sunday 8:30am -17ºC 48 minutes. It was very windy! The wind was head-on for the first half of the run, boy, I was looking forward to the turn around point.

Weights
I did 3 weight work-outs, all less than 25 minutes. You can squeeze a lot into 25 minutes! I think I will increase to 4 work-outs a week.

Bike Trainer
Did not make it to the bike trainer again. I think it's because I don't have a definite time set aside for it. I need to look for a time slot!

Fitness Goals - Week 1

Last week was pretty successful - I did 3 runs, and 3 weight workouts, but didn't go on the bike trainer, groan! It was a fairly busy week, along with the kids' usual activities, I had my book club on Wednesday night and a full day in Toronto with friends on Saturday (what a fun day, thanks girls). Unfortunately, that's all it takes to miss a workout. I'm determined to get them all in this week.

Runs
Tuesday 7:40am -10ºC 33 minutes. Tempo run with some hills. I ran a little later than I normally do and was rewarded with a beautiful sunrise. I also saw more runners than I usually do - do runners not get up as early as they used to?

Thursday 6am -5ºC 62 minutes. Ran with Tyandra, the time just flew by.

Sunday 9:30am 9ºC 52 minutes. Met some friends by chance and ran with them. We were having a brief hiatus from winter. I ran in half tights with no hat or gloves, so nice.

Weights
I am still refining my weights workout. I would like it to be no more than 25 minutes including set-up and tear-down. I need to fully inflate my new stability ball and incorporate it.

Bike Trainer
All set-up with a fan trained on it and now just waiting  - for me!

A New Year - Fitness Goals

My goal for the winter is to run 3 times a week (which I already do), to go on the bike trainer once a week (which I usually do), and to add a weights workout 3 times a week. I need to come up with a good weights workout that doesn't take too long, that I can just fit in at some stage during the day.

My typical running schedule is:
Tuesday 6:30am 40 minutes
Thursday 6am 50 minutes
Sunday 8am 50 minutes

I had a great run on Sunday morning in new snow. I always run right through the winter and love it. I think my coldest run so far this year has only been -14C, I can go a lot colder than that.

The challenge this winter will be time. We have a lot on our plate for the next 6 months. Exercising early morning is great. I get up, have my coffee and cereal, and go, and I'm done for the day. Early mornings mean early nights however, and considering that Connell and I usually get things done after the kids are in bed, this wipes out quite a few nights during the week. I guess we'll see how it goes.