But I have to admit, I've been cheating, thanks to Danielle, who's been sending me weather updates for the last couple of weeks. #obsessed
Looks like race day perfection to me. Let's hope my body gets the memo!!
Showing posts with label marathon weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marathon weather. Show all posts
Friday, September 26, 2014
15 Day Forecast
Today marks 15 days out from the Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon and that means one thing: 15 day forecast!!
But I have to admit, I've been cheating, thanks to Danielle, who's been sending me weather updates for the last couple of weeks. #obsessed
But I have to admit, I've been cheating, thanks to Danielle, who's been sending me weather updates for the last couple of weeks. #obsessed
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Marathon Day Forecast
Most people who train and run/race marathons know that weather plays a HUGE factor in your race day performance. My first marathon I counted down the days to race day, but I also counted down the days to 15 days out from the race day--getting my first glimpse at the raceday forecast for Green Bay, WI. For my next marathon in Las Vegas, I found accuweather that forecasted a 21 day forecast. Now I could enjoy a side of weather forecast freakout with my sunny side up taper mania. Yayzies!
So imagine my surprise after my last 20 miler, when I bopped on to accuweather, three weeks out from Madison to find that the extended forecast NOW RAN FOR 45 DAYS OUT. Whoa. This adds a whole new element of crazy to marathon training.
So imagine my surprise after my last 20 miler, when I bopped on to accuweather, three weeks out from Madison to find that the extended forecast NOW RAN FOR 45 DAYS OUT. Whoa. This adds a whole new element of crazy to marathon training.
Race day, and the 2+/- days before/after it all look perfect. AND, most importantly (or perhaps just equally as important?) is that there are no major blizzards/ice storms leading up to race day, as I'm driving to Madison. Phew! Bring on the excessive race day weather stalking!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Another Post Complaining About the Weather...YAYZIES!
When I was down in Houston visiting my running bestie, Jenn, we had multiple hundreds thousands of conversations about running and marathoning. At this point, both of us had ran at least one less than stellar marathon, so naturally you break it down inch by inch to discover the why.
One of the topics we landed upon was **big shock** weather. I know that a lot of you have equally shit-show level of weather to train/run/race in, but I'd love to get your two cents and suggestions.
In my eyes, there are 6 weeks of ideal weather to run in my area of eastern South Dakota. That's about three weeks of spring when the snow and ice melts, the temp comes above freezing, and before the onslaught of heat and humidty arrive. The other three weeks are in the fall, when we get the repreive from the latter and full on freeze of the former.
Yes, that's 42 days.
Out of 365.
Popular times of year for marathons in this area are spring and fall, naturally. If you choose to run a spring marathon (which is my first choice for reasons I'll get in to), you deal with 18 mile long runs on solid sheets of ice (just ask my hip when I ate $#!t hard at the end of a run). You run in 15-30 degree temps for the duration of your training. When spring actually comes, you're enjoying your taper so your body never really gets a chance to acclimate to the warmer more humid temperatures.
Then race day comes, and even a day in the 60s (which is fairly cool as far as spring race temps are concerned) sounds ideal, but it's anywhere from 2x-4x warmer than what you're used to. Throw in any humidity at all, and you're rather screwed.
That gives us our next option of a fall marathon. For me, this really isn't even an option, given how much I sweat when hot and humid, making it seriously unsafe for me to pursue. But let's say for arguments sake that it is. For an early October race, you start training mid-June. The first few weeks aren't bad, but then we reach July and August and some of September (ie: the bulk of your training weeks) where getting up at 3am to "beat the heat" isn't even an option because the humidity overnight wavers in the 99-100% range. Granted, some of this is great training for the fall slaughter heat fest that has been recent popular fall marathons: Chicago, even Twin Cities would've been too warm for my liking last year.
For this reason alone, I won't even think of running a fall marathon at the beginning of October. I refuse to train through the shittiest weather SoDak has to offer to be slapped in the face with just as hot and muggy of a day as I've slogged through all summer. Sorry.
My point: It's impossible to train for race day conditions. That's such a HUGE variable of the marathon day picture, that I feel like sometimes you have 2 strikes against you just heading in to that day that you've prepared for months for. (Wah, wah, I know!)
I do have a third option, and definitely one I will utilize once marathons get back in the racing schedule more regularly, which is the destination marathon in early December. It's almost perfect.... you can (hopefully) get the bulk of your training in before the blizzards hit, and can enjoy your taper when they do. But then there's always the issue of **SOB I'M GOING TO KICK A KITTEN** if a blizzard strikes leaving you not able to depart for your destination marathon. Also the cost of traveling somewhere for a race can get a little out of hand. And here again we have the issue (although less severe) of training in much MUCH cooler temps than you'll end up racing in.
So there you have it. I'm a little bit screwed, and not in a good way. Any good suggestions you'd like to throw my way? I'm all ears. Especially if you're in the midwest and suffering right along with me.
One of the topics we landed upon was **big shock** weather. I know that a lot of you have equally shit-show level of weather to train/run/race in, but I'd love to get your two cents and suggestions.
In my eyes, there are 6 weeks of ideal weather to run in my area of eastern South Dakota. That's about three weeks of spring when the snow and ice melts, the temp comes above freezing, and before the onslaught of heat and humidty arrive. The other three weeks are in the fall, when we get the repreive from the latter and full on freeze of the former.
Yes, that's 42 days.
Out of 365.
Popular times of year for marathons in this area are spring and fall, naturally. If you choose to run a spring marathon (which is my first choice for reasons I'll get in to), you deal with 18 mile long runs on solid sheets of ice (just ask my hip when I ate $#!t hard at the end of a run). You run in 15-30 degree temps for the duration of your training. When spring actually comes, you're enjoying your taper so your body never really gets a chance to acclimate to the warmer more humid temperatures.
Then race day comes, and even a day in the 60s (which is fairly cool as far as spring race temps are concerned) sounds ideal, but it's anywhere from 2x-4x warmer than what you're used to. Throw in any humidity at all, and you're rather screwed.
That gives us our next option of a fall marathon. For me, this really isn't even an option, given how much I sweat when hot and humid, making it seriously unsafe for me to pursue. But let's say for arguments sake that it is. For an early October race, you start training mid-June. The first few weeks aren't bad, but then we reach July and August and some of September (ie: the bulk of your training weeks) where getting up at 3am to "beat the heat" isn't even an option because the humidity overnight wavers in the 99-100% range. Granted, some of this is great training for the fall slaughter heat fest that has been recent popular fall marathons: Chicago, even Twin Cities would've been too warm for my liking last year.
For this reason alone, I won't even think of running a fall marathon at the beginning of October. I refuse to train through the shittiest weather SoDak has to offer to be slapped in the face with just as hot and muggy of a day as I've slogged through all summer. Sorry.
My point: It's impossible to train for race day conditions. That's such a HUGE variable of the marathon day picture, that I feel like sometimes you have 2 strikes against you just heading in to that day that you've prepared for months for. (Wah, wah, I know!)
I do have a third option, and definitely one I will utilize once marathons get back in the racing schedule more regularly, which is the destination marathon in early December. It's almost perfect.... you can (hopefully) get the bulk of your training in before the blizzards hit, and can enjoy your taper when they do. But then there's always the issue of **SOB I'M GOING TO KICK A KITTEN** if a blizzard strikes leaving you not able to depart for your destination marathon. Also the cost of traveling somewhere for a race can get a little out of hand. And here again we have the issue (although less severe) of training in much MUCH cooler temps than you'll end up racing in.
So there you have it. I'm a little bit screwed, and not in a good way. Any good suggestions you'd like to throw my way? I'm all ears. Especially if you're in the midwest and suffering right along with me.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Final Speedy Run
I feel like all of my posts have started with "final" the past week or so. Random note: In high school, I was totally *that* girl. Senior year, "last" first day of school, "last" time we'd eat chili crispitos at lunch (my fave), "last" prom, "last" track practice, etc. I'm sure my friends were happy to be rid of me after a year full of "lasts." Well surely you guys are equally as sick of my "final(s)" and are just ready for me to run the damn MARATHON!! (You're all probably quite sick of that too, huh?) Confession: I am too! Race day I'm ready for you.
Anyway, tonight I had my "final" tough run before the big day. [Make sure you read big day with a loud booming voice to get the full effect.] It was actually scheduled for later in the week, but I figured my legs would love me if I got it out of the way early on. I was scheduled to do 6 miles with 4 at a tempo pace of 8:35. Since there is currently a monsoon going on outside (what? you didn't know we get monsoons in SoDak? homie check yo-self! <----omg, I literally laughed outloud at the voice I used when writing *that* line. Taper madness anyone???), I decided to hit up the gym.
As soon as I got to the gym it was packed. Apparently everyone else is too big of pussies to work out in the monsoon too. Of course that means that every treadmill is full as well. I hang out by the wall, Star magazine in hand (that I borrowed from the rack, I don't buy that garbage, but I'll sure as heck read it if someone else has, guilty!), pseudo stretching, but ready to sprint to an open treadmill throwing 'bows to any passerbys if necessary. As soon as one opens up I pounce.
I quickly clamored up onto the treadmill and was hit with a wave of sweaty humid air. When did they put this treadmill in a sauna? That seems silly. And then I saw it......the buckets of sweat pouring off of the machine, collecting on the ledge of the monitoring and pooling together in the cup holder. I shuddered. And then it hit me, "THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY GET ON THE TREADMILL AFTER ME!!!!" Holy epiphany. I apologize profusely to anyone who has hopped aboard the tready after my sweat-sacre (<--sweat+massacre, ya, I just made it up). And then I realized it was only sweat and that it couldn't hurt me, and why not see if our combined efforts could contribute to the sweatiest treadmill in the history of the world! Also, I may have briefly thought that Mr. Sweat could possibly be my soul mate, but that's perhaps for another blog post.
Unfortunately, my run wasn't nearly as exciting as the shenanigans leading up to it. The warm up mile hurt my knees so I increased the speed a smidge and upped the incline. Perfect. The tempo miles felt comfortable and strong. And I caught up on some awesome celeb gossip in the final cooldown mile.
I did 6 miles in 53:08 for a pace of 8:52. Tempo pace = 8:30.
1. 9:31
2. 8:26
3. 8:33
4. 8:34
5. 8:27
6. 9:34
Unfortunately, I did not have my best sweaty performance. Yes, I was soaked, but there have been many other occasions where I've truly outdid myself. I think our stars will align again at the gym, and then history will be made.
And just to let you in on what I've been obsessing over since May 1st (that would mean 15 days out from the race day). And if you have guessed checking the weather report you would be CORRECT! I've gone from hating it, loving it, being ok with it, loving it, liking it, disliking it, and currently loathing it. It is the midwest, so I'm counting on it changing at least 14 more times before race day. I hope anyway. What am I going to do? Put rocks in my pockets to keep from blowing away?!?!?!?!? Give me a break. One of my buddies had a very clever facebook status update the other day that I just crack up over every time I think of it: Wind blows. Bahahahhahaah. But seriously, wind, I'll kill you. Don't think I'm kidding.
There are seriously a thousand sweet giveaways going on, and I'm hoping to continue my lucky streak. Check them out!
sticky fingerprints giveaway
Julie's 1st sweet giveaway
Fashion Meets Food Pantene/$25 Walmart gift certificate
Btw, anyone know of any anti-wind dances? I could use some fun effective x-training ideas for the next 6 days.....
Anyway, tonight I had my "final" tough run before the big day. [Make sure you read big day with a loud booming voice to get the full effect.] It was actually scheduled for later in the week, but I figured my legs would love me if I got it out of the way early on. I was scheduled to do 6 miles with 4 at a tempo pace of 8:35. Since there is currently a monsoon going on outside (what? you didn't know we get monsoons in SoDak? homie check yo-self! <----omg, I literally laughed outloud at the voice I used when writing *that* line. Taper madness anyone???), I decided to hit up the gym.
As soon as I got to the gym it was packed. Apparently everyone else is too big of pussies to work out in the monsoon too. Of course that means that every treadmill is full as well. I hang out by the wall, Star magazine in hand (that I borrowed from the rack, I don't buy that garbage, but I'll sure as heck read it if someone else has, guilty!), pseudo stretching, but ready to sprint to an open treadmill throwing 'bows to any passerbys if necessary. As soon as one opens up I pounce.
I quickly clamored up onto the treadmill and was hit with a wave of sweaty humid air. When did they put this treadmill in a sauna? That seems silly. And then I saw it......the buckets of sweat pouring off of the machine, collecting on the ledge of the monitoring and pooling together in the cup holder. I shuddered. And then it hit me, "THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK WHEN THEY GET ON THE TREADMILL AFTER ME!!!!" Holy epiphany. I apologize profusely to anyone who has hopped aboard the tready after my sweat-sacre (<--sweat+massacre, ya, I just made it up). And then I realized it was only sweat and that it couldn't hurt me, and why not see if our combined efforts could contribute to the sweatiest treadmill in the history of the world! Also, I may have briefly thought that Mr. Sweat could possibly be my soul mate, but that's perhaps for another blog post.
Unfortunately, my run wasn't nearly as exciting as the shenanigans leading up to it. The warm up mile hurt my knees so I increased the speed a smidge and upped the incline. Perfect. The tempo miles felt comfortable and strong. And I caught up on some awesome celeb gossip in the final cooldown mile.
I did 6 miles in 53:08 for a pace of 8:52. Tempo pace = 8:30.
1. 9:31
2. 8:26
3. 8:33
4. 8:34
5. 8:27
6. 9:34
Unfortunately, I did not have my best sweaty performance. Yes, I was soaked, but there have been many other occasions where I've truly outdid myself. I think our stars will align again at the gym, and then history will be made.
There are seriously a thousand sweet giveaways going on, and I'm hoping to continue my lucky streak. Check them out!
sticky fingerprints giveaway
Julie's 1st sweet giveaway
Fashion Meets Food Pantene/$25 Walmart gift certificate
Btw, anyone know of any anti-wind dances? I could use some fun effective x-training ideas for the next 6 days.....
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