Okay, I know last week’s post was “8 Weeks Until the Antarctica Marathon” but I was wrong. This week is actually 8 weeks until the race, 7 weeks until we depart on the trip. Whoops!
**And for any potential burglars planning to stop by while we’re gone, my sister’s family is going to be housesitting for most of the time, so I wouldn’t recommend it!
Back to the recap of training for the Antarctica Marathon! Here’s how this past week went:
Monday: I had the day off of work for the holiday. I eventually made my way to the basement to run 8 miles on the treadmill. I also fit in a solidcore class at 4:30, which would never happen on a regular work day! It was a nice treat.
Tuesday: 300m repeats: 2 mile warm-up, 8x300m repeats at a 6:45 min/mile pace, 2 mile cool down. 6 miles total. The 6:45 pace felt really fast on the treadmill, like I was going to lose concentration and fly off the back! I had 1 minute to recover in between and I just walked it.
Whew!
Wednesday: 6 easy miles on the treadmill before work.
Thursday: A heat wave! The weather really improved on this day, rising up to the 40’s! I decided to run after work when any icy spots would hopefully be melted.
I was supposed to do a tempo workout, but I was huffing and puffing just during my warm-up miles! I called the workout off and just did 8 miles at a 9:15 min/mile pace. Dustin had even waited around for me to get home on the bus as he was going to pace me for the tempo workout, but I was just not able to do it…sorry Dustin.
It seems to me that all that treadmill running did not translate very well to the outdoors! I know that the paths were still covered in slippery snow, but man…I struggled. I need to get outside more, no matter what! I mean, obviously Antarctica is going to be outside in the snow, so I need to toughen up. Plus clearly the treadmill is not doing me any favors with regard to fitness.
Anyone else ever had this issue? My coach once trained for a record setting half marathon entirely on the treadmill, so he thinks it’s a great training tool. Yet on my first run outside after so much treadmill time, I honestly felt like I hadn’t even run at all in the past few weeks, even though I was running on the treadmill every day! Ugh.
Friday: Another run outside and another very ‘out of shape’ feeling. I ran 6 miles at a 9:30 pace and felt like I was really working for those miles. Yuck.
Saturday: 15 miles at a 9:30 pace; the sun was shining, it was in the upper 30’s, a great day for running, but once again, I really struggled. Tough day.
I did come home to a plate of cinnamon banana pancakes, thanks to Dustin. That helped!
Sunday: solidcore arms & abs class, then 4 mile run with Dustin and Matilda. The sidewalks to get to the lakes were pretty slippery, but once we were on Lake Calhoun, it was pretty clear. I was actually able to run at a normal-ish pace, though it felt tougher than it did just a month ago when I ran 26.2 at 3 Bridges at that pace!
Summary: 53 miles of running, 2 solidcore classes
I had a call with my coach on Saturday and voiced all my frustrations about my fitness level. How did I get so out of shape? He reminded me that winter running in Minnesota is challenging. I am also still dealing with IT band issues, which makes things harder, physically and mentally. (I am currently going to Orthology twice a week for Graston/soft tissue work). For IT band issues, he would usually recommend the treadmill, but since I’m training for Antarctica, he knows how important it is that I get outside to train, or I’ll be way too wimpy come race day. He told me to stick with the training, ideally outside, and I’ll start to feel normal again.
We have a winter storm warning right now that is predicting up to a foot of snow though; if we really get a blizzard, I will probably have to run on the treadmill for a few days, but after that I will velcro on my Yak-traks and get outside…The treadmill won’t be an option in Antarctica!
Other than the soft tissue work at Orthology, I’m also trying my best to fit in about 15 minutes a day of the exercises they gave me to strengthen my glutes, etc.
For example, clam shells, 1 legged squats, leg lifts, and side-stepping with a resistance band:
In non-running news, we walked over to Lake Harriet to check out the art shanties on Saturday afternoon.
It was an interesting (and free) event for locals, although it was more of a dog show than an art show- EVERYONE had their dog along!
Saturday night, we had dinner with some friends at Hai Hai in NE Minneapolis.
It’s the same owners as Hola Arepa; totally different menu but just as good and lots of fun drinks. We will be back!
These next few weeks are going to be interesting with so much going on in the Twin Cities for the Super Bowl on February 4th. I’m lucky that my bus maintains its regular route, but I’m sure it will be busy. It’s an exciting time to be in Minneapolis!
And just for fun, here’s a picture of Matilda. She was napping upstairs and this blanket was “stuck” on her when she came down to greet me. Silly girl.
I’m linking up with HoHo Runs and Taking the Long Way Home for their Weekly Wrap link-up, check it out:
A lot of people love treadmill running, but I am not one of them. My experience is that my stride is compromised when I’m on the ‘mill and that often times makes for a struggle (and usually not an effective workout). And, that, in turn, leads to unnecessary strain in places I don’t need it LOL Do you think the change in temps from indoor running vs. outdoor could be a factor? Breathing the cold air can be debilitating if you’re not used to it, especially for running.
Hi Kim! I think the cold air was definitely a contributing factor with my challenges transitioning to outdoor running…I don’t ever remember it being such an issue, but I also don’t normally have to run so much indoors!
If anyone has an edge on training for Antarctica, it’s you! Time to pull up your boots, put on your big girl tights, and head out onto the tundra…. I am seriously jealous and also anxious for you to do this marathon! You got this!
Wendy, this is the BEST comment! YES- time for me to pull up my boots and put on my big girl (running) tights! 🙂 You rock- love the honesty.
Your pup is adorable!! I applaud you for trying your speed work on the treadmill. I’m too afraid of flying off the back of it if I slip up so I always back off on the speed. For whatever reason treadmill running always feels harder than road running for me. And yikes, all that snow! Hope you have a good week of training!
Minneapolis was hit was quite the snowstorm today so unfortunately more treadmill time in my near future 🙁
I’m one of those who feels like treadmill running and outdoor running are two entirely different activities. It feels so different. to me…almost as if I fight the belt if that is possible. But then there are people that run perfectly on one, which I can’t understand. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get outside more often in the weeks leading up to your race. I hope you continue to see improvement with your IT band. Thanks for linking!
Thanks lady! I hope I get outside later this week, though Minneapolis was hit with a big blizzard today, so it will be a few days of treadmill time, unfortunately 🙁
Way to keep after it. I forgot how close the back wall is on your treadmill – speed work would be especially treacherous! Shalane posted that she is coming in for the Super Bowl – wonder where she’ll be running?!?!
I hadn’t heard that Shalane was going to be in town! I bet you $100 she doesn’t run outside 🙂 too risky!
LOL, I’m tempted to take that bet ;). Shalane is a Boston gal who won’t be afraid of any snow. Plus, she said in an interview that last year’s stress fracture was caused by too much treadmill running during bad weather.
Yeah, I have really struggled with the treadmill, especially on easy runs when I am trying to keep my hr at least kind of under control. Outdoor runs up until the last few days were a struggle between trying to maintain traction and feeling like I was wearing 800 layers, and my paces have been so much slower. Thursday afternoon when the paths were mostly clear was the first run I’ve had in a few weeks where I felt more like my old self, but I’ve felt exactly the same as you recently.
Noelle, this is so reassuring to hear that you experienced the same as me…Unfortunately today’s snowstorm didn’t really help! I hope the paths are cleared quickly so we can get back outside!
I think I might be one of those rare people that doesn’t feel much of a difference between between outdoor and treadmill running. Of course I prefer running outdoors, but I’ve had equally hard outdoor and treadmill runs, lol.
I’m sorry to hear bout your nagging IT band – I totally feel your pain on that. Hopefully it will stop being a pain soon!
You are lucky Kim G! I honestly don’t mind the treadmill, but it didn’t seem to be keeping me in shape since outside felt so much harder at a much slower pace 🙁
I give treadmill runners so so SO much credit! Even the easy 20 minutes I chose to do on the treadmill (bc I was feeling lazy and didn’t want to spend time putting on tights, long sleeves, etc.) was HORRIBLE! My coach is also not a fan of treadmill running; one reason is that he feels like the treadmill is pulling you along at whatever pace it dictates, rather than getting to the speed your body naturally wants you to run. I just get bored and tired AF! 😉 I am super pumped for your big trip/marathon!
I don’t get bored as much as I agree with your coach that the treadmill seems to be keeping me on pace, whereas outside it felt so much harder. I MUST GET OUTSIDE!!! Being outside reminds me why I love running; it’s just a much better feeling to finish a run outside than finishing one on the treadmill. Hopefully Boston is treating you well with a mild winter and lots of outdoor running!
It usually takes me 3 or 4 outdoor runs to feel normal after running on the treadmill for a while. The first few feel hard and I am often sore in unusual spots. I definitely use different muscles, or use muscles differently.
Yes! I was definitely sore in my calves and ankles, probably because of all the stability necessary for snowy outdoor runs. Happy to hear you experience the same!
I’m weird in that I feel like treadmill running is so much harder than outside. I’m sure it’s mostly a mental thing, but I just feel like I can’t run for more than a few minutes on a treadmill…
Interesting! Mentally I can handle the treadmill, but it seems that physically it wasn’t helping me train 🙁
I find the treadmill mentally hard, but I suspect conditions outside are pretty challenging for you right now. I’d say the important thing is to get out and get some miles in to help you prepare for Antarctica. The pace will come and the winter weather will make you stronger. You’ve got this!
Unfortunately in Minnesota, treadmill running is often a necessary evil…hopefully not for too much longer before the worst of winter is over!
What is an Art Shantie?
I kind of feel the same way about the treadmill. It definitely does not replace an outside run but I’ve learned to like it for what it is. I just don’t know how some people can run their same exact pace on the TM as they do outside. I am always so much slower on the TM for some reason.
An art shanty is a made up thing 🙂 It’s an ice fishing house -“ice shanty”- designed by local artists and displayed on a one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
Ok- That last Matilda pic is cuteness overload! What a snuggly little lady!
I always find that running outside feels like it requires more effort and is more tiring than I think it should be after stringing together several treadmill runs. I wonder why that would be? So odd. I did hear once that you should use a little incline on your treadmill so that the effort feels comparable to running outside, like incline of 1 or 1.5 is enough. I’m certainly no expert, though.
Great to hear from you Katie! Tilda says thank you 🙂 She is a little cuddle buddy.
I have read mixed reports on whether you need the incline on the treadmill, but my coach does recommend at least mixing it in to simulate the outdoors a bit more, or your muscles aren’t getting the same kind of workout (which could be one of many reasons why outside feels so hard after so much treadmill!).
Thanks for reading and commenting!
I have been keeping up with reading your blog, even though I haven’t been commenting much. One of the few blogs that I do follow regularly!!
That’s so nice to hear Katie, thank you!
Your bag at the “dog show” is so cute!
It looks sooo cold out there but I guess you will be ready for the upcoming marathon better than those coming from a warmer area!
Why thank you Eri! It’s an older bag from Madewell.
Minnesota is just a TAD chillier than Hawaii…so jealous of you right now!