‘Twas a good week! I got to run outside TWICE, including my 20 miler!
Here’s how training went this week for the Antarctica Marathon:
Monday: President’s Day! I had the day off of work. What’s a girl to do? Head to an 8 am dentist appointment 🙂
But after the dentist, I met my friend Vicki for a 7.25 mile run- OUTSIDE! After 50 miles on the treadmill last week, running outside in the sunshine felt AMAZING. The trails were mostly snow-packed and not slippery, so I wasn’t stressed about slipping.
Tuesday: Back to the treadmill. 6 miles with 30 second pickups.
I attended a “Confident Anywhere” training for my day job that consisted of a lot of presenting/videotaping/critique on the presenting, and this introvert was quite exhausted by the end of the day! But I decided to suck it up and power on; after the training, I went to a Oiselle Volee event at the Powerhouse studio in St. Paul for what was basically a foam rolling class!
Hurt so good. The Twin Cities has a really impressive Oiselle flock who organizes a ton of great events; glad to be a part of such a fine group!
Wednesday: More treadmill! 4 easy miles before work. Minneapolis got dumped with about 7 inches of snow. After work, I shoveled as my strength training. I broke quite a sweat!
Thursday: More treadmill! 6 easy miles. After work, I took a Discover Strength group training class.
Friday: Guess what? More treadmill. 4 easy miles before work.
Saturday: 20 miles outside! Minneapolis received 2-3 inches of snow overnight and none of the trails were plowed, so it was like running in sand. It took quite a bit of effort; it was probably one of my slowest 20 milers ever, but I didn’t care about pace. I was just happy that I was able to run it outside, plus running in snow was great training for Antarctica!
I ran about 7.5 miles and then stopped home for some fuel.
Then my friend Vicki joined me for the next 9 miles:
We ran into Dustin and Matilda, who were out for a run!
After Vicki completed her 9, I got a bit more fuel and then was out the door for the last 3.5 miles. Breaking it up into those 3 chunks (7.5 miles, 9 miles, and then 3.5) really helped make it more manageable. But man, it’s so much work running on the snow. I was pretty sore afterwards.
Sunday: 50 minute Solidcore class (sort of like Pilates), then 3 easy bonus miles on the treadmill just to get to 50 miles for the week.
Summary: 2 strength classes (Discover Strength and Solidcore), 1 foam roller class, 50 miles of running, 2 runs outside!
On one of the short treadmill runs this week, I tested out the Salomon Sense Ride trail shoes that I had purchased for Antarctica, but unfortunately they were not comfortable for me.
So many people (including my husband Dustin) recommended these shoes, but running shoes are so unique to each person’s body and they just didn’t work for me.
Fortunately R.E.I. has a great return policy and took them back. Instead, I went with the Brooks Cascadia 13 GTX trail shoes. I’ve run in these before so I know they work for me and they are also waterproof.
While at R.E.I., I purchased a few more items for Antarctica, including a GORE-TEX rain jacket, which was on the list of recommended items to bring. I thought that as a Minnesotan, I would already have all the cold/wet weather gear I needed for Antarctica, but there has actually been quite a bit I had to purchase to prepare, not to mention things like Dramamine (motion-sickness meds for the boat) or these refillable flasks for our gels:
You’re not allowed to bring any plastic onto Antarctica, as its too risky that a wrapper could blow from your hands during the race and littering is definitely not okay on this protected land!
I couldn’t help but throw in a few bonus items from R.E.I. for the trip too. I’ll be packing all casual cozy clothes!
*I realize I am sharing a lot about future travel plans and there are nefarious people out there who might want to use this opportunity to do something shady! So I thought it was important to point out that we do have some friends house-sitting the whole time we’re gone.
Here’s a quick rundown of the itinerary:
- Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina, spend 3 nights in Buenos Aires
- Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia at the southern most tip of Argentina, spend one night there
- Board the Vavilov ship, spend 2 days on the ship crossing the Drake Passage
- Arrive in Antarctica, crew spends one day preparing the race course on land
- Run the marathon
- Spend 3 more days exploring Antarctica through multiple types of excursions like kayak trips, hikes, etc.
- Make the 2 day return trip across the Drake Passage
- Fly from Ushuaia back to Buenos Aires
- Spend one more night in Buenos Aires and then return to Minneapolis!
I will definitely share a post of what I’m packing, as it’s something I’ve had to think a lot about! Some of the shorter flights have strict weight limits, so I’ll have to be very strategic in this regard.
That’s it from me this week! Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out all the other great weekly recaps that are a part of HoHo Runs and Taking the Long Way Home ‘s weekly recap link-up!
OMG I’m so excited for you! Your itinerary sounds amazing. This is going to be a trip to remember, that’s for sure!
So glad that you were able to run outside this week, especially for your 20 miler!
Thanks Kim! I’m getting really excited!
I am so excited for you and cannot wait to hear more about everything and see all the fab photos
Thanks Deborah!
WOW!!! It’s almost here!!! You are gonna be on the go the entire time you leave Minnesota! I was able to get outside a few times last week, too. My miles are a fraction of your’s, but my treadmill has seen too much action LOL
Agreed! Can’t wait until spring 🙂
So glad you were able to do the 20 miler outside, but running in snow can be quite the workout!
I’m usually fairly cautious about talking about travel or when my husband is traveling for work — and then I go and share on IG anyway. 🙂
I know- generally I still post on Instagram, though without internet I’ll have to wait to share my pics until we’re back!
I’m just so excited for you! It’s getting real, isn’t it? I think running your 20 miler outside in the snow was really wise. Those are the conditions you’ll have in Antarctica.
Time to taper! Woo Hoo!! Now bubble wrap yourself.
Haha, thanks Wendy!
I love my Brooks Cascadia for trail running, good choice 🙂 Glad you could get outside for the 20 miles. I’m intrigued by the foam rolling class, was an instructor guiding you through different muscle groups with the foam roller? DId you learn any new tricks for pesky muscles?
Cool, glad you like the Cascadia!
There was an instructor for the class and we used more than just foam rollers- she walked us through all different kinds of exercises- it was way more of that type of work than I had probably done all year, but very valuable!
Hahaha re: 8a dentist. You did a spot better than my best friend who had a 7a on Friday. Did you realize it was a day off when you booked it?
REI always makes me chuckle. Not on account of their stock or great policies but because the only one I’ve been to here is in the Puck Building which I love as a Will & Grace fan.
Can’t wait to see your photos of your trip. A friend just went to Antarctica and the colors just stunned me.
Nope! I didn’t realize it was a holiday when I booked the appointment 6 months ago, but it was a good reason to get up and get going even on a holiday!
What was your friend’s trip for- just vacation? My husband has been doing an online photography class to prepare for the trip 🙂
She works for a company called Lindblad Expeditions. She wasn’t leading a group, but scouting for a future one. I called her an evil temptress for her photos 🙂
Haha, an evil temptress 🙂
Hooray for running outside twice!!! Like everyone else, I’m so excited for your trip. I only know one other person who ran Antarctica and he said the whole trip was amazing. Are you just giddy with excitement?!?!
That’s so great to hear! Glad your friend had such a positive experience!
Oh, wow, your whole trip sounds amazing! I didn’t realize all the stages of getting there. So fun! You had a really great week. I’d be so uncomfortable with watching a videotape of myself, let alone having it critiqued. I’m sure I’d have a lot to learn from the process ….
It isn’t an easy place to get to, that’s for sure!
Yes, the videotape stuff was tough…especially because the whole purpose was for them to critique you!
This will be such a wonderful adventure! Hooray for getting that 20 done outside. It’s been a treadmill kind of winter for sure. Sorry the Salomon shoes were a disappointment but it looks like you’re all set! I’ll be living vicariously through you!
Thanks Marcia, I’m very excited!
AH, this whole trip sounds AHMAZING! And I am so so so glad you were able to get outside for some runs this week!
Thanks Kim!
Excited for your trip! I can’t wait to hear about it and see your pics! Congrats on getting the 20 miler done in the snow, that has to make you feel better going into this race.
Thank you Steph! Yes, it definitely was really nice to be able to do the 20 outside as challenging as it was 🙂 This winter needs to end soon, right?
Can’t wait for all the Antarctica before and after posts to come!!!! So exciting! It’s getting so close!!!
One week away!
I love that your long run was like mine – loop back to the house, run bits with different people – it’s a fun way to do it, isn’t it. And hooray that you got to do your 20 outside. Love the refillable Gu pouch – how many gets does it take, or do you have a giant bottle of Gu you fill it from?
Yep- it’s great to break up the long runs into manageable pieces right?
The refillable pouch holds 5 servings, which is about what I usually bring for a marathon. I bought a giant bottle of GU that holds 15servings that I will fill it from 🙂
My cousin is a big trail runner and she has always struggled with Salomon shoes. But another friend loves them so I guess it’s like you say, everyone has such unique needs and you have to find what works for you. I’m so glad you got to do that 20-miler outside – good practice in the snow 3 weeks before big day and I just can’t imagine 20 miles on the treadmill! I love that you broke it up into bits too. I’ll keep that in mind too when I start doing very long runs. SO excited for you!
Exactly! Running shoes are so personal- one person’s rave review may mean nothing to another person- our bodies are all so different!
Holy.
Moly.
This sounds like such an incredible opportunity! This is my first time reading your blog and it seems like I found you at just the right moment! What a dream!
It sounds like your training is well in hand and you are ready to go! I hope you will join us over at our Running Is Our Therapy link up that Wendy and HoHo mentioned so we can all follow along on this adventure!
Thanks Jenn! I will check out your link-up. What day of the week is it on?
I am so impressed that you are running a marathon in Antartica, what an adventure! I can’t wait to read all about it!
Thank you Beth! It will be a tough one, that’s for sure!
Ooh it’s getting so exciting now!
That’s a shame those shoes didn’t work for you. I have the Salomon Speedcross and love them, but like you say, everyone is different.
Yes, shoes are a tough one to recommend as our bodies are so different! The Brooks ones are better, but still so heavy and stiff, but that’s how trail shoes are I guess!
It’s getting so close and I am so excited for you! I cannot wait to read all about your race!
And I love that you mentioned that someone is house sitting. It’s so sad that we have to do that, but such a good idea!
I know- I share a lot on here and I like to think that its only good people reading, but I know that’s not true. So needed to point out that our house will most definitely still be occupied thankfully while we’re gone!