Monday, November 7, 2011

Running in a Winter Wonderland

 Friday was so beautiful out.  The temps were in the high 50's, the sun was shining.  AWESOME.  Saturday was cold, snowy, windy..not awesome.  I wimped out and didn't run. Sunday was cold, but at least the sun was shining and it warmed up into 30's.  My legs were itching to get out and go for a run.  All the snow made everything look so pretty!
 The warmer it got though the more the roads turned to slush and mud.  By the time I got done running my socks and shoes were wet and muddy, but stayed warm enough.  I left my hat at home and the first part of the run I didn't miss it, but the second half of the run was into the wind and I was missing it then! I was feeling a little overdressed until I had to run into the wind. 
Can you see my dog wondering why I am not running? Whenever I stop to take a picture, he gives me hurry up looks.
 This morning as I type this it is 17 degrees out with a reported windchill of 8 degrees.  Umm brr.  But my legs are itchy for a run and it is supposed to be nice out later so as soon as I get done typing this up I will be on the phone looking for someone to watch kids while I run.  I think it is supposed to be up to almost 40 by noon.

Yup, just another crazy runner needing a fix. 


I don't know if it is the weather or what but I feel ravenous today.  I already ate a double helping of Irish oats with pecans and chia seeds, a pear, a caramel roll, and now I am thinking about eating some potatoes.  Not sure why I am craving potatoes right now, but I am!

I like to do my runs so that I run most of the uphill portions first and then end with mostly downhilll.  My husband says this is the easy way out, but then I saw this on Pinterest and decided I liked it.  If I work really hard going up then I think I earn all the down hill.   :)

  I don't have many routes that are very flat and as long as I am really not training for anything right now, I am going to do it my way :)

Given the choice, do you do the uphill first or last?

Have a great Monday everyone!  Hopefully tomorrow I will have a fun giveaway to post! :)  I won a Rafflecopter invite from Jen's Adventures and am excited to try it out.



24 comments:

  1. Definitely do uphill first and downhill last. I should probably alternate sometimes, but uphill at the end is awful and it generally makes me feel worse overall about the run. Perhaps I need an attitude adjustment :P

    Additionally, 12* ?! It's pretty, but yea, ick slushy! Please ignore my whining on twitter because it was 42 LOL

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  2. Wow- it's beautiful where you are! I do love running in the winter with the snow all around. Everything just seems more peaceful.
    I would definitely choose to run the hills first, always.

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  3. I ALWAYS do the uphill first if I can! Only crazy (or much tougher than me!) people would opt for the latter :)

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  4. Definitely uphill first. I agree 100% with "you way". It has been freezing in UT the last couple of days as well but it is absolutely gorgeous to run with the snow covered streets. So relaxing and peaceful.

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  5. snow already?!?! you are a brave woman for going out in that!

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  6. Uphill first !! Pictures are lovely but burrr....

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  7. My mom lives in Lakeside Montana! You live in Montana right!? Actually I use to live there for about 2 years, 8 years ago. That make sense :)

    Anyway, it's beautiful and would love to go back there for a marathon!

    Me, I like the uphills first! Get em out of the way. I also like them first because they raise my heart rate and once that gets pumping, it makes everything else a wee bit easier :)....so I think!

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  8. That looks beautiful! But cold. We are only in the 30s and 40s here and have had one day of snow but it has pretty much melted.

    I actually don't mind the uphills and don't see the downhill as a reward, as it actually hurts my knees more than the uphill. So I guess you can give it to me any which way!

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  9. so much snow!!! I was asking my husband the other day if being cold made you burn more calories because I eat like the starving every time it gets cold!

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  10. I have gotten better at hills so doesn't matter to me. Where we have been spending the winters the past couple of years, and will go again in a few weeks, it is uphill coming home from all directions.

    I don't mind running on dry snow, but hate slush and ice.

    Good for you for getting out there.

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  11. ok You can keep that snow girl. Hills I try to avoid hills. They make my hammies and buttocks hurt when I get done with them. I have days like that when I just think I could eat everything in the house and not fill full. Glad it doesnt last that long.

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  12. for some reason I'm an idiot and I ALWAYS do downhill first....I think it makes me stronger working harder the last half of a run/cycle. I can't believe you have that much snow already......you're gonna have to help me figure out what to wear on my first ever winter runs

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  13. Brrrrrr! How in the world did you run through that?

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  14. I always like to do uphills in the first half too….if you're doing hills, you're not taking an easy way out!

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  15. eeekk...that is frigid! i'm not ready for that type of weather yet.

    i prefer neither up nor down hill, and considering that chicago does not contain either...i think that i've found my perfect niche in the world.

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  16. Gorgeous pictures!!

    I like the downhill as reward too, but since I'm training and the end of a marathon always feels like uphill no matter what I've been trying to end with hills.

    I love that your dog runs with you. :^)

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  17. I always choose uphill first too - you definitely feel like you earn that downhill!!!
    :)

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  18. I'm an uphill first girl too! Can't believe it's cold enough for snow. I'm so afraid it's going to snow here before December.

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  19. well I basically live at the bottom of a hill, so I always go up first and enjoy the downhill on the way back....

    so pretty in the snow! All I have here (in OR) is rain rain rain, so snow is quite the novelty for me!

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  20. beautiful pictures!!!
    I have a hill at the end of all my run
    I cannot escape it

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  21. Uphill first...definitely! I can't believe how much snow you got there! I am so not ready for that yet!

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  22. Gorgeous! But, brrrrr. I'm such a whimp on cold weather. I totally think I earn the downhills.

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  23. Wow that is a beautiful picture and I am totally jealous. I really love winter but yes it can totally be too cold sometimes!

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