It’s been the off season. Unlike other off-seasons, I came into this one with a plan. After two weeks off from running entirely, I wanted to run 3-4 times per week at a relatively easy level. To this I would add strength training of whatever kind I could manage. I had visions of going to the gym and rowing, going to the gym and doing treadmill climbing workouts, and cross-country skiing.
Those visions didn’t pan out. The gym didn’t work out because, as it turns out, I hate the gym. It’s too contrived, and why go to the gym when I can get a good deal of strength training in at home? So I’ve been doing strength training at home 5-6 days per week, alternating between leg workouts (dynamic power and stability both) and upper body/core workouts (primarily with an exercise ball).
Cross country skiing has not worked out because, unlike last year, we have not had much snow here in Minnesota. We were getting a good base going through the end of November and beginning of December, but then it rained for a week. We are just now getting the cold weather and snow accumulation necessary for the real ski season to begin. If all goes as planned, I’ll be getting out there on my skis this weekend.
That said, I have been getting out running regularly, 3-4 times per week. This is in contrast to last year, when I did not really do any running between the time of my last race in November and the beginning of January. I am already miles (you see what I did there?) ahead of where I was at this time last year. And I have experiences to prove it.
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| Experiences, and an ice beard or two. |
This past week, for Christmas, G and I headed out to Colorado to visit her family. A few days prior to that, we went to Duluth to visit some friends of mine who were in town. Turns out, one had never been sledding before (SoCal girls . . .). So we went to Ace, bought some cheap sleds, and headed to Holy Rosary hill to do some traditional Duluth sledding.
Holy Rosary hill is dangerous. It’s steep and bumpy at the best of times. On this particular day, there was very little snow, but plenty of ice. This led to fast, and painful, trips down the hill. I had a surfeit of energy, so I paired these with hill sprints back to the top. It turns out, I am in great hill-climbing shape. So far, so good.
Once in Colorado, I promptly hooked up with a friend for a run from work. There’s a new trail up the backside of Mount Sanitas, so we naturally did that. This route consists of almost 1700 feet of climbing over a 3.5 mile stretch, most of it coming in the last mile or so. I surprised myself, coming from sea level as I was, by keeping up fairly well, and coming in for the 8th place time on Strava. Again, so far, so good.
On Christmas morning, after a rest day, I took another 4.5 mile run with 500 or so feet of climbing. I felt a little tired still, but averaged 9 minute miles even so. That would be my last run in Colorado, but in the following days I would again go sledding (running up the hill, of course), and walk 3 miles from my car rental place to downtown Boulder in under 45 minutes.
As far as I can tell, my off season has gone as planned. I seem to have kept a good base level of fitness while leaving my legs rested and ready for the year ahead.
And I have big goals for next year, and a plan for accomplishing them.
