Cold weather running doesn't bother me. I have the wherewithal, stamina and discipline to deal with what I have been given - though a little extra push helps at times. My issue with winter is the lack of daylight in order to do what I want to do.
I began a new position at my place of employment after the first of the year (awesome!) and with it comes a regular weekly day schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - no more split of three day shifts and two night shifts. So I get up in the dark, get to work in the sort of dark and go home in the waning moments of daylight. I prefer running after work, so I get home and fight the urge to relax, throw on some running gear, put together a pseudo running route (which is typically changed or updated mid-run depending on how I'm feeling) and head out the door.
I'm getting in miles, but not as many long(er) runs as I would like. As a result, I've been working more on speed and stride length on routes of three to six miles. Since I work every third weekend, I get the Friday before that weekend off and I was able to squeeze in a 10-miler about a week ago - but most of the time it is a short and relatively fast workout.
On the heels of last month's frigid 13.94 mile "half marathon", I thought it would be a welcome change to hit up a shorter race to test myself and make me feel better about struggling to get my standard 20 miles in each week. I came up with the Scioto Miles Warm Up Columbus Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Marathon Relay and Half Marathon Relay on February 18th and selected the 10K portion.
I began a new position at my place of employment after the first of the year (awesome!) and with it comes a regular weekly day schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - no more split of three day shifts and two night shifts. So I get up in the dark, get to work in the sort of dark and go home in the waning moments of daylight. I prefer running after work, so I get home and fight the urge to relax, throw on some running gear, put together a pseudo running route (which is typically changed or updated mid-run depending on how I'm feeling) and head out the door.
I'm getting in miles, but not as many long(er) runs as I would like. As a result, I've been working more on speed and stride length on routes of three to six miles. Since I work every third weekend, I get the Friday before that weekend off and I was able to squeeze in a 10-miler about a week ago - but most of the time it is a short and relatively fast workout.On the heels of last month's frigid 13.94 mile "half marathon", I thought it would be a welcome change to hit up a shorter race to test myself and make me feel better about struggling to get my standard 20 miles in each week. I came up with the Scioto Miles Warm Up Columbus Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Marathon Relay and Half Marathon Relay on February 18th and selected the 10K portion.
What made this race interesting to me is the fact it is a road race run completely on a one mile loop. It made me laugh that the race website urged folks to have a personal spectating navigator to help keep track of your laps. Now this may not be necessary for the 5K & 10K crowd, but the half marathon and full marathon folks may need the additional support.
I was happy to not be forced back into the high school track practice mode of having to cover our distance crew duties all on the quarter-mile track - that, my friends, was the equivalent of a slow death: monotony abound.
A one mile loop, I thought, could help with estimating splits without passing the same scenery every 60 seconds. Also, having people watching and cheering you on would take your mind off of the fact you are simply running in circles and put a spring in your step.
Speaking of, I have always had springy ankles. Whether it be running, basketball, flag football or playing the baseball/softball outfield - I would roll an ankle, feel a sudden burst of pain, get that "oh crap!" thought, bounce back up and all would be fine. Some soreness and a little swelling would ensue, but otherwise I wouldn't be slowed down at all. This was especially true with running the mountain bike & hiking trails of Eastern Kentucky while at Morehead State. I would roll my ankle(s) on rocks, roots, branches, holes, the feet of teammates, woodland critters and lost term papers - but just kept moving. I've been lucky - unlike my brother (who was also a high school runner), who would roll an ankle, have it swell up like a balloon and have to sit and wait it out. Sorry Chad....I bypassed this gene.
I did the very same thing on Tuesday, February 6th. Just as I started an after work jaunt, I slid on some ice and suddenly felt the pavement up past the ball of my right ankle. Unnerved by the sudden jolt, I continue running - but with a bit of hitch. A few steps later, there is some tenderness, but that's it and I finish my five miles at dusk. The ankle did swell slightly and continue to be a little sore, but not enough to keep me from doing anything.
Later that week, talking about the upcoming 10K, L said she thought - since I had focused on the half marathon for sometime and put in the work - that I could pull out a PR at the continuous loop Scioto Miles race. To throw additional encouragement my way, replying to some practice run posts on Twitter, she tossed out the FREE BEER card.
You will see the screen shot here of the twitter challenge that says, "don't forget: PR = the beer is on me from wherever your heart desires** in the Columbus metro area." Now, there are a ton of breweries in this particular area and that decision - should a PR occur - isn't exactly an easy one. Here is just snippet of the selection of Columbus area breweries - 37 of them are on this list.
My 10K PR (38:34) came last June at the - get ready for it - Columbus 10K. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tender ankles and/or psyching myself out - I would have an excellent opportunity to break that PR and down some free suds.
Get a discount on your next pair of @shadyrays, Next Generation Shades, by using my promo code: "Simpson" https://shadyrays.com/ Check them out, I have the X Series - Infrared Ice Polarized
Live Hard. We Got You.
To start with it was 40 something degrees and mostly sunny, not like the -4 degrees we dealt with upon arrival at January's Brokeman's Winter Warm Up Half Marathon on January 14th. Since it was in the 30's the day before, our route had a thin layer of spotty ice. The 5k, half-marathon and half marathon relay group started first, followed by the full marathoners, marathon relay and we, the 10kers, three minutes later. At the gun I dart off and notice I'm out there alone. No one in my peripheral and I can't hear anyone behind me. "Am I starting way too fast? AGAIN!", I thought.
Crisscrossing the route to get around the larger ice sections was easy at first, but then we make our way into the back of the pack of the first group. So now I'm dodging ice, slower runners and walkers and they are littering the entire path. Not that they shouldn't be, but it was hard to maintain consistent pacing. I felt as if I was running just as much laterally I was going forward. At this point, I haven't notice anyone pass me, but then again, as much as I was darting around walkers and slower runners, I could have just not noticed. That's also when I realized this is how the entire race would be, since we are navigating a one mile loop. Extra work would have to take place for the next 40 minutes or so.
Upon completion of each lap, I saw L in around the same area yelling out encouragement and I still haven't notice anyone pass me. I was in the group which included the full marathoners, so ideally they wouldn't be going as fast I was, but still....was I missing something? Around lap four, I did notice someone pass me as I was dodging people, but shortly thereafter I passed him back. I couldn't tell if he was also running the 10k or was a half-marathoner or marathoner attempting to surge.
I brushed up against and bumped so many elbows, while simultaneously tossing out a "sorry", that I thought I had to be doing something wrong or was being that one runner jerk you come across now and then. Even the Columbus DeSales High School students who were volunteering at the water station were getting bumped. Some would stick out a cup of water, not realizing that simply passing them did not mean you wanted refreshment. At times the water they were holding would be knocked out of their grasp. This wasn't done purposely mind you, it just so happened that the area next to the water station was usually the most clear running path. If you were among those splattered with water or Gatorade, my apologies!
On the last lap, passing a variety of the same people for the fifth & sixth time, I speed up as much as I could (while imitating a running back weaving through an aggressive defense). I feel as if I'm going at pretty good clip and see as I pass through the finish line I'm at 38:58. A little disappointed, since I was hoping to PR, but I wasn't all that far off - around 15 to 20 seconds or so. It was promising - for referencing longer distances in the future- that I was as winded, but not all that worn out.
While catching my breath and mingling among the finishers and spectators, I think I see a familiar face. Upon further review, I make way over to a kid standing next to his parents and, "Excuse me sir, are you Jailen?" He answers, "Yes!" and I follow with, "Do you know who I am?" He smiles,"You are Craig!" His parents echo one another, "We thought that was you!?"
Jailen out distanced me - you may remember - at the Shalom 5k back in December and had run the 5k (finishing 4th) at this day's event. They ask how I finished and I could only say I didn't know. He and I both related how it was difficult to maneuver with the crowd of folks running several races at the same time on a small course, but it was more of a challenge than it was a problem. He, too, finished with a time a bit slower than he would have liked.
I offer a congratulations, find L and we make our way into the Crown Plaza Hotel conference room where the post race festivities were taking place. We gather some bagels and coffee, then scarf down some post race pizza. As results get uploaded, I inquire and discover I finished first among the 10k crowd, so I wasn't wrong in believing I hadn't been passed by anyone. Along with my finisher's medal came a winner's coffee mug. I didn't set a PR, but winning the race would suffice. That was L's thinking as well regarding the "free beer for a PR" incentive she had given the week before. I didn't set a personal record, but being the overall winner couldn't be totally ignored.
Making our way home and after crashing for a few hours, we head to our favorite local hangout - TwentyNine BrewPub - named for Marion's favorite native son, Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States. Among a variety of Ohio and other craft beers, 29's niche (along with excellent wood-fired pizza) is creating beers with names related to Harding, his life and presidency.
On this visit, L and I each order flights of mostly Ohio beers. This was my race victory reward, though I do believe if I had more opportunity to run straight ahead (rather than weaving through the crowd like a purse snatcher attempting to make a quick getaway) I would have likely reached that PR. Though, I will have plenty of time to try again soon. I will now be on the look out to see what fun March event to take part in as those St. Patrick's Day related races are a dime a dozen.
Don't look now, but according to the calendar - Spring 2018 is just over a month away (Tuesday, 20th March 2018, 9:16 a.m. - to be exact). Of course that means (in Ohio at least) we will still get some sort of snowfall (...flurries, blizzard, avalanche..) up thru May 1st, but it is exciting to know eventual warmer weather is just on the horizon. Recently we've started experiencing more daylight at the end of each day, boom!
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| The Warm Up Columbus one mile loop - ran counterclockwise. |
A one mile loop, I thought, could help with estimating splits without passing the same scenery every 60 seconds. Also, having people watching and cheering you on would take your mind off of the fact you are simply running in circles and put a spring in your step.
Speaking of, I have always had springy ankles. Whether it be running, basketball, flag football or playing the baseball/softball outfield - I would roll an ankle, feel a sudden burst of pain, get that "oh crap!" thought, bounce back up and all would be fine. Some soreness and a little swelling would ensue, but otherwise I wouldn't be slowed down at all. This was especially true with running the mountain bike & hiking trails of Eastern Kentucky while at Morehead State. I would roll my ankle(s) on rocks, roots, branches, holes, the feet of teammates, woodland critters and lost term papers - but just kept moving. I've been lucky - unlike my brother (who was also a high school runner), who would roll an ankle, have it swell up like a balloon and have to sit and wait it out. Sorry Chad....I bypassed this gene.
I did the very same thing on Tuesday, February 6th. Just as I started an after work jaunt, I slid on some ice and suddenly felt the pavement up past the ball of my right ankle. Unnerved by the sudden jolt, I continue running - but with a bit of hitch. A few steps later, there is some tenderness, but that's it and I finish my five miles at dusk. The ankle did swell slightly and continue to be a little sore, but not enough to keep me from doing anything.
Later that week, talking about the upcoming 10K, L said she thought - since I had focused on the half marathon for sometime and put in the work - that I could pull out a PR at the continuous loop Scioto Miles race. To throw additional encouragement my way, replying to some practice run posts on Twitter, she tossed out the FREE BEER card.You will see the screen shot here of the twitter challenge that says, "don't forget: PR = the beer is on me from wherever your heart desires** in the Columbus metro area." Now, there are a ton of breweries in this particular area and that decision - should a PR occur - isn't exactly an easy one. Here is just snippet of the selection of Columbus area breweries - 37 of them are on this list.
My 10K PR (38:34) came last June at the - get ready for it - Columbus 10K. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tender ankles and/or psyching myself out - I would have an excellent opportunity to break that PR and down some free suds.
 |
**We back EVERY pair with
FREE Replacements if Lost or Broken**
|
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**Each order also secures 11 meals
to fight hunger through
|
Get a discount on your next pair of @shadyrays, Next Generation Shades, by using my promo code: "Simpson" https://shadyrays.com/ Check them out, I have the X Series - Infrared Ice Polarized
To start with it was 40 something degrees and mostly sunny, not like the -4 degrees we dealt with upon arrival at January's Brokeman's Winter Warm Up Half Marathon on January 14th. Since it was in the 30's the day before, our route had a thin layer of spotty ice. The 5k, half-marathon and half marathon relay group started first, followed by the full marathoners, marathon relay and we, the 10kers, three minutes later. At the gun I dart off and notice I'm out there alone. No one in my peripheral and I can't hear anyone behind me. "Am I starting way too fast? AGAIN!", I thought.
 |
| My path, as you can see, all over the place. More of a human obstacle course 10k. |
Upon completion of each lap, I saw L in around the same area yelling out encouragement and I still haven't notice anyone pass me. I was in the group which included the full marathoners, so ideally they wouldn't be going as fast I was, but still....was I missing something? Around lap four, I did notice someone pass me as I was dodging people, but shortly thereafter I passed him back. I couldn't tell if he was also running the 10k or was a half-marathoner or marathoner attempting to surge.
 |
| The challenge - navigating through people |
On the last lap, passing a variety of the same people for the fifth & sixth time, I speed up as much as I could (while imitating a running back weaving through an aggressive defense). I feel as if I'm going at pretty good clip and see as I pass through the finish line I'm at 38:58. A little disappointed, since I was hoping to PR, but I wasn't all that far off - around 15 to 20 seconds or so. It was promising - for referencing longer distances in the future- that I was as winded, but not all that worn out.
 |
| Jailen and I at the Shalom 5k back in December. |
Jailen out distanced me - you may remember - at the Shalom 5k back in December and had run the 5k (finishing 4th) at this day's event. They ask how I finished and I could only say I didn't know. He and I both related how it was difficult to maneuver with the crowd of folks running several races at the same time on a small course, but it was more of a challenge than it was a problem. He, too, finished with a time a bit slower than he would have liked.
I offer a congratulations, find L and we make our way into the Crown Plaza Hotel conference room where the post race festivities were taking place. We gather some bagels and coffee, then scarf down some post race pizza. As results get uploaded, I inquire and discover I finished first among the 10k crowd, so I wasn't wrong in believing I hadn't been passed by anyone. Along with my finisher's medal came a winner's coffee mug. I didn't set a PR, but winning the race would suffice. That was L's thinking as well regarding the "free beer for a PR" incentive she had given the week before. I didn't set a personal record, but being the overall winner couldn't be totally ignored.
 |
| From Left to right, beers from Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Commonhouse Ales , Braxton Brewing & TwentyNine BrewPub. |
On this visit, L and I each order flights of mostly Ohio beers. This was my race victory reward, though I do believe if I had more opportunity to run straight ahead (rather than weaving through the crowd like a purse snatcher attempting to make a quick getaway) I would have likely reached that PR. Though, I will have plenty of time to try again soon. I will now be on the look out to see what fun March event to take part in as those St. Patrick's Day related races are a dime a dozen.
Don't look now, but according to the calendar - Spring 2018 is just over a month away (Tuesday, 20th March 2018, 9:16 a.m. - to be exact). Of course that means (in Ohio at least) we will still get some sort of snowfall (...flurries, blizzard, avalanche..) up thru May 1st, but it is exciting to know eventual warmer weather is just on the horizon. Recently we've started experiencing more daylight at the end of each day, boom!
Yup, schizophrenic weather - it will be imperfect...but... aren't we all....
I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this moment all my life
But it's not quite right
And this real
It's impossible if possible
At whose blind word
So clear but so unheard
I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this silence all night long
It's just a matter of time
To appear sad
With the same old decent lazy eye
Fixed to rest on you
Aim free and so untrue
Everyone's so intimately rearranged
Everyone's so focused clearly with such shine
Everyone's so intimately rearranged
Everyone's so focused clearly with such shine
Lost and loaded
Still the same old decent lazy eye
Straight through your gaze
That's why I said I relate
I said we relate
It's so fun to relate
It's the room, the sun, and the sky
The room, the sun, and the sky
I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this moment
Photo spread courtesy of Lauren B.
Photo spread courtesy of Lauren B.
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| Lauren and I, the finish in the distance |
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| Shorty after the finish w/ banana in hand |
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| Results, post race pizza, finishers medal and winners mug |
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| At home w/ the Scotland born, Ohio brewed, Elvis Juice From BrewDog |
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| The post race pizza spread |
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| Thanks Robb McCormick Photography |
