Boston Training 2020: Week 8: The time that the winter intermission ended

It was bound to happen. Fools spring in February is not really a thing, after all. 

Well, this is the upcoming week too. And FYI-it was WAY colder than expected today. Minus 10.

I was lucky on Monday. It was 40 degrees, the roads were bone dry, and since bitch hill was on the schedule these were both good things.

I was still MIGHTY sore from horsepocalypse 2020. I decided to just get out and do what I could, and it payed off. It might not have been the most stylish run, but it was decent and I finished what I planned to do. Low snowbanks allowed for a pretty photo as well. 

Hi Bitch Hill. Or "Hi, FROM bitch hill" is more accurate. 

Tuesday and Wednesday both ended up being my off days for the week. While I usually prefer to break up rest days, there was no choice. I'm working solo 99.9% of the time this winter (which is making for some legit 80 hour work weeks. not complaining, but if anyone happens to be wondering why I'm not available basically EVER, this is why. I'll text you back in May.) 

I also had a really weird finger problem. Since I am still alive, and recovering, it seems that it was not cellulitis, MRSA or flesh eating bacteria like I suspected for a hot minute. Of course, this all came to a head in the middle of a nasty storm (that took out the internet, so I could not even use Dr. Google!) I figured I was headed straight for a snow day amputation. It seems I narrowly missed such a dire ending, as the gross finger seems to be recovering.) 

(short story long... it all began with me picking at a little white bump which I assumed was a splinter. later that night, the finger was so painful it actually woke me up! it then got red and hot and swollen and stupid. my Mom is basically a wound care specialist, so before I decided to hack the thing off, she sent me home with a strict regimen of soaking, bandaging, other stuff, and it does seem a lot better now! Seriously, I live in the sticks and am not gonna head to urgent care when the roads are covered with death!)

Creepy, although you can't really see how bumpy it is from this pic

After a long work day on Wednesday, I headed off for another round with my Chiropractor, which was good. I have had trouble (more in life than in running) for the past year with my left side. From my back, to my hip, to my leg and ankle, it is all left side trouble. We are working through the pieces of what's really out of whack, and what needs to be made stronger. Every week I'm feeling better- which is actually pretty awesome, since I was feeling alright to begin with! For the first time EVER, I headed in for some help BEFORE I was a hot mess. 

I began mile rep work on Thursday with 4x1 @ 7:36. 

I tried out my new Hoka carbon-x shoes, and loved them. 

And honestly. It is 2020. If you don't have a pair of carbon shoes, are you EVEN a runner??

Friday was a pretty gross snow/sleet day. The internet went down. In the most epic display of First World Problem, I had to run 7 miles on the treadmill with no form of entertainment! It wasn't actually too bad- but I can not possibly wish to do this daily. 

Long run Saturday... I expected crap, since crap has been the norm. Plus-it was windy, COLD, and the roads were covered with shit. 

And. It wasn't too bad. A good step better than last week! A gnarly final few miles, as the temp plummeted, my hands and lungs froze, and the sun went down. It legit took me hours to warm up. 

Sunday was a few easy miles. The EASIEST. 

Then, Eric did his long run to a new pub and we met up for a quick beer (before I basically had to go back to work. because this is my life, currently.) (and no, I didn't actually go "to" work, but I went "to" scheduling, accounting, ordering, communicating. I need office staff...) 

As it turned out, it was a better running week. 

For this, I thank:

-Luck

-Skill?

-Random things that I will never be able to recreate 

-Fitness.....???

-Other

Stats:

Total miles: 42.1
Long run: 16
Coldest Day: Sunday morning, -10. Cold long run, started at 22 degrees, finished at 16 degrees. 

Snow? 2.5 inches on Thursday, a whole day of sleet on Friday which made a mess. 
Random: I love it when people assume that since I have no children, that I have infinite time, sleep, money. No cares at all! Living life all foot loose and fancy free. No. As it turns out, I am still an adult and seem to be plenty busy managing things (like dealing with your children btw) I also enjoyed having someone tell me that it must be great not to have to care about the environment since we don't have kids. NO. This is not how it works. Life still continues to be very meaningful, and real, even if you choose not to have children. (surprising, I know!)