Wednesday, October 31, 2012

All Hallows' Eve Romp

On a whim, I had signed up for a "virtual run" where they send you a number and a t-shirt for participating and you just find somewhere local to run and log your time on their web site. On Monday mid-morning, I left the hut intending on just staying in the shelter of the NARL campus but ended up on the main road to Point Barrow. I turned around at the road into the DEW line site and went to Cakeeater Road before returning to the hut. It was still really windy but since the wind was coming off of the ocean, I didn't have to run directly into it. The total was 3.27 miles according to the gps on my phone with a time of 43 minutes which, for me, is fast. Running on the snow was much easier on my knee than the bike paths and roads are in Fairbanks though you do have to watch out for ice. Sometime I don't know why I sign up for things like this as I don't think it was "fun" or anything like that. But if it wasn't for this, I probably would not gone out and ran while in Barrow. I returned to Fairbanks that evening but wanted to do my run in Barrow since it was much warmer. 28°F is still feels warm compared to  10°F.

I didn't receive my bib number in the mail until yesterday. I needed it to enter my time on the website. Not that I plan on winning but just wanted to log that I did do something. 

10 comments:

  1. Richard:

    I envy you and your ability to be able to run, under all conditions, cold or hot

    right now I can barely walk . . .

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    1. I used to have a lot of problems with my feet for years until I went to a podiatrist. He told me that I needed to stop going barefoot or wearing shoes and sandals without a lot of arch support and recommended an OTC insole (Superfeet). He gave me a cortison shot and sent me on my way. I have been using those insoles for about 5 years and no more foot problems.

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  2. Congratulations. I wouldn't think it was fun to run on snow at those temps either.

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    1. I don't think it's much fun to run at all but walking takes more time than I have available. Running allows me to cover the same distance in less time. Running on the snow isn't bad at all as long as it isn't deep or above freezing.

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  3. A great run - well done you! I would be afraid of slipping on the ice hidden under the snow and breaking something. I have to say I move indoors when it gets cold and windy, but I still mostly walk.

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    1. With gravel underneath the snow it isn't too hare running on the snow. The only slick spots were in the tire tracks where vehicles are accelerating. I used to mostly walk on a treadmill until it wore out. Now I just go outside....

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  4. Great job getting out and running in the cold - on snow. Don't you find it harder to breath in the cold?

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    1. No, not really. Once it gets well below zero, it gets to be a bit more difficult to breath but on Monday, it was still in the mid-20''s (°F) so breathing was no problem. It was windy, and fortunately, no blowing snow. Watching the waves come in was entertaining.

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  5. Good for you! Just the thought of running makes my joints ache, so for now I am settling for a brisk walk. How cool that you ran in the snow!

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    1. As you can probably guess, I spend much of the year walking and running in the snow. I used to spend a lot of time on a treadmill but I'm thinking that running will not take as much time for the same distance and calories.

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