Snow Day! Snowshoe Workout

Donna leads the way

We finally have snow during what has been a rather mild winter in New England. I'm not a huge fan of snow, but it hasn't felt like a true New England winter without it. On Friday we received 11" of powdery fluff, and with rain in the forecast for Sunday, Donna and I bundled up to go snowshoeing on Saturday despite temps hovering just above 20 degrees. You gotta pick your days.

The trails were quiet, with only a half dozen or so people hiking through mid-calf-height snow or on cross country skis. We were the only snowshoers out there. We did an out and back hike with a few joggles to give us a little over a mile and a half total distance, (Strava). It was a great workout! Despite the frigid temps, I was quite toasty until I got home. (Then the chills hit. Brrr.)

Tons of fun and hopefully we'll have more opportunities to get out there this winter. (Equipment note: MSR Evo snowshoes for both.)

Donna at trail's end. There were swans in the harbor.

January being January

Sunday snowshoe Nike

We’re only three weeks into January and the winter has just been dragging along. It’s been too warm for trail rides, (unless you ignore the damage it does to the trails, which I can’t do), but too cold for running. Sort of. Mike and I still have our weekly run dates and I try to squeeze in a run or two during the week, but haven’t really gotten back to my mileage from the summer. That’s ok, though.  It’s still only January. Still.

Last weekend we actually had snow(!); which has been oddly absent this year, so went snowshoeing in lieu of running. It was fun! We headed over to Lynn Woods, stuck to the main trails, and did not get lost. I’m calling it cross training.

Snowshoe date with my honey

March is in like a lion, as always

Snowshoe adventures at Appleton Farms

So, February was a whole lotta nothing as far as training goes. The gains I made in January were pretty much negated during February... but what can you do except keep moving forward. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯   After checking in with my girlfriends for advice on jumping back into a training plan for Alaska, I’m now focused on a solid plan. (You would think after years of doing this on the bike, and then coaching, I would be better at managing my own training, but running and cycling are just not the same and I want to do it right.

My first concern is, of course, avoiding injury. I’ve had lower back soreness and occasional (horrific) back pain flare-ups of unknown origin this past year. (I have some suspicions of what could be causing my back pain, but nothing pinpointed.) I’ve also had knee/IT band issues from ramping up my miles too fast.

So the next four weeks are base building, followed by 12 weeks of Hal Higdon’s half-marathon training program at Training Peaks. Credit goes to Mary for laying out a good running plan for me, with nods to Alison, Ruth, Lila, Lisa, Amy and Jennifer, who all chimed in with similar thoughts..

After a snowy, gray Saturday, we woke up to sunshine yesterday morning and a promising window of opportunity for some snowshoeing before the next storm! My sister Heather and I strapped on the MSRs and snow hiked at Appleton Farms in Hamilton. It was a fun and challenging workout that left me feeling a little creaky today. Fortunately, the new training plan starting today begins with a REST DAY!! (Phew!) 

Oh, wait. Scratch that. We had over a foot of heavy snow last night and I just spent 2 and 1/2 hours shoveling. (Bring on the Advil.)

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A REST DAY!!!

Welcome to March.

Ready to leave the snow behind

WINTER has made a comeback, with snow hitting us Friday (no school) and again today (no school)... which isn't ideal, but I'm rolling with it. Since my mountain bike shipped last week, my choices for the weekend were to ride The Deathtrap in the snow, or head out for some snowshoeing... and snowshoes won. (Crosstraining!) We had a gorgeous weekend and I had great fun hiking in the snow.

Race and team details for 24HOP are coming in like crazy. The race order is set... although I learned this morning that we are down a team member, so that will change. Our VK teammie Echo Rowe was unable to make the trip, so 15 year old hardcore MTBer Noah Paez stepped in earlier this month to take her place. Unfortunately, he had an accident yesterday while pre-riding the course and suffered multiple abrasions, a leg wound, and a possible concussion. (Oh, Noah!!) Hoping he heals quick, although he's definitely out for this weekend.

Heal quick, Noah!

With the snow falling, I now need to start packing. A 24 Hour mountain bike race in the desert requires a whole lot more planning and stuff than I anticipated. Time to start packing it up.

My bike has arrived in Arizona already -- (quick work by BikeFlights and Fed Ex) -- I just hope this latest round of snow ends Tuesday so my flight leaves Boston ON TIME Wednesday. I can't wait to get to the Arizona desert. I'm ready for this.

Spring Melt, Finally

Aw geez, I feel weak! I'm back to doing weights and core work with Keli and Christine, but arm and shoulder soreness is holding me back. (It's been persistant since I landed on the pavement a few weeks ago.) This week I got out on the bike mid-week, (on the MTB), and also headed to the Y for a few workouts, but I took it kinda slow all week. A friend sent me an article about the inevitable decline in athletic performance after a certain age... and I'm at that age... so that was depressing.

On the plus side, we had spring-like weather early in the week and I got in a ride that didn't require bundling up like the kid in A Christmas Story. It was wet and messy, and the melting snow has uncovered massive potholes, (and I caught a glimpse of a curb!), but it was good to get out for a spin. Cold air is back, but at least we've had the promise of Spring.

The 5k I signed up for, The Nutty Irish 5K Cocoa Run, (which all of my girlfriends are ditching), is just 8 days away. I have not been running -- which is actually the least of my concerns, because I can always run/walk and that's fine -- but the race is on a golf course currently buried in snow. It's going to be a muddy mess and... OMG... I don't want to ruin my new running shoes!!! (For real.)

Gotta think long and hard about this one.

#Bostonsnow - Hoping it melts by June

Are you tired of me writing about the snow? I'm pretty tired of it too. Since last week we were hit with two small storms and another blizzard -- apparently stuck in a three day pattern of snow and bitter, bitter cold. Enough already! I didn't get out for a ride all week, but managed to make it to P2 for mid-program testing and join the girls for a long Saturday morning Sufferfest ride. A fun morning, despite the suffering. 

(The photo above of Saturday's sunrise was taken before the blizzard hit us later in the day.)

I'm trying to stay upbeat and positive, but it's been tough!! My Vanderkitten teammies in California and Arizona... plus Rebecca out in Colorado... have been filling my Strava feed with beautiful long rides in warm, sunny temps. It's killing me. Shoveling snow three times a week is just not the same.

Blizzard of 2015

Snow Day!!! I'll be riding on the indoor trainer for a few days, as Swampscott was nailed with 30.4 inches of snowwwww. OMG. So much shoveling! I sure miss the days when my dad would have his construction crew come plow us out. Hahaha. Love this pic of Will, dressed like he's ready to go skiing, not shoveling. He takes his blizzard-wear seriously.

I was actually excited to do more mountain biking in the snow, but I'm afraid this kind of snow is waaay too deep. Rebecca texted me a ton of advice on how to approach certain riding conditions, and I need to practice!! Awww that Rebecca. She's the best.

(Haha, that's technically true. Rebecca is the 2012 Masters Cyclocross World Champion and 2014 Masters National Champion. So pro...)

I'm going to practice the "three rules" she sent me while I'm on the trainer this week, (she's an awesome coach), and hopefully hit the trails when some of this snow melts. Loving the MTB.