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Jan 5, 2011

Man vs Nature

Thanks for all the great comments from yesterday's post.  I thought it was a really boring post but you guys seemed to like it.  I really like having pictures in my posts.  It makes things much more interesting.  The problem is that I'm running in the dark during the week so not much to see.  Regardless, I don't live near lakes or mountains so I don't have the view some of you get on a daily basis when running.
Wishing I ran by this everyday!
Anyway I hope I inspired some of you to get out there.  I have really come to accept the weather whatever it may be and the more I run in the dark, the more I enjoy it.  Until yesterday, I did not realize how much I actually enjoyed running when it was dark out(after running for a week in daylight when I was on vacation)  I know it's not for everyone, especially the ladies, who are nervous about phycho's out there and I can completely understand that.

It just works for me.  I have said it in the past - when I run in the morning when it's dark, my brain does not catch up in time for it to know I have run so I can get it done with no problems(usually)

By the way, the widget for dailymile is working again!  Yeah!

Well today I went on another four mile run.  It was another cold run - colder than yesterday at 25 degrees but it was clear out.  One thing that is nice is that all the snow is melted here in Detroit when we had a short warm up.  When the snow and ice was piled on, I had to change(limit) the ways that I could run so I did not have to run through snow.  We have been very fortunate in the weather department except for the cold.

The first mile was business as usual - way too fast.  I always start off this way and it never feels like I'm going that fast.  Then I see my split - oops!  Then I try to slow it down a little and at least get it to over 8 minute pace.  I really need to work on the pacing for my marathon.  There is no way I'm going to be able to keep an 8 or 8:30 pace for 26 miles.  I almost killed myself doing it for a half marathon.  I'm going to start working on that especially on my long run.  Today was another good run - in the words of Adam Richman -  in this epic battle of Man vs. Nature.......

MAN WON!

Have a great day everyone and.......Keep Running!(See how pictures make it much more interesting)
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21 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    Man wins! Take that Mother Nature.

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  2. Running RicigJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    hahaha, I love pictures! Thanks for the daily mile update, too. It's been driving me crazy that it hasn't been working. Too bad I've been sick for the past two days and haven't had a workout to update it with anyway.

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  3. AnonymousJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    i wish i ran by that first picture everyday too. the second one? eh not so much...

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  4. MalloryJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    I don't run past beautiful scenery everyday either. I wish I did! In the spring/summer/fall I do run along the bike paths that are near the water which is always beautiful. I sometimes run on it in the winter, but they don't always clear the snow so it depends.

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  5. misszippyJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Way to keep mother nature in her place! I like the dark too, although like you said, not alone as a woman.

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  6. ChristiJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I am horrible at pacing so I need to work on that also!

    Great pix!

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  7. TerriJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    Pacing is an issue for me, too. But I'm working on it! I do my in-the-dark running at the gym, on the treadmill. :( It just isn't safe here - narrow winding Tennessee roads + suspicious farm dogs + the possibility of psychos = daylight runs for me. But I admire your tenacity!

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  8. LeeJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    I like running in the dark too Jeff. I take my dog with me so I feel more secure. I like that there's usually no one around. I have my Petzl headlamp now so I can go on country roads at night. A summer night time run is nice too, if I can remember -seems it's been cold and snowy for a long time now.

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  9. RunToTheFinishJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    you should be getting an email soon because you are the winner I drew for the $150 visa gift card!

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  10. JillJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    Yay for man! Oh, and btw, I just heard on the radio on the way to work "words that are so yesterday" - Epic was one of them. Failure was another. So I never want to see "epic failure" as one of your blog posts - therefore, they will all be good ones :).

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  11. NejJanuary 5, 2011 at 12:49 PM

    I would LOVE to run by something like that every day!!!!!!

    I've gotten used to running in the dark, and I really do enjoy it. We haven't been as lucky with the weather...lots of ice....so my running outside has mostly been on the weekends, once it's light out. Ice is ok, dark is ok...the two together could be disastrous.

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  12. JasonJanuary 5, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    Pacing is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with myself. I am always going out much much to fast but I have learned in the past couple of weeks to pull it back and run using my RPE more instead of HR or pace.

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  13. KristinJanuary 5, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Thanks for commenting on my blog! I have added yours to my Google Reader. I hate running in the dark, not so much because of perverts but because I have a fear of tripping and falling. Wish I had the problem of hitting an 8-8:30 pace when I go out for an easy run.... :)

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  14. Jim ... 50after40January 5, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    Pace seems to be a problem for most of us - try running the first mile backwards or on your hands, that should be way slower! Kidding, great run!

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  15. jenniferJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:44 PM

    I also wish I had beautiful scenery to run by. I'm very jealous of SUAR and all of her breathtaking Colorado mountain views!
    Nice pictures. I especially like the one of the psycho...adds a little spiciness!I won't run in the dark for precisely that reason--luckily, I have a schedule that allows me to get my runs in while there's plenty of light. Great post!

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  16. Detroit Runner(Jeff)January 5, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    Jamoosh - a man vs food fan. Yeah! I know most of us would not eat what he eats but it's fun to watch

    Mallory - we have a lake that I can run around too but I have to drive to it.

    Christi, Terri, Jason, Jim - you would think the Garmin would help pacing and it does but I wish it would take over my feet. LOL

    Lee - that Petzl light is sweet too.

    Amanda - OMG!!!!! I'm really excited that I won this. I already got it spent on running stuff!!!

    Nej - Yup, with ice I slow down quite a bit(which helps my pacing!)

    Kristin - Thank you! I enjoy reading all the blogs. They are hard to keep up though.

    Thanks everyone for your comments.

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  17. BethJanuary 5, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Glad to hear man won! where is that picture of the mountain from???

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  18. Meg O @watchmegorunJanuary 5, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    hi, I saw your comment on Shannon's blog and had to check your blog out. Another detroit runner! How exciting! I'm a follower now, can't wait to read more :)

    http://justrunmego.blogspot.com

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  19. AdrienneJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    I like to run in the dark myself too, although my husband usually doesn't let me. (not that he can control me but you know what I mean) He makes me take everything short of a body guard in order to be safe. 80lb dog, pepper spray, phone, etc.

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  20. Average Woman RunnerJanuary 5, 2011 at 10:49 PM

    Hello Mt. Baker!! I see we were having Detroit weather here in WA but it finally warmed back up today to the usual 40's (it was in the teens/low 20's earlier this week). Running in the dark now is fun because with a little more time, we'll gradually start seeing the sky get lighter. I love being up early enough to see the changing of the seasons :)

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  21. dawn @ running the dawnJanuary 6, 2011 at 7:47 AM

    i am the exact opposite. i always start out slow. my first mile always feels like i'm running through wet cement, but then after mile 2 or 3 i fall into a groove and even things out. i'm pretty sure that's why i love marathons so much. since i naturally start out so slow i still have plenty of time to make up for it. its the short races that kick my butt. i can't seem to ever "get out of the gate" fast enough. oh well....

    i've really been enjoying the lack of snow! i mean, i love snow. but running especially speed or tempo runs, are crazy hard when the roads are snow packed...

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