30 December 2009

Stop & Roll, Spaced-Out Drivers


Great night for a run, nice and cool a 1/2" of snow over ice, thank God for YakTrax! Although they kept me from really slipping around, my "push off" or "fall forward" (how ever you see it?) would slip at the toes when I'd try to dig-in. It was slippery as all hell tonight and I'm very confident with these YakTrax on; however, I may have to try 32north’s STABILicers SPORT to see if cleats can keep my catapults on the ground with maximum energy!

One highlight from tonight was a stop & roll driver (a chick). As I ran up to an intersection, she was rolling up to the stop sign. I was heading down the sidewalk in a well lit area against the flow of traffic. I was approaching the passengers side of her vehicle. The whole right side of her car was full of snow and ice; hence, I knew their was no way she could see me. However, I slowed a bit and pushed forward as she was focused on traffic from her left the traffic heading towards me. I got in front of her car, which is still rolling focused my attention on her, at this time she still didn't see me and I was directly in front of her drivers side headlight side stepping to keep from being hit. All of a sudden she attempted to turn into traffic, I was just inches from her car now almost slowed to walk, (this is the best part) she finally swung her head to the front of her car and POW their I was (priceless)! She was scared shi&@ess! Frightened that she was about to hit or already did hit me?


Words can't fully explain this. I had it timed perfectly as I knew she wasn't situationaly aware of me due to the frosted windows and her blatantly making no effort to look to her right! I also knew she wasn't going to turn right until traffic was clear to her left. I'm willing to bet she scrapes her windows next time and looks to the right before turning right next time!

Always carry something to throw at a spaced-out driver while running e.g., a water bottle, BlackBerry and/or a tomahawk for when things really get out of control. Of course, with the use of proper escalation of force!


Best regards,
Chris



Activity
Route:
--
Elev. Avg:
882 ft
Location:
Stoughton, WI
Elev. Gain:
+0 ft
Date:
12/30/09
Up/Downhill:
[+295/-295]
Time:
7:41 PM
Difficulty:
3.4 / 5.0

Weather:
Light Snow

24 F temp; 81% humidity

24 F heat index; winds S 9
Performance
Distance:
5.40 miles

Time:
0:45:20
Speed:
7.2 mph

Pace:
8' 23 /mi

Calories:
766


Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits
Mile
Pace (min/mile)
Speed (mph)
Elevation
Gain
actual
+/- avg
actual
+/- avg
1
7' 11
-1' 12
8.3
+1.2
0 ft
2
8' 59
+0' 36
6.7
-0.5
+39 ft
3
8' 43
+0' 20
6.9
-0.3
-3 ft
4
8' 28
+0' 05
7.1
-0.1
-17 ft
5
8' 17
-0' 06
7.2
+0.1
-29 ft
end
9' 07
+0' 44
6.6
-0.6
+10 ft
Versus average of 8' 23 min/mile

24 December 2009

Crazy as a Mailman?



Neither snow, sleet or freezing rain stops the mailman, so why would it stop a runner?

Snow is like running in sand although, you  have to take short choppy steps, you have less push-off force which slows you down.


Tonight was fun as it switched from snow to rain and then into sleet. All I had to do was open my mouth for a slushy. These YakTraks bite, but they should called ReindeerTrax!

If reindeer can come to a flying stop on an ice-encrusted rooftop in the dark of the night. I would like to have a reindeer's bad-ass hoof, that actually adapts itself to the season - All-Terrain Feet, a runners dream!



Running conditions from tonight during a brief pause from snow, sleet or freezing rain. This picture was taken by me running backwards, those are YakTrax!



Merry Christmas,
Chris



Activity
Route:
--
Elev. Avg:
875 ft
Location:
Stoughton, WI
Elev. Gain:
+0 ft
Date:
12/23/09
Up/Downhill:
[+275/-275]
Time:
7:36 PM
Difficulty:
3.4 / 5.0

Weather:
Freezing Rain and Ice Pellets

30 F temp; 74% humidity

30 F heat index; winds E 21 G 31
Performance
Distance:
4.87 miles

Time:
0:40:54
Speed:
7.1 mph

Pace:
8' 24 /mi

Calories:
688


Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits
Mile
Pace (min/mile)
Speed (mph)
Elevation
Gain
actual
+/- avg
actual
+/- avg
1
8' 11
-0' 13
7.3
+0.2
+20 ft
2
8' 27
+0' 03
7.1
-0.1
-20 ft
3
8' 29
+0' 05
7.1
-0.1
+29 ft
4
8' 37
+0' 13
7.0
-0.2
-36 ft
end
8' 12
-0' 12
7.3
+0.2
+7 ft
Versus average of 8' 24 min/mile

22 December 2009

Dashing Through the Snow


I should've save the "Dashing Through the Snow" title for a run through a blizzard. This was just the first chance I've had to run on packed snow and ice, while everyone else is slipping around just trying to walk. I was dashing through the snow down Main St. I flew by some people walking, they were just trying not to slip and fall. As I passed them at ten fold their rate of speed, jumping snow banks and not slowing a bit; all I heard was "WHAT THE F%@K?" That was the highlight of my night!

I did snap a pic while running w/my BlackBerry it's a bit of a blur, but here's the conditions...


What a great night for a run,
Chris



Activity
Route:
--
Elev. Avg:
868 ft
Location:
Stoughton, WI
Elev. Gain:
+4 ft
Date:
12/22/09
Up/Downhill:
[+187/-183]
Time:
8:46 PM
Difficulty:
2.4 / 5.0

Weather:
Light Sno

28 F temp; 88% humidity

28 F heat index; winds NE 10
Performance
Distance:
3.17 miles

Time:
0:26:40
Speed:
7.1 mph

Pace:
8' 24 /mi

Calories:
450


Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits
Mile
Pace (min/mile)
Speed (mph)
Elevation
Gain
actual
+/- avg
actual
+/- avg
1
7' 42
-0' 42
7.8
+0.6
+3 ft
2
9' 05
+0' 41
6.6
-0.5
+9 ft
3
8' 17
-0' 07
7.2
+0.1
-20 ft
end
9' 19
+0' 55
6.4
-0.7
+10 ft
Versus average of 8' 24 min/mile

21 December 2009

Richter Scale Running



Just an up and down, slow/fast run tonight. Although, I felt as if I was just running at an even and relaxed pace. Looking back at the data, it's clear, I was all over the chart. Hence the term "Richter Scale Running."

Temp was a little cool at first, but I warmed up fast enough. I did sprint up the biggest hill on my route tonight. Take a look at the Elevation (ft) image, just before mile 3 right in the middle of the chart. You should see a big spike in elevation, now look at the Pace (min/mile) image. I charged up that hill going from an 8mm to a 6mm. That's the highlight of my night now back to the battle!


America's Survival Is At Stake,
Chris



Activity
Route:
--
Elev. Avg:
877 ft
Location:
Stoughton, WI
Elev. Gain:
-3 ft
Date:
12/21/09
Up/Downhill:
[+229/-232]
Time:
8:11 PM
Difficulty:
3.2 / 5.0

Weather:
Light Snow

24 F temp; 80% humidity

24 F heat index; winds NE 6
Performance
Distance:
4.29 miles

Time:
0:36:11
Speed:
7.1 mph

Pace:
8' 26 /mi

Calories:
611


Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits
Mile
Pace (min/mile)
Speed (mph)
Elevation
Gain
actual
+/- avg
actual
+/- avg
1
7' 53
-0' 33
7.6
+0.5
+10 ft
2
8' 27
+0' 01
7.1
-0.0
+46 ft
3
8' 45
+0' 19
6.8
-0.3
-17 ft
4
8' 44
+0' 18
6.9
-0.3
-59 ft
end
8' 03
-0' 23
7.5
+0.3
+16 ft
Versus average of 8' 26 min/mile

17 December 2009

A Good Winter Maintenance Run



I finally feel better after being sick as a dog (or maybe a swine?) for about two weeks.

Short choppy steps and packed snow and ice makes for an extremely fun filled and challenging run! There were snow banks at many of the intersections. It was like someone set-up an obstacle course just for me. What a nice night for a run though, not to cold @ 20.8°, calm and brisk with the smell of fireplaces burning.


The gloves came off by mile 2. I'm actually looking forward to some bellow zero runs. These Under Armour UA Fleece Gloves are awesome; however, I'm sure I'll like them much better as it gets colder.

Can't wait to use my new Yaktrax Pro, they are like tire chains for running shoes. I would've wore them tonight, but some people actually shovel their sidewalks well. I'll have to wait for another good snow storm for the Yaktrax.


To winter running,
Chris



Activity
Route:
--
Elev. Avg:
892 ft
Location:
Stoughton, WI
Elev. Gain:
-4 ft
Date:
12/17/09
Up/Downhill:
[+337/-341]
Time:
8:09 PM
Difficulty:
3.5 / 5.0

Weather:
Clear

20 F temp; 76% humidity

20 F heat index; wind 0.0
Performance
Distance:
6.28 miles

Time:
0:52:19
Speed:
7.2 mph

Pace:
8' 20 /mi

Calories:
894


Elevation (ft)

Pace (min/mile)

Splits
Mile
Pace (min/mile)
Speed (mph)
Elevation
Gain
actual
+/- avg
actual
+/- avg
1
7' 10
-1' 10
8.4
+1.2
+6 ft
2
8' 37
+0' 17
7.0
-0.2
+10 ft
3
8' 41
+0' 21
6.9
-0.3
+72 ft
4
8' 26
+0' 06
7.1
-0.1
-53 ft
5
8' 21
+0' 01
7.2
-0.0
-23 ft
6
8' 35
+0' 15
7.0
-0.2
-43 ft
end
8' 41
+0' 21
6.9
-0.3
+26 ft
Versus average of 8' 20 min/mile