How Much Wood

The weather is finally coming back and we're able to sustain longer efforts outdoors without fear of adverse repercussions.  I was still feeling sluggish so chose a moderate effort and more relaxed pace.  I'm way behind on the podcasts that I listen in on regularly and am trying to catch up.  The seed for a future post regarding the past was planted during today's listens.

Noticed evidence, today, of the surmise of a Hairy Woodpecker last night beside the trail.

Also realized that I failed to show a short, yet steep, hill that I like to run snowshoe repeats on when working the Quarry Trails.

I  definitely appreciate being able to get out on these trails every day!  6 miles.

Head For the Hills

It's always been tough to find any decent "hills" when training around Mason City.  In the winter, I enjoy the rolling terrain found around the quarry trails that I use for snowshoe running.  In fact, it's hard to believe that such interesting geology is a mere 5 minute drive from my home and this is Iowa.

The shadows obscure the steepness of this slope.

Other snowshoers have been out on the ice of the quarry.

Today I ran the hills but also took it easier and slower than yesterday.  I've been hitting the snowshoeing rather hard lately and needed more of a recovery day.  6 miles total. 

Knee-jerk Reaction

I've had years of experience in running outdoors during cold, Iowa winters.  Even with that experience, I made the mistake of reacting to the -20° temps and high winds of yesterday by wearing similar layers of clothes today...9° and calm wind.  I was severely over-dressed and found myself  uncomfortably warm!

It was beautiful out on the Quarry Trails and I had a rather brisk, steady run on the snowshoes.  The snow has really firmed up with use and the cold.

Another 7 miles today.

Silent Killers

Saw evidence that the owls were out hunting in the woods last night. Occasionally, I can see one gliding through the brush but they are really quiet.

It was very cold out today with temperatures continuing to drop and winds increasing. It is supposed to drop into dangerously low sub-zero temps and wind chill overnight. But today again, it was fun to be in the woods and the bluffs offered a bit of protection.  A Facebook group called Ice Beard Runners just invited me to join and coincidentally I haven't shaved since Christmas so I decided to post a photo.  Most of the members that are posting have shown some significantly better frost build-ups than me.

Mid-run

Nearing the end...by the Old Mill on Lime Creek Trail system

But how about this ice beard!  Hope the weather doesn't have this effect on any runners tomorrow.

I, Hatchet Jack, being of sound mind and broke legs, do leaveth my rifle to the next thing who finds it, Lord hope he be a white man. It is a good rifle, and kilt the bear that kilt me. Anyway, I am dead. Sincerely, Hatchet Jack.      

Found myself remembering past conditions at a specific location along the trail...but for some reason I really didn't mind the snow of today.

January 5, 2014

June 13, 2013

April 16, 2013

Mouse Tracks

Another great day for the snowshoes.  Overnight temps rose to around 30 degrees before dropping into the teens for the day.  This helped the trails set-up and foot plants were firmer today than yesterday.

However, the snow beside the trails is still soft enough to showcase animal activities like mouse tracks...

or I've also been amused by how the squirrels can locate the walnuts that are buried in the snow and pinpoint dig them out.

and then scurry back to the south side base of a nearby tree to eat their prize.

Pleasant, steady 7 mile day.  My legs and hips are feeling the stress of the regular snowshoe run outings so far this winter...but it feels good to hurt like this again!

Getting the Air Out

The winter's in North Iowa have been nothing close to what I remember as "normal."  This year's cold spells have been a challenge and I'm happy to be getting out even in the sub-zero temps.  Unfortunately, the cold makes for atypical snow...light, fluffy, and with a lot of air in it.  It takes more work to get some nicely groomed running trails.

A change that is slowly occurring, is that "snow bikes" are out in force and really help get the trails packed.  I've been pleasantly surprised at the width the snow bikes create and have been able to run comfortably stable along the paths.

Seth Bell's bike on Lime Creek trails.

I forgot my camera today so will use some shots from winter's past.  Yesterday was a bit of a struggle with my traditional built Iverson wooden frames.  

Iverson snowshoes (with last year' Pearl Izumi running shoes)

This was my first attempt on the Iversons with my Hoka shoes and I slipped a lot in the bindings.  I had no such issues with the Dion 121s today!  

Dion 121s

A great day out and good miles.  Got in 7 and most were running...I was struggling with a very stiff/sore knee all morning after slipping on ice while walking Cory's dog, but it felt fine when out on the snowshoe trails.

New Year's Revelations

I've definitely been on a bit of a blogging sabbatical.  A lot of the blogs that I've followed seem to take a break when they are injured and not able to remain on a normal training regimen.  Fortunately, I haven't been any more injured than the knee issues I've been dealing with for 7 years.  It's simply been a break from routine blogging while I've continued to train with no specific goal.

Recent time on the trail has resulted in a few thoughts coming together in a sort of series revelations.  I acknowledge that I've had difficulty dealing with not running as I have in the past.  I've been spending some time this fall trying to accept where I'm at and what I "can" do.

This year-end revelations:

• Accountability...I've continued to keep a log, however, without the blog or training partners I lost a bit of accountability.  There seems to be some positive influence to regular training when you share with others.
• Coaching...the time and energy devoted to coaching others does draw time and energy away from my own training.
• Adaptability...it is taking time but I need to accept my aging and learn to adapt new ideas and training techniques.  I can no longer hammer away as I did with old-school training that got me through the 80's and 90's.
• Surprise...I had a soft goal of putting in 2013 miles in 2013 and was pleasantly surprised with 2207.
• Snowshoeing...I've always felt more comfortable with my snowshoe racing in winter than any of my summer training.  I now believe it may have something to do with a more neutral footplant. It's very unlikely that you do much heal-striking when running snowshoes!

So the indoor track and field season is about to begin and at the same time we've been getting enough snow to allow me to train regularly on the snow.  I'm hoping to keep up with my current fitness level and actually do some snowshoe competitions this winter.

Later....