Craziest. Winter. Ever.
Here in central PA we get two snowstorms of more than a foot twice per decade (according to the local news). Wednesday, we might get our third of the season.
After a very snowy December, things got quiet for about a month, but last weekend's 20 inches more than made up for it and this week's forecast is just as scary.
All this is mildly intriguing if you just live here, but if you're trying to train for a marathon, well, it's just another monkey in the wrench.
All of that being said, I have averaged the workout volume each month for the past three months that I had in my previous one month prior to my last marathon. Put another way, in the worst weather for training, I've never been fitter.
When the wife and I finished the basement three years ago, we made one room a pseudo-workout room. It has a vinyl floor (unlike the carpeted rest) and a TV and DVR. It also has its own treadmill and my bike is on a trainer. After last week, it also has an elliptical - a very old but hopefully reliable commercial grade model I found on Craigslist after nearly a month of fanatic monitoring for a hopefully dynamite price of $350.
Yesterday, for instance, I did 5 miles on the treadmill, followed by a hard hour on the elliptical, followed by 3 miles running on the treadmill and 2 miles walking. All told, nearly 17 miles of movement, accomplished in a 12 x 10' room, supplemented with copious episodes of Law & Order.
There are hidden blessings, too. My finicky shin doesn't like all the speed work in my plan, and the excessive cross training is keeping me healthy, and that's really what it's all about at this point: doing more and staying healthier while I do it.
After a very snowy December, things got quiet for about a month, but last weekend's 20 inches more than made up for it and this week's forecast is just as scary.
All this is mildly intriguing if you just live here, but if you're trying to train for a marathon, well, it's just another monkey in the wrench.
All of that being said, I have averaged the workout volume each month for the past three months that I had in my previous one month prior to my last marathon. Put another way, in the worst weather for training, I've never been fitter.
When the wife and I finished the basement three years ago, we made one room a pseudo-workout room. It has a vinyl floor (unlike the carpeted rest) and a TV and DVR. It also has its own treadmill and my bike is on a trainer. After last week, it also has an elliptical - a very old but hopefully reliable commercial grade model I found on Craigslist after nearly a month of fanatic monitoring for a hopefully dynamite price of $350.
Yesterday, for instance, I did 5 miles on the treadmill, followed by a hard hour on the elliptical, followed by 3 miles running on the treadmill and 2 miles walking. All told, nearly 17 miles of movement, accomplished in a 12 x 10' room, supplemented with copious episodes of Law & Order.
There are hidden blessings, too. My finicky shin doesn't like all the speed work in my plan, and the excessive cross training is keeping me healthy, and that's really what it's all about at this point: doing more and staying healthier while I do it.
