winter

Marching along….

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / Leave a comment

Well hello there!

Last time I blogged was January 6th, clearly I’m not cut out for this anymore. I can’t believe its March AND almost March Break!

It’s been a typical winter for me – very little running and lots of winter sports. I mean, can you blame me? I’ve been soaking up last minute opportunities to x-country ski, snowshoe, skate and downhill ski.

Yesterday after a busy day at work, I picked up the girls and took them skating at our local rink that opened up again due to a mega cold snap. We had the think mostly to ourselves.

Things have been open, shut down and then reopened here. Vaccinations have been rolling out but I’m low on the list so I’ll just wait and see when I get it. Hopefully by this summer.

I’ve kinda lost all motivation to run😳 which really sucks. I’ve packed my bags with all my running gear multiple times in the last few weeks and headed off to the office with the intention to run. But, I didn’t. I just didn’t bother. I even planned my lunch break or end of the day to run, but didn’t. I’m just not feeling it.

I’ve been doing little Zwifting but not as much as I was in January when I completed the Tour de Zwift. That was one of the hardest and most intense activity I’ve done in a long time. Often, after a ride, my legs would shake uncontrollably which was a weird sensation post ride. I never thought I would have done that amount of climbing on a ride. Feeling good about that accomplishment.

Well, that’s been my winter so far! With the time change next week and potentially warmer weather coming in a few weeks, I’m hoping to be running a bit more!

Anyone else struggling with running? Or one of your main activities?

Happy March!

February Freeze

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 1 Comment

It’s a wee bit cold here in Nova Scotia but not unlikely temps for February. Yesterday was -17°C (1.4°F) but felt like -22°C ( -7.6°F) and we snowshoed in the morning and skied all afternoon.

Normally, the girls would have had school but it was day three of snow days. I don’t think it was necessary but apparently the roads where bad enough to cancel school three days in a row. Meh….we got around just fine in our car.

January was a busy month of a little running, lots of soccer, skiing and some skating and snowshoeing. Each year come January I tend to run less and take advantage of our winter weather and get outside with my family more. #notjustarunner

I logged 38.67km running, downhill skied 4 days, cross country skied 3 days, snowshoed once, played 5 soccer games, hiked once with Carmacks , and went skating twice.

February hasn’t seen as much activity but I’ve been walking my dog 2k Tuesday- Friday and sometimes on the weekend (my husband walks him other times)…..so at least I was moving. Not going to lie, if we didn’t have a dog I wouldn’t walk at all….not my favourite activity to choose to do. Unless I have our four legging friend, its work related (walking meetings) or family hiking, I’m not going for a walk.

I had a week where I planned to cycle but every night when the time came I just couldn’t do it. Exhaustion is real! Time to figure out a new evening plan cause my mornings are for hibernating or walking my dog. Funny how last summer and fall I was living for #5kat5am runs.

I really need to get my butt into running again as I’ve registered for a half marathon this spring and excited about that distance as it’s been two years since I’ve ran it.

As winter progresses, I’ll continue to ski, skate and snowshoe as our schedules permit and soccer games as I can make them. I need to find a good (for me) half marathon training plan and have always use Hal Higdon’s plans….but open to others as well.

What’s your favourite half marathon training plan?

Anyone else judging snow days?

What’s your favourite way to stay active in the winter?

I Needed That Run

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 2 Comments

After four weeks not not running, minus a handful of soccer games, I went for a run. And it felt great!

We’re on March Break so I’m off with my kids all week. We also haven’t had much on the go the past few weekends so we’ve been able to wake up and just go wherever the day takes us. The has allowed for some fun adventures but also some headaches of kids fighting with each other and not listening very well….you know kids being kids.

Anyway, Monday was a rather frustrating day in which we did nothing because, well…you can’t reward bad behaviour with fun adventures. At least we can’t. There’s a line and it was pushed a bit too much so my girls missed out on some fun things. However, it just left me frustrated and deflated.

After dinner my husband said “you should go for a run” but i want having any of that. I haven’t run in four weeks, I felt deflated, frustrated, sad we missed out on family fun time, bummed. Running want what I wanted to do (but clearly I needed a run). The girls were just out of the bath and I blurted out “I’m going to go for a run”.

Shut, I said it out loud and my husband heard me. Shit. He heard me and said that’s a great idea…go. Shit, now I had to…but also wanted to. As I got ready, Carmacks or dog saw my running pants and started getting excited. I had wanted to run alone so I ignored him. As he sat there staring at me, I gave in and said he could join me. Talk about a happy dog!!!

We left the house and ran our normal route where I barely have to tell him “Gee” (right) or “Haw” (left). As we cruised into the first km I saw 6:12, woah boy we are running fast.

Carmacks makes me run way faster than I think I can. He pushed me when I won’t push myself. He knows just what I need during a run when I dont.

We ran 5k in 30:27 which is rather fast for me especially since I haven’t been running. I totally lost my interest in running over the last few weeks but hopefully got it kicked started again.

Yes, I’ve been skiing (oh my guads), playing soccer (sprint, recover, sprint, recover), going to yoga (happy muscles) and skating (tired calf muscles) but running is a whole other workout. I also threw in some glute and ab exercises while I was stretching because I need to strengthen those to avoid some part injuries. I hurt yesterday all over, Haha!!

Sometimes you need a bad day to kick start something else. So thankful I got out for a run with Carmacks and looking forward to my next run. We are off skiing today….its officially spring so why not!

How’s your running going?

Happy its officially spring?

Is running a go-to destresser for you?

Running, What Running

/ Anna @ Piper's Run / 19 Comments

Confession – I don’t remember the last time I ran outside. I literally, had to look it up on Garmin Connect just. It was February 10th.

So, its only been two weeks since my last run, that doesn’t seem too bad. It was a shitty run, that’s why I don’t care to remember it. Before the 10th, I ran with Carmacks on the 3rd. Though not an awesome run, it was better than my last run, as I ran with him.

We’ve been skiing a little bit, skating this past weekend on a local outdoor rink and I’ve had a few soccer games here and there.

And yes, I count soccer towards my running mileage because I AM RUNNING. Sprint, recover, sprint, recover, jog, walk, sprint, recovery over and over again for 60 minutes. I’ve been getting between 5.3 km and 6 km during one-60 minute soccer game.

Even though I’m not running outside right now, I love playing soccer, skiing and skating with my kids. I’d much rather do an activity with my family, then on my own. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good solo run or soccer game where I can get lost for an hour.

This time last year I had already racked up some big mileage on my bike….not this year and that’s okay too.

I have no spring races planned and I have no clue why I haven’t registered or sorted out a training plan yet. I guess it will happen when it happens.

What winter activities are you loving right now?

What’s your biggest motivation right now?

Ever forget when you last ran?