Training Log Archive: kweinmann

This was a good run - I felt pretty good and it went by pretty fast. I was crying for like the first half because of the cold wind, but such are the struggles of running in the winter. It was definitely a change from the warm sunny weather of last week, but sometimes I feel like it's easier to run in the cold once I get myself motivated to go out.

Running in shorts and a tank top in sunny 75 degree weather in February was a little strange, but I'm not going to say I didn't enjoy it. This was a very nice Friday afternoon run, besides the part where I accidentally planned my route to cross a very busy road without a crosswalk in the middle of rush hour. Thankfully I made it across ok after standing awkwardly for like a minute trying to decide if it would be worth it to just run down to the traffic light and cross there. The second half of my run through Frick Park was a bit ad lib, but I ended up where I wanted to be so all's well that ends well. I thought I had rediscovered how to run at easy pace, but I guess it turns out I wasn't running all that slow. I felt good though, so I guess it's not that big of a deal. Something to be conquered another time, I suppose.

I decided to try out running on the Montour Trail after work since it's been so nice and I don't have anything to do on Tuesdays after work. I'm not sure if I'm a fan or not...it's nice not having to deal with traffic, but running along a fairly flat and straight paved path gets kind of boring. I much prefer real trail running, but it was a good change of scenery from my normal running routes by my apartment. I just did 20 minutes out and then turned around. It turns out the whole first half was slightly uphill, but just slight enough that I couldn't really tell that it was uphilil and I thought I was just tired and slow. Then I turned around and running suddenly got a lot easier so it turns out I wasn't tired and slow, I was just running uphill for 20 minutes. I averaged about 8:15 pace on the way out and 7:45 back according to my phone. Just goes to show what a difference just a slight gradient can make on pace. I might run here again, maybe going in the other direction next time, but I don't think I'll be running here too much cause it could get boring real fast, what with no cars to dodge and stuff.

Did a new(ish) route where I ran up through Squirrel Hill and then came home through Schenley, and I really liked it! It was another gorgeous day for running, and I went running early enough so that it was still light out so I could run through the park. Felt pretty good on this run, especially for the last couple of miles where I really just went on autopilot. I really wish it would stay this nice out through spring because being able to run in shorts feels really nice!