TheRunningRev.Com

Running Year in Review...

I just finished my last run of the year, it was a balmy 10 degrees out with a -5 windchill, as I arrived back at our house after six miles just as the sun was dropping below the horizon for the last time in 2009.

Over the course of the year I put in 1,450 miles of running and completed six organized races.

I never thought that this might be the year of the 5k but I set a PR in June and then took 2nd place in my age group at the local Thanksgiving Day run. My one marathon of the year, Twin Cities, was a little disappointing but I wasn't that surprised as I spent a few days in Virginia the week before and stayed up later than I should have but I couldn't pass up on the U2 concert.

My favorite running moment of the year was once again the track workouts at Gainesville Middle School with the folks from The Running Store. They will be sorely missed as we have now moved to Minnesota.

After eight months in MN I'm still trying to find a good trail (with 10-20 miles of trail) to run on that's close to home. The Manassas Battlefield was so convenient, I drove past it every day to and from work.

2010 will hopefully be a great year with at least one marathon and a couple of ultra's thrown in for good measure!

Prefered Temperatures for Running

As I was running in 20 degree weather today I found myself daydreaming of summer track workouts with Ian Connor and the The Running Store folks. Running intervals in 90 degree temperatures sounds like the greatest thing in the world right now,  and to think that Minnesota normally sees only a handful of 90 degree days in the summer.

So here's my list from best to worst of temps to run in...

1. 40-65
2. 65-80
3. 32-40
4. 80+
5. 20-32
6. below 20

You may disagree and that's fine, but when you haven't had cold temps like this for five years they most certainly hit the bottom of the barrel.