Weekly Log: 12.9.13 - 12.15.13

Monday - Ryan Park, North Kingstown, RI - 5.4 miles

The week started with a wintry mix forcast, promising a shitty commute. From Ezri's daycare, I could see the backup beginning on Route 4 so I opted to just run at Ryan Park, hoping the traffic would improve by the time I was done (it did!) It was rainy, cold and slushy - not exactly fun conditions. However there was enough snow to reveal a couple sections of singletrack I had never seen before. Winter reveals the secrets of the woods.

Tuesday - 0 miles

Use it or lose it

P90X Chest & Back (50 minutes)

Oof! Been a while since I tackled this workout and it showed. My pull-up strength (such as it was) is gone and by the time I got to the second round of the diamond push-ups I had to go to my knees. Check out the decrease in my numbers from last time.

Wednesday - 0 miles

Ab Ripper X (15 minutes)

I've had my Honda Element for almost 10 years and it's nearing the end of it's life.  The back struts have been going and today the rattling/shaking on the highway became really bad.  I was able to drive to work and back and as long as I kept it under 50 mph the shaking wasn't too bad.  Looks like I'll be following in the footsteps of Master Crutchley and begin searching for another car.

The weather report for this weekend is not promising.  We are having a Christmas party Saturday and this damn snow storm threatens to undo everything.  And there's more snow coming Sunday when I'm supposed to run the Christmas 10k.  Me no like.  I'm especially bummed because the heavy snow forecast prompted Amanda to pass on the 10k, which she was about to pull the trigger for.

Thursday - Charlestown/Smithfield, RI - 6.4 miles

I was able to borrow my grandmother's car for a couple days which was a relief.  Thanks Mimi!  Took the dog out for a couple miles in the cold darkness of 5:30 AM.  Wasn't too bad once we started moving.  I wonder if Oliver would say the same.

After picking up Mimi's car (the thing is a boat, I love driving it) I still had time to run 4.3 miles of trails up at the office.  What a gorgeous day!  Just enough snow to cover everything in a winter whitescape but not so much as to make breaking through a chore.  Lots of cool animal tracks everywhere.  Ran a mix of singletrack and wide old powerline hills and thoroughly enjoyed all of it.

Friday - Wolf Hill, Smithfield, RI - 6.2 miles

Made it out to Wolf Hill like I wanted - cold!  Temp was in the upper teens.  There was evidence that this place gets lots of traffic even in the winter - footprints, paw prints and ATV tracks as well.  Ran all the usual trails, enjoying the crunch of the snow.  Pace was slow and easy.  My right ankle began to ache halfway through which was annoying.  I iced it after I got to work - hopefully it's nothing.

Saturday - 0 miles

Sunday - Newport Christmas 10k - 12.3 miles

Official time: 37:03.  7th overall.  Report here.

Weekly Mileage: 30.4 miles

Year to Date: 1,709.7 miles