Virtual Run Across Kansas Finally Completed!

 

The good news is I have finally completed my virtual run across Kansas.  The bad news?  What was going to take me 2 months took me about 7!  The plan was to average about 48 miles per week (an average of 6-7 miles per day) and get it done quickly.  For the first couple weeks this was no problem because I was training for an ultramarathon (race report).  I cut back my mileage to taper for race day, but I planned on picking it back up a week or two after the 50-miler and begin training for another 100.  The problem was, after the 50-mile race (which didn't quite go as well as planned), I lost my desire to continue training.  I'd get out there on the trail a couple times per week and get in a short jog or a few miles of hiking, but I couldn't get motivated to run regularly.  I suppose this is a common occurance for ultra runners, I know it's not the first time it has happened to me.

After a few weeks of low to zero mileage, and no real restraints on my diet, I got fat and lazy!  It was Winter, and there was certainly no extra motivation to get out in the freezing cold and go for a run.  As a result, I practically quit on my "virtual run across Kansas" idea. 

Toward the end of the winter, however, I got a bit of motivation back and started pushing myself.  Now that it is early Spring, I have bumped up my training again and have entered into a 20-week program I have drawn up (I'll be discussing my plan at a later time).  Mileage is consistantly over 20 miles per week and increasing. 

So, today I added up my mileage since I originally set out to "run across Kansas," and I have indeed finally made it (a few days ago actually).  Instead of the original 6-7 mile-per-day average, I only averaged about 2.25 miles per day (including several zero-mile weeks), but I still made it "across Kansas."

I thought it was the coolest idea!  Perhaps I will do something similar again sometime.  At least once per week I would look at Google Maps and determine my location based on the total miles I had accumulated.  I even did a bit of research on the little towns I would have passed by had I actually been running on that route.  I would figure out what restaurants were around...and even decide what I would want to eat that day, where my family would pick me up, what local sites we could visit...  Really, I recommend everyone try something like this sometime!

Simple "Layering" For Running/Hiking In Winter Weather

I'm sure there are plenty of articles out there that can better explain the idea of layering.  I probably should have searched for them and read them myself before writing this, but all I want to do here is tell you what I have found to be the case based on experience (as well as knowledge based on a few articles I have read, but no particular article sticks out in my mind for me to refer you to). 

Training for ultra marathons has led me to hours at a time either hiking or running in various temperatures.  Again, I'm no professional and I'm sure you could do better somewhere else, but here is my basic understanding. 

I hope it helps:

3 Basic Layers

-First Layer (Base layer)

Call me old-fashioned (or cheap), but I'm not into spending lots of money on high tech running/hiking clothes.  I always figure, Surely there is something in my wardrobe that will work.  But your first layer, I have learned, is very important!  It may be worth buying a good sweat-wicking shirt.  There are good microfiber shirts that are inexpensive (you definitely don't have to go with the expensive brands, but you will be very happy if the shirt does what it is supposed to do--wick the sweat!)  However, if you have any shirts that are primarily polyester, they will do.  I often just throw a cotton t shirt on before a run, but I assure you that is a big mistake!  When I do, I feel every bit of sweat, and when it is below freezing, the sweat freezes and leaves you very uncomfortable.

-Second Layer (Mid layer or Insulating layer)

In temperatures 40 degrees or above, you might be okay just grabbing a sweatshirt, but if it gets down to 30 or below, you are going to want to think a little harder about how you insulate.  Of course, there are many different types of insulation (cotton, down, wool, fleece...).  To me, I would rather go with two lighter weight shirts for a mid layer than a thick, heavy coat.  Also, remember that you can insulate too much.  If you are over sweating, this layer is going to get soaked and it will freeze.

-Third Layer (Shell layer)

This layer should not be very thick at all.  It is not for the purpose of keeping you warm (that is the point of the second layer).  This layer is to keep the elements from getting to you.  It should be  breathable.  Some water proof jackets have vents under the armpits or in the back.  Mostly, with this layer, you are just wanting it to be water proof and wind proof.  If it is not windy or raining, you probably don't want it at all, but take it with you (pack it away or tie it around your waist) if there is any chance of precipitation, or the if the wind might pick up. 

When To Use Hats, Gloves, and Scarfs

Everyone has probably heard that much of our heat is lost through the head.  That is correct, but sometimes you need the heat to escape.  So how do you do that and still remain comfortable?  Most importantly, you need to learn how to listen to your body.  Here is what I am learning:

In temperatures in the 30's or below, you definitely want a hat, but I would start with a fleece or wool headband. The picture above-left shows me before a run in 20-30 degree weather.  I often wear this fleece headband.  It covers my ears and as much or as little of my head as I want.  If your mid layer has a hood, you can put it on when you are feeling cold, and flip it off when you need to "let off some steam." 

In the picture above-right, it is 5 below and I have a fleece headband that I can pull down to use as a scarf, a fleece hat that barely covers my ears (big head!), and a hood from my mid layer that I can pull on and off as needed.

As for gloves, I usually wear a pair sort of like these fleece gloves that turn into mittens.  I got them for Christmas one year and didn't think I would wear them much.  I usually just pull my sleeves over my hands, but I have tried them several times and find that they do the job quite well.  You can have access to your fingers (in case you need to send a text...or pick your nose...), and when used as mittens, they are very warm.  They also wash and dry very easily.

Another benefit I have found with this type of glove is that I can keep my cellphone inside and it will stay warm.  My battery will read "dead" if it is below freezing, but when warmed up, I can get in a quick phone call if needed.  I'm not sure about newer phones...I still have an old, small, flip phone!

I hope this helps.  If you have any other questions, I would be glad to answer them the best I can.  But for now, I feel like this post has reached my limit in length.  Thanks for reading.  Stay warm!

10 Mile/10 Day Challenge (day 1)



Right before sundown, headed out for a run two
nights before 10/10 challenge.

As I mentioned in my last post, my training got off track during the holidays.  Then, I attempted to get back on track, and quite honestly still didn't get in all the miles I was supposed to (I hesitate to post a link here to my training plan, because I'm not sure I want anyone to see how much I was supposed to have run compared to what I actually did.  But you can see the 18 week plan here). 

So, I got determined last week and said, "That's it! I'm not going to mess up next week.  I'm still going to do the 10 miles/10 day challenge I had planned on doing."  Unfortunately, after looking at the calendar, I realized I was supposed to be on week 7 and was jumping the gun a little.  Actually, though, I think it makes better since to move week 7 to after week 9 anyway.  So the challenge was on.



My footprints after a 10-mile out and back run two
nights before Day 1 of the challenge.

And as part of the challenge, I decided to take on the Mile-a-teen challenge as well, where I pray for a  different teen (in some cases, non-teens, too) per every mile.  Besides some of the wonderful spiritual benefits of praying for the teens and dedicating a mile to them, this will also provide some accountability and get me through these 10 days.

Then Friday comes, and with it comes snow.  It was very cold, but I decided to run Friday night anyway.  Then I would rest two days before the challenge.  As you can see from the picture, nobody but the coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, and myself had been on this.  Come Monday morning, the trail was still in the same condition.

Oh yeah!  Then Monday morning I wake up and it is -5 degrees outside--the coldest day of the year!  What fun.  I didn't even bother taking a water bottle since my Gatorade turned into a slushy Friday night...when it was 15 degrees warmer.  Instead, I ate snow along the way which is probably not advised, but it kept my mouth moist (I had hydrated pretty good before the run). 

I dressed warm, but couldn't keep the moisture from my sweat and my breath from freezing.  By the time I was done, I looked like this (my clothes were stiff, my nose hair frozen, icicles on my brows and eyelashes).  Yeah! I had a great time...

 

 

Day 1 completed!  Stay tuned for Day 2.