5 More Miles

I sure feel like my training is going absolutely nowhere. But at least I dragged myself down to the treadmill for another 5 miles.  My hand is hurting so much that it is really a distraction. I do feel that if I was actually running outdoors in nature it wouldn't be bothering me so much.  But the treadmill is pretty monotonous and boring even with my music and the TV for distraction, that I can't help but notice that my hand is in a continual muscle cramp.

I always feel better when I get in a run, even if it isn't the most productive exercise.  It does beat flopping on the bed watching TV!

Gigantic snow piles across the street!

5 Miles on the Treadmill Again

I've been fighting the pain in my arm but finally kicked myself out of the room and downstairs to the treadmill. I'm dying to go for a real run but it's not that possible around here. So I have to take what I can get.

So I plug in my headphones and listen to my music, while watching the news on the TV. I actually felt a little better today. By mile 4 though, my hand started cramping.  I need to keep training because I'm flying to Washington for the Wenatchee Marathon on April 15th.  They have an early start and I plan to take advantage of it in case I find that my arm really slows me down.  But I couldn't resist grabbing that run because I still don't have Washington on my quest for running all 50 states. I plan to rent a car and drive to Los Angeles and purchase the Eurovan I've been wanting for quite a few years. I love the drive down through Washington, Oregon and California. I love to make my usual stop in Mt Shasta on the way.

5 Miles

Back on the treadmill today for another 5 miles.  I didn't push it, and was just happy to keep moving for 5 miles. My hand was in a continual uncomfortable cramp the entire time. I ran while grasping my left hand tightly with my right hand to try to relieve the cramping. I'm hoping all this arm and hand pain have subsided by the time I run the next marathon that I have planned in Washington state for April 15th. It feels like some of the feeling is returning to my fingers, and it's coming back in a painful way. I hope it is actually a good sign.

It's really mentally challenging trying to train on the treadmill when I'd much rather be outside enjoying the sunshine. But maybe not today's -30 with wind chill -50 sunshine!

Prudhoe Bay

I'm back up in Deadhorse to work for March. It's the usual icy cold windy weather with no possibility of doing anything outdoors. So I'm back to training on the treadmill. I've been sick with a bad cold and cough for the past week, so today is the first day I felt up to getting back into my training. I was pretty slow and was still doing a little coughing. My sore and recovering arm and hand didn't seem to give me any trouble.

So just a fairly slow introductory 5 mile run on the treadmill here, while catching up on the evening news.

Great Ski at Eklutna Lake

What a beautiful day! I met Diane up at Eklutna Lake and we skied the Lakeside Trail. I was so pleased because I was able to hold onto my ski pole and actually use it this time. Such an improvement over last week.  At least it shows I am making progress. We went almost 4 miles too.  I can't wait to go again!

I signed up for the Mainly Marathons Prairie Series which includes 7 states, 7 marathons and 7 days in July. It gives me 5 states that I don't have and does repeat North & South Dakota. The races are in July so I'm sure I'll be fine for running by then.  Plus I have two others before that. I'm considering driving down for that trip.  Maybe i'll even take my kitty, Daisy with me.

First Ski!

I finally tried cross country skiing.  It wasn't too bad.  I went with Diane up at Campbell Airstrip Trail. We only went a couple of miles. I found that I wasn't able to hold onto the ski pole very well.  I couldn't reach high enough to hold it at the top either. I mostly just let it drag. But it was great to get out in the snow and back on skis.

Menard Center

I'm still running indoors at the Menard Center.  Another day another 5 miles. I really don't have enough time for more miles. But maybe later this month I can pick up the distance. For now, 5 is great.