Beautiful Run!

What a beautiful day to run around Colleen Lake.  It was 7 degrees but almost no wind at all.  Beautiful clear skies and sunshine.  I didn't even need my hat or gloves most of the way. I wasn't feeling my best for some reason, but it was so nice to just be outside and not be freezing to death because of wind.  I'm not in the shape I need to be in though.  I'm sure I will pay for that next month on the Great Wall of China Marathon.  There just isn't time for a long run when I work every day during the month.  Also there is a limit to the length of time that is safe to be out there in the subzero windy conditions.  But I was happy to be able to run outdoors so many times this month.  I go home in 2 days then I'll be able to get outdoors again.

Too Windy and Too Cold!

I tried to run outdoors or at least take a little walk along the road to the Sag River.  But the wind was blowing so hard and it was below zero so I couldn't make it more than .3 miles.  It was so cold on my face that I was afraid of frostbite since I didn't bring my face mask.  The little road was so drifted that I couldn't even see it anymore.  The textures of the drifts were really quite beautiful though. 
At least I got a couple of nice photos.  But not much exercise.

Treadmill 5 MIles

I took a couple of days off and now I feel much better.  It's a gorgeous day out there today but the wind is 30 mph and it's zero degrees.  I decided that is cold enough to take advantage of the treadmill.

I'm feeling so out of shape.  I can't wait to get home and be able to run and ski and hike and all those wonderful things I love to do outdoors.  Without the threat of frostbite too!

A beautiful day but a little chilly!

Very Short Run

I stepped outside to start the car planning to drive down the road and run somewhere.  But that wind hit me and I did a quick about face and ran back into the hotel.  Below zero with a 20 mph wind, that was painful. I did go hit the treadmill for a while but for some reason I just wasn't feeling well.  I was getting slower and slower until I finally called it a day after 3 miles.  I'm not sure how much of that was mental and how much was a stomach ache, but at least I tried.  I've gotten spoiled by being able to run outdoors so many times this month. 

Snowy Run

I tried to force myself onto the treadmill but I just couldn't do it!  I had to get outside even though it was snowing and foggy.  I don't like to try to run around the lake if the visibility isn't good.  It's too dangerous because the trucks might not see me in time.  So I drove down the Dalton Highway and parked at the little road I often run in the summer.  It's a gravel access road that goes down to the Sagavanirktok River.  It's about 1/3 mile long and I like to run up and down it.  It gets me completely off the highway and out of everyone's way.  Of course now, it is not plowed, but it is quite windblown, and even the drifts are not very deep.  So I ran there today.  It was snowing and foggy and actually quite peaceful and silent.  I had to keep it to only 4 miles because I was out of time. I also ran in my snow boots.  They're pretty heavy but I think the weight makes it a better workout.  The best part of today's run was that I am in a much better mood now!

Colleen Lake Run

A beautiful day to run outdoors even though it is about zero degrees and a little windy.  By mile 3 I could no longer feel my legs but otherwise I really wasn't cold.  The road has a lot of drifted snow on it so it was kind of slow running through the small drifts. But I really like getting out there instead of running on the treadmill.  It clears my mind of all the world's bad news and craziness.  It also helps with the general boredom here in Deadhorse.

Indoors Today

I took one look out the window and knew that today would be a treadmill run or no run at all. the temperature was -5 but with the wind chill it was more like -30. The orange wind sock looked more like an range road cone.  So I reluctantly ran 5 miles on the treadmill.  But after that did about 15 minutes on the stair step machine.  With the Great Wall Marathon in about a month, I need all the stair climbing I can get in.  I still prefer running outdoors even if it's cold.  But not as cold as today.  It was foggy and snowing as well. 

Colleen Lake Run

It was a beautiful sunny day today.  Only about 5 degrees with a nasty north wind blowing.  But still quite a nice 5 mile run around the lake again.  If it gets much colder, which it most assuredly will, I'll need to wear my snow boots instead of my running shoes.  My toes were pretty icy when I stopped.  Plus, the ice grippers also put extra pressure on my toes making them even colder. But it all still beats the treadmill!

I feel so much better when I get outdoors for a good 5 mile run!

North side of Colleen Lake

Arctic Fox Tracks next to mine

Around Colleen Lake

A wonderful 5 mile run along my favorite running route here in Prudhoe Bay.  This is my first time to run the route during the winter.  It always seemed to cold and scary.  But it's actually relatively warm at +18 degrees with only a 15 mph wind.  I did wear my warm parka but left it open when downwind, then zipped up tight while into the wind. My ice grippers fit my running shoes well, and my feet stayed warm with my ski socks.  I did get some odd looks from passing truckers and one even offered me a ride!

Running here in the Arctic conditions is valuable because I just registered for the Polar Bear Marathon in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada for lat November of this year.  It is guaranteed to be snowy and cold, very similar to here.

The Road

Colleen Lake

On The Dalton Highway

I just couldn't face the treadmill today.  It was really a pretty nice day, 14 degrees, feels like 4.  I drove down the Haul Road intending to maybe go for a little walk.  But once I started walking, I started running. I ran 5 miles. It was really a great workout too because I was wearing my heavy snow boots and big parka.  But I stayed warm at least. The boots seem like a good idea. My feet stayed warm, no blisters, and I could tell it was a great additional leg workout because of the extra weight.  I think it is a good way to train for the Great Wall of China Marathon.  From now on, when the weather is at all tolerable, I'm going to head outside.  There was so little traffic that I had the entire road to myself. 

The view on my favorite side road

Another Treadmill Day

Another day, another 5 miles on the treadmill.  It's starting to get monotonous and it's only been two days!  I also worked out on the stair stepper machine.  15 minutes and 42 floors.  I guess when I reach about 6 hours and 10,000,000 floors, I'll be ready for the Great Wall of China Marathon. Seems like a good workout routine for that race though.

5 Miles

I'm back up in Deadhorse at work.  Since it's still winter I'm stuck using the treadmill.  I ran 5 miles.  I'm running the Great Wall of China Marathon next month so I also need to train on stairs.  There is a really nice stair climbing machine in the hotel gym, so I spent some time on it.  I'll be increasing my time on that through the month since the Great Wall is mostly thousands of stairs.