Going Polar!

I have been absent from blogging for a while.   I just didn’t have anything to say.  It is a new year, however, and I think I ought to try to get back into the writing saddle.   No promises as I won’t keep them!

2014 ended quietly.  I didn’t run any long races just a few 5Ks for the fun of it.  All my emotional energy was going into base building for this year’s attempt at my first (probably only) 50 mile trail run.   As I looked at races for 2015, I had to be cognizant of my training schedule.  Did the race I was looking at fit into the schedule or was it going to cause me to have to adjust?   I’m not looking for PRs in any of my races this year, just completions without injury.   With that said, I have my first 2015 10K coming up this weekend, January 10^th, the Chicago Polar Dash.   Boy, is it going to be POLAR!!!

When I signed up for the Polar Dash, back in September, I had the forethought to realize it could be really cold and snowy.  As such, I signed up for just the 10K.   Oh Team Ortho, you are so good at trying to suck us into the 15 miler or better yet the Yeti Challenge which included the 5K, 10K and the 15 miler.  But, I resisted the pretty medals and stuck with the 10K.  I’m glad I did!  There is snow on the ground and the temperature at 9:45 AM (race time) is predicted to be 1 F with a “real feel” of -16 F.  Frankly, I’m not even sure I will be able to tolerate being out there for the hour and 12 minutes or so I take to run 6.2 miles.  Yikes!!!!  My iPod shuffle won’t even tolerate that temperature tucked inside my jacket.

I’m working through what I’m going to wear to the Polar Dash.  From the top down, I’m planning on a hat that covers my ears, something that covers my face, two long sleeve tech shirts, a fleece vest, a synthetic windproof jacket (not insulated), gloves and two pairs of tights.  I think I need more on the bottom but not sure I have anything.  Although it will slow me down, I may just wear a pair of fleece pants over those tights.  

One of the things that I will probably wear to the Polar Dash are my new, Hoka One One, Conquests.  Just after Christmas, REI had a “deal of the day” on the Conquests - $68 with no shipping fees.  That really is a deal.  Even at REI, these shoes are back up to $110.  I think the thick sole may keep my feet warmer as they will be further from the ground.   I ran 7.5 miles in my new Hoka’s yesterday and am really pleased.  It amazes me how good my knees feel after running in the Hoka’s.  I had a pair of Hoka Mafate’s but they were too big and no matter how many pairs of socks I wore, never fit quite right.   In Brooks shoes, I wear a size 9 and in Hoka’s, apparently, a size 8 is plenty big enough.  The Mafate’s were given away and I really never thought I would get Hoka’s again.  With training for the 50 miler commencing, I’m glad I have the Conquests for high mileage runs.

So for now, BRRRRRRR!!!  Happy New Year!