Les Miserables

Time: 61:30
Distance: 9 mi.

If I had to describe this run with the title of a famous Broadway play, it would be Les Miserables. Taking yesterday off was a tactical error. The weather continued to degenerate over the last 36 hours from light snow to sleet, ice slush, and freezing rain. After putting this run off all day hoping for at least the ice that was all over the streets, sidewalks and trails would melt I headed out the door just before sunset. The sunset itself that I saw near Military Road in RCP was the saving grace of this run, which was totally unexpected given the freezing rain that was falling as I headed out the door. My out-and-back run went through the roads of Rock Creek Park up to Oregon Road for a bit and then straight back. I had to put up with some obnoxious drivers who didn't like the fact that I was running on the road rather than the icy and uncleared sidewalks.

South East Street Fartlek

Time: 47:00
Distance: 7 mi.
Map

Target: easy fartlek to get the legs going a bit
Workout: 8 x 2:00 hard / 1:00 easy

After driving back to Amherst, I got in another run. My parents had my running shoes, however, so I had to throw on some old Streak XC flats for this one. That turned out to be fine, and it was fun to have some lighter shoes on for the harder effort. I don't know how fast I was running in the hard sections, particularly because I'm fairly tired from the last few days with friends and family, but it was definitely sub-tempo pace at least. I started out trying to run on the bike path, but unlike during the last snow, it had not really been cleared. As a result, I just ended up going out and back on South East Street.

Wellesley College

Time: 83:20
Distance: 12 mi.

Afternoon run through the "center" of Wellesley and Wellesley College with Brian. They are connected by a small path along a stream, which had been cleared with a snowblower. Felt good throughout and enjoyed an attempted sword fight with icicles. My legs (knees to waist) were a bit sore from some sliding around on snow during yesterday's run.

Boston 'Burbs

Time: 63:00
Distance: 9 mi.
Cars pushed out of the snow: 2

Morning out-and-back run with Brian in Wellesley and Weston, MA. The roads were finally not too bad, but we were stuck on main roads. It was gorgeous out, though. Unfortunately it was still too cold to make very good snowballs.

Tour de Amherst

Time: 92:30
Distance: 13 mi.
Map


Town of Amherst plows were hard at work this morning

Ran from 91 Woodlot north through the main part of UMass and the center of Amherst. There is snow on the road and sidewalks pretty much everywhere, so it was slow going and uneven most of the way. The Station Road mile was 6:45 downhill and on well packed snow and that was almost definitely the fastest mile that I ran... was hopping across the street and on-and-off snowy sidewalks a lot of the way, so despite the pace being slow the effort was decent and my legs were pretty well worked by the time that I got done. When I left it was 14 degrees and when I got back it was 20. Nice.