Notes:
This was my first long run in the snow. For the most part I found it quite enjoyable. It was not however problem free. First problem, Cold, second Problem, snow, third problem finished 1 minute late.
Learned a few valuable lessons, about running in the cold. First, I left the house at about 7:30 or so, it was 24F out, and the ground was clear, but frozen. By the time I got to my staring location I was starting to wonder if I would be better off back on the treadmill. The first few miles the cold was quite annoying. I had on sweats, over sweats, with gloves and beanie, but it was quite distastefully cold. Half way before mile 2 and 3 the cold stopped bothering me. by mile 3 I was almost 1 minute ahead of my time. And picking up 10 or so seconds each mile.
At this point the snow became a nice thing, I was running on a dirt road, and there was maybe a half inch of build up, and it was acting as a nice cushion, without being to slippery. However the snow was begging to come down a bit harder. At mile 5 mile 1 minute lead had dropped to a 50 second lead. I did not realize it at first but the snow was slowing my pace just a bit, but it was enough to build up over the miles.
Around mile 7 my route took me onto Grad River, which is the main drag through Howell. This meant that I needed to move from the road to the sidewalk. This was not a good thing. The snow had build up more on the sidewalks. Mile 10 I was had lost all of my lead and was 10 seconds behind. The temperature had dropped, and my muscles were begging to remind me that the it was cold out. Around mile 13 I had given up on on catching back up. And I managed to get back to the start at 2:12:24. With a average pace of 9:22.
This was the first time I have missed my pace on one of these long runs, I'm going to take it with a grain of salt, because of the snow, but I have to admit that I am quite un happy with it. I am a bit concerned because in two weeks I have to do 16 miles at 9:06. I might have to suck it up and start using the treadmill for these long runs. I have to admit I liked the running in the snow experience, but I don't know if it is such a good Idea for days when I am concerned about my Pace, or time.
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