Rockefeller? No. It's Elkton's city Christmas tree in the center of town!
Hypothermic rain
Saturday's long run wasn't terribly long, but is was LONG ENOUGH to learn a few good lessons. I'm glad it wasn't any longer than the 15 I had scheduled.
When I started out, it was still dark and there was light rain. Rain is sometimes refreshing and usually doesn't bother me. It rains a lot here from Oct- May. Usually, though, I can still leave my shell at home and even remove the long sleeves. Most of the time the rain lets up within 2 miles of home.
Saturday was different. I guess I should have taken a hint by the flashing sky way off in the distance towards Scottsburg. It was still dark. I have been wearing glasses for running lately (had to order new contacts after the sinus infection. Oh joy!) and at first I thought it was just reflections in them, not the lightening that it was. By the time I got to the mailbox, I knew it was really a storm coming from the pacific and I hoped that it was almost over.
About 8 minutes later the rain had all but stopped. It was 34F, but I was warming up, so I took off my long sleeve shirt and tied it to my waist. I had on tights and felt comfortable. The lightening was still going and I prayed that it would remain on the horizon.
As I got into town, I even had time to snap a few pictures with my camera, which I wore inside of a plastic baggie in my snazzy binocular fanny pack.
Could it be that Santa lives in Elkton? No.....all we have are rain-deer.
HAHAHA. I crack myself up! Deer with glowing eyes.
I had no way of knowing that in a few minutes the wind would come, the lightning would comewithin a mile away and that there would be pouring rain mixed with ice in it.
Near my turnaround I seriously wondered about whether I should stay near the tall trees to avoid a lightening strike on the highway, or get away from the trees because they might attract it. As I crossed the bridge, the wind gusted & pierced (we NEVER have any real wind) and my shoes were filled with water. I had 5.5 miles left.
A mile later a neighbor in her pickup asked if I wanted a ride (thanks Becky!). I said no, but I wondered if I had made a bad decision as she pulled away. In 2.5 years, (and even some 8F runs), this was the coldest I have ever been while running. I had no dry shirt to put on, as my long sleeve top was as soaked as the rest of me and I had left my shell at home.
Since then I did a little hypothermia running research (even though I am sure I was nowhere near that point) and sure enough, a few racers have actually died from it. It can be a real problem with marathon distances, because of the duration of the race and the slower pace (compared with a 5K or 10K). One of the runners who suffered from it had a body temp of 95F (compared with 98.6 normal). Precipitation is a KEY contributing factor in hypothermia.
Two things I might start doing: I think it would be wise to have a dry shirt stashed in a bag somewhere and to always bring my shell and put it in the mailbox for afterwards if it is raining.
Has anyone else ever had a similar situation? What did you do?
Treadmill conversion chart
After I posted Ryan Hall's Boston hill workout, I had a few questions about TM inclines. I still don't have the answers, but my grandpa who reads my blog and is a retired engineer sent this chart to me, which I thought might be useful to one of you readers: (thanks Grandpa!! I love you!
Slope Angle
% Degree
1 .75
2 1.15
3 1.71
4 2.29
5 2.86
6 3.93
7 4.00
8 4.57
9 5.14
10 5.17
I am very non-mechanical. But I think that there is a construction instrument, or a giant protractor you could use, to figure out your TM's degree relative to the floor, and then check its corresponding road grade if you are training for a specific grade, like 6%.
My TM doesn't have an indicator for what grade or degree it is inclining. I just press up and down! Ha! I could really use the engineer to come to my house and play with my TM...Grandpa? :)
Blogging help ?
Is there anyone who could help me post something from the excel program to my blog? I'd like to do it so it's readable as a chart. I am working on a new training plan and would like to post it when it's done! :)