Pages: | 1 | 2 |
hows it going, eh?
Question for Ed Whitlock 11/19/2009 7:12PM Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ed,

How do you deal with the weather up here? This has been a great November here in Ontario, but how have you dealt with the really bad days? The cold rains, wind, icy roadways. Do you wait it out, pick a good time to go? You're a consistent outdoor runner so you must have come up with a secret or two to stay outside.
Ed Whitlock
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/19/2009 8:58PM - in reply to hows it going, eh? Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
As you probably know I train in a cemetery. I have found this location to be the best for me to deal with winter for a number of reasons.
1. It is only 100 yards from my house.
2. It is cleared as well or better than the roads and certainly much better than sidewalks.
3. Running the 1/3 mile loop repeatedly, if there are any icey patches they can be anticipated.
4. Running the small loops means that you don't face the wind for any extended time, thus evening out the wind chill
5. As the temperature goes down I just put on extra layers, generally just cotton, not a particular fan of tech materials.
6. Going out the door is no big deal if it is cold or snowing. I don't like going out into heavy rain although if it starts during the run that's sort of OK. A coating of freezing rain makes running impossible. This seems to happen less than once a year though.
7. To a minor extent I time my runs to avoid a particularly bad weather event.
Ex-Pat Canuck
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 3:49AM - in reply to hows it going, eh? Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Thanks for posting this, Ed. Your insight is excellent, as always. Best wishes.
hows it going, eh?
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 5:02AM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
The advantage of the short loops makes sense.

Thanks Ed
HRE
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 7:13AM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I really envy you for having a cemetary that's cleared in the winter. I used to a lot of running in cemetaries. In Pennsylvania they were always cleared and usually much more passable than the sidewalks and streets were. Now in Massachusetts I haven't been able to find any that are cleared.
In a way it doesn't matter as the ones here have been overrun by free roaming dogs so I use them less frequently now than I used to.
Another Old Guy
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 9:16AM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ed,

Do notice any problems with your ankles and/or achilles when running long distances round and round a small circuit?
J.R.
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 9:51AM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ed, thanks for your posts.

Is there any up and down on your course or is it mostly flat?

I used to run a mile loop through a cemetary in Seattle and loved it.
Track Fan
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 9:55AM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Ed Whitlock wrote:

As you probably know I train in a cemetery. I have found this location to be the best for me to deal with winter for a number of reasons.
1. It is only 100 yards from my house.
2. It is cleared as well or better than the roads and certainly much better than sidewalks.
3. Running the 1/3 mile loop repeatedly, if there are any icey patches they can be anticipated.
4. Running the small loops means that you don't face the wind for any extended time, thus evening out the wind chill
5. As the temperature goes down I just put on extra layers, generally just cotton, not a particular fan of tech materials.
6. Going out the door is no big deal if it is cold or snowing. I don't like going out into heavy rain although if it starts during the run that's sort of OK. A coating of freezing rain makes running impossible. This seems to happen less than once a year though.
7. To a minor extent I time my runs to avoid a particularly bad weather event.



How do you avoid boredom especially when you are doing a long run? Do you listen to music while you run?
JD Hoover
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 10:37AM - in reply to Track Fan Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Running properly requires concentration, cicumventing boredom, and therefore the need for music.
SMJO
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 11:05AM - in reply to JD Hoover Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I've seen the cemetery Ed runs in and the whole loop is uphill.
Engineer
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 11:30AM - in reply to SMJO Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
A whole loop being uphill? How is that possible?
The Nerd
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 12:44PM - in reply to SMJO Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Curious to what Ed thinks about while running through cemetary? No disrespect intended, but another upside would be if one was to suddenly have a heart attack, they would not have far to go:)
SMJO
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 1:04PM - in reply to Engineer Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Engineer wrote:

A whole loop being uphill? How is that possible?

Ed is also an engineer and he had them design the path that way.
Ed Whitlock
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 4:54PM - in reply to Another Old Guy Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Do notice any problems with your ankles and/or achilles when running long distances round and round a small circuit?[/quote]


At the pace I am running my achilles don't seem to get sore in spite of fairly sharp bends at the 4 corners of the rectangle. Running intervals on a track with any degree of consistency does cause my achilles to get sore, that is one reason I now stay away from much speed work and have evolved into a long distance racing instead of middle distance.
Ed
Ed Whitlock
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 5:02PM - in reply to Track Fan Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
How do you avoid boredom especially when you are doing a long run? Do you listen to music while you run?[/quote]

Nothing in this world is perfect. Running round a small loop is boring, but for me the advantages outweigh this and other disadvantages. I don't listen to music while running.
A Pied
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 5:10PM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ed: How long is your current training run? Has your knee improved? An early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, sir.
Ed Whitlock
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 5:30PM - in reply to J.R. Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

J.R. wrote:

Ed, thanks for your posts.

Is there any up and down on your course or is it mostly flat?

I used to run a mile loop through a cemetary in Seattle and loved it.


Loop is almost flat. It is not continuously uphill. Only M.C. Escher can design courses like that and I am not as clever as him. If you have not been exposed to Escher try googling him, his prints are marvels of ingenuity. Enlarge the 4th image at the top of the page for a continuous uphill course.

Ed
Ed Whitlock
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 5:45PM - in reply to A Pied Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

A Pied wrote:

Ed: How long is your current training run? Has your knee improved? An early Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too, sir.


I think my knee is gradually improving. The length of my training runs and the duration of number of days of continuous running before an enforced rest are both gradually increasing. Racing seems to aggravate it more than training, particularly if there are any steep downhill sections in a race. I did manage to get up to 90 minute training runs before my last race after which I took days off because my knee was sore. I am trying to build up again now.
the700miler
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 6:18PM - in reply to Ed Whitlock Reply | Return to Index | Report Post

Ed Whitlock wrote:

Nothing in this world is perfect. Running round a small loop is boring, but for me the advantages outweigh this and other disadvantages. I don't listen to music while running.


I'm partially with Ed on this one. I do a lot of running on a near by 1.04 mile loop, especially as it gets colder and darker. It's a known quantity and lit well enough that I'm safe on it.

I, however, choose to listen to pod casts or audio books on these repetitive fall/winter runs
RuKiddingMe!
RE: Question for Ed Whitlock 11/20/2009 7:12PM - in reply to the700miler Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
nothing to say except I always enjoy hearing about Ed Whitlock updates...big fan....please keep us posted
Pages: | 1 | 2 |
LetsRun.com Get an Extra 20% off on Spikes/Flats from the leader in track and field/racing shoes Eastbay.com. You'll automatically see the discount at checkout. Email us at letsrun@letsrun.com if you have questions.
Nike Pegasus 20% off. Special LetsRun.com savings on the Nike Air Pegasus.
Nike Mayfly Extra 20% Off.
10% off and Free Shipping on the Kinvara.