1st post of 2010

Happy New Year 

Running:
I started off the New Year with a rest day.  I was hitting it pretty hard at the end of December to make my goal miles for the year.  It was a travel day anyway as I was heading back home from up in Bayfield.  This is the first time in 6 years I didn't have a New Years run.  On Saturday 1/2 I got back into it.  It was a very cold morning with temps somewhere around -5 and wind chills -20 or better.  I geared up in my warmest stuff and the Asics Arctics and went out for a 10 mile run.  I can always shorten if I need to, but everything was fine.  I managed the 10 miles in 1:20:49.  Sunday morning was very cold also.  Not quite what Saturday was, but still in the negative range, but with less wind.  The road conditions were fine, so I just used a regular pair of trail shoes with no spikes.  I only ran 8 miles and ran it in 1:08:35.  

I'm still trying to figure my schedule for 2010, but have my eye on running the Trailbreaker marathon or half in March, Ice Age 50K in May, Green Bay marathon or half in May, Grandmas marathon in June, Paavo Nurmi marathon or half in August, and undecided about Fall. 


Hunting:
Deer season is now over.  I managed to get out Saturday evening in the bitter cold.  I only went out in the back yard for the last hour of the day and saw nothing.  Last night I choose to watch the Packer game instead of getting out for the last time this season.  It was fun for Sandy and I to go to a friends house to watch the game and have dinner with them.  I think I had enough deer anyway.  Now to get ready for next year. 

Gardening:
I'm managing to keep the pond and waterfall going so far.  I need to keep my eye on things closely to keep it from freezing completely.  There is a layer of ice covering everything, which somewhat helps to keep things insulated to some degree.  The water then runs under this sheet of ice.  So far so good, but the forecast looks like things will remain below freezing for two more straight weeks at least.