Day 3 – What Difference A Day Makes

Dear friend, today the weather decided to make an effort to melt all the snow it has gathered for more than 120 days. It didn't quite make it, but it was a good shot, don't you think?

I ran 6.7 k and now I'll spend an hour with London's Tuesday schedule:

5 min Supine with poles

5 min Long and Semi hanging

10 min Kneeling with poles

10 min Sidelying with pole

30 min Core stability (Table top position, Bridging, Cycling and Passing ball from arms to legs).

What a difference a day makes!

Right now – 17° C

I don't want a treadmill.

I don't want a dirty gym full of viruses.

I want nature.

I want sun.

I want to run free as a bird.

My running project is about freedom, not about paying fees.

Go away, Sibirian winter!

I want to find out when running turns from inspiring, developing to insane, and then stay at the right side of the border.

Sane: between -10° and +20° C?

Between -6° and +24°?

Colder? Or warmer?

Where goes the line?

And who can tell?

Siberian Weather Extreme

Dear Reader, who am I to complain?

The "Sibirian Weather Extreme" holds Europe in a state of chock.

In Lyon the planes can't lift because of the 10 cm of snow. London is getting prepared for a snow storm and Great Britain is having its coldest winter in 100 (or is it 30?) years.

In Swedish Dalarna it's about to get colder than -44° C. And yesterday 122 people had frozen to death in Poland…

So not being able to run isn't that serious. But when I woke up this morning I felt so motivated, so I didn't think the -16° C at 9 am could stop me. But by 11 the temperature had raised only to -14°, and that is a little chilly for a mother of three. Even in her best winter gear.

The only thing that could cure the "I didn't get to run"-depression was: cookies. Classic Rutkakor (Chess Cookies), baked January 4 by people in checked shirts. Odd tradition, I know.

All of a sudden lunch was served by the chef husband, and then it was time to go snowslading with the kids. We were the only family out, and there was a little sun, so I had an "luxury ski vacation" vibe about it.

But yesterday I did go running – outdoors, on snow and ice for 40 min. The Nike+ figured it was 7.33 k and look what I bought for my shoes! Slip stoppers! Or broddar…

So the question is: will I have to find a gym with a treadmill OR will I do fine with those shoes?

No matter snow or ice?

Only the Sibiran winter knows for sure…

Best Run Ever?

– 6 ° C, no wind, blue sky – and sunshine!

The Nike+ says I ran 6.33 on 34:34, (average pace 5.27), but I say:

Naah…

Running on snow is slippery and sometimes heavy, and it means taking small steps.

Nike+ apperantly knows nothing about running on snow …

But it's good training and quite heavy, so maybe it's fair to call todays run at least worth 6.33…

Or it will make up for the unfortune calibration I had in July and August.

Anyway: thought the fingers were a bit cold and I need a hat, but the rest of my clothes worked fine. And my new sweater is the best ever!

Didn't have time to run, but it sure made me a better mother, person, wife…

And yes, I think it was one of the best runs, ever!

Couch Potato & Gravad Lax

Dear reader, as you can see my Mini is complaining. It's been 12 days since my last run, and in two days it won't even move. Looks like I won't succed with my goal of 100 k before X-mas eve either …

Today L is back in preschool, so I do have an opportunity to run, but…

This is no running weather, is it? The newspapers that have sense for drama says "keep of the streets, don't go out walking" and that the "the cold keeps on craving casualties".

So I'll just use my time for the work that was supposed to be finished last week. Or was it a month ago…?

I'm also behind with all sorts of x-mas-fixing: buying gifts, baking and cooking. But yesterday I did marinate the salmon. I use the Swedish Marine Core's recipe (my brother made his service as a Marine Core chef) for Gravad Lax: 2 kg fresh salmon, 1.2 dl sugar, 0.8 dl salt, plenty of dill and white pepper. Mix sugar and salt. Gently dry the salmon with some paper. Put the salt/sugar on top, then dill and white pepper. Cut it in two. Put the thick side against the thin.

Put it a plastic bag (or two) and marinate it for 3 days (first 24 h in room temperature, next 2 days in fridge). Then you put it the freezer for 3 days (not according to the Marine, but to the Health Authorities) and take it out at least 24 h before serving. The whole thing takes 7 days, but it's so easy…

And as soon as the weather calms down…

Now What?

Dear G, I was supposed to finally have time to run!

E was supposed to start a new challenge!

My new sweater is waiting!

And now what?

The Nike+ site has gone mad. It won't let E start a new challenge and registred her last run year 2099. L is home sick. And there is so much snow! It just keeps coming!

Yeah, I know that I said I would run this winter no matter the weather, but does the snow have to come this sudden? Does it have to be so much of it? I'm not prepared! And anyway, I can't run with a sick little 2-yearsold in my arms.

Hoping for more runner's luck,

C

Day 1 – Running On Ice

Dear G, I had planned to hit the ground running – and I did. Even after a sleepless night. All three kids have been coughing the night through, and my 1,5-year old also has that grouse winter you-know-what. Vomited in my bed five times, so I'm not sure if I slept at all. But the sun was shining and the little girl took a three hour siesta, so I went running. Icy and slippery and -3°, but actually nice. As she slept for so long I also had time to do yoga for half an hour.

But instead of writing this last night I fell asleep with the kids…

GOALS: To lose the weight I've gained since I met my husband – today +10,2 kg!

To be able to do the boat pose perfectly.

To not look pregnant. No more congratulations to the non existing fourth child.

To look good in the clothes in my wardrobe. To look good in size M. To improve my written English. To be happier and less tired. Among others.

WORK OUT: Ran 3 km in 20.44 min. Yoga with yoga style push ups and sit ups for 30 min. Total work out: 50 min.

FOODS & DRINKS. Had hard dinkel bread for breakfast, with cheese, tea, youghurt and vitamin C. Chicken breast with salad, tomato, Parmesan cheese, mayo and mushrooms for lunch. At 4pm: fruit salad with strawberries, apple, banana, lime, grapefruit and melon. Dinner: veal steak, tomato sauce and perhaps a litte to much mashed potatoes. No wine, no buns.

WEIGHT LOSS: 0 kg.