The ChipCast || by Chip Mahaney » ECHO Running Club http://www.chipcast.com The life and mind of a transplanted Texan loving Cincinnati: thoughts about journalism, leadership, social media and running my first marathon Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:04:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 4 inches of snow, uphill both ways! http://www.chipcast.com/2010/02/06/4-inches-of-snow-uphill-both-ways/ http://www.chipcast.com/2010/02/06/4-inches-of-snow-uphill-both-ways/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:17:22 +0000 Chip Mahaney http://www.chipcast.com/2010/02/06/4-inches-of-snow-uphill-both-ways/
If last Saturday’s 15-mile run was like getting punched in the face with the 20-degree weather and a bitter wind chill, then today’s run in 30-degree weather and 4-inches-of-fresh-and-falling snow was merely like trying to run while dragging a 20-pound weight on a greasy surface.  Easy, right?!  Not so much.

 

Today’s 6-miler wasn’t as mentally-challenging as last week’s run against the wind, but it was step-for-step more work for the legs.

 

I’m very thankful for the ECHO Running Club, 3 of whose members are pictured in the photos here.  Not pictured is ECHO leader and spiritual guru Brian Nash, who’s always an inspiration to me.  He told me today’s run won’t do much extra for my legs, but it will do something for my mind and my will.  He said runs like today’s might give me a bit of inspiration during my first marathon attempt.  Hope so!  16 more weeks til the Flying Pig!

 

Posted via email from Chiposterous

]]> http://www.chipcast.com/2010/02/06/4-inches-of-snow-uphill-both-ways/feed/ 0 Marathon training – Day 2 – 6 miles with ECHO in the bitter cold http://www.chipcast.com/2010/01/02/marathon-training-day-2-6-miles-with-echo-in-the-bitter-cold/ http://www.chipcast.com/2010/01/02/marathon-training-day-2-6-miles-with-echo-in-the-bitter-cold/#comments Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:12:05 +0000 Chip Mahaney http://www.chipcast.com/?p=604 Saturday mornings belong to the ECHO Running Club.  ECHO stands for “East Cincinnati Harriers Organization”.  A harrier is either a dog bred for hunting rabbits or a cross-country runner. 

ECHO meets every Saturday morning at 7am at the Parkside Christian Church at 6986 Salem Road in Anderson Township, about a mile from my house.  Anyone is welcome to join us, any week.  No membership, no dues, just a bunch of friends who like to run.  Some of those ECHO friends are exceptionally accomplished runners (Boston Marathoners, Ironman Triathletes), but others are recreational.  They’ve been most welcoming for a rookie like me.

The ECHO bunch runs a 6-mile route every week.  Most weeks it’s this course, which is nearly flat.

The ECHO pace is usually 8:30-8:45 per mile, though there are some who go faster and some who’ll go slower.  I keep up, but the 8:30 pace is at the fast-end of my comfort level.  I’ll get faster.

Day 2 – January 2 – 7am – Anderson Township – 6 miles in 51:28, an 8:34/mile pace.  Good run.  My coldest run ever: temperature 15 degrees with a wind-chill near 0.  Light snow flurries that occasionally hit your face.  I wore a yellow Nike hoodie and a skull cap, with a long-sleeve shirt and long running pants.   I was warm enough everywhere, except for my hands.  I wore the gloves that I bought the day before the Columbus Half back in October.  The gloves are perfect for 25 degrees, but I found them wholly unacceptable for 15 degrees.  My hands froze for 3 miles until I retreated my hands back into my hoodie sleeves for extra warmth. 

The amazing thing about ECHO – there were 15 runners joining today’s run, even in such cold weather.  An ECHO bonus: after each run the group reconvenes at Big Apple Bagles, at Salem and Beechmont, for a post-race bagel.

My only regret – I wish I had brought a camera to capture the essence of running in frozen weather.

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