Striding into March!

        Well, February was a short month, but it sure wasn't less snowy or warmer! The Vermont snowfalls continued and the temps fell regularly below 0 degrees! What's a girl to do to get her miles in? Go to Arizona for 11 days (excluding travel days)!
         Not only go to Arizona but do a half marathon! At mid-month I had logged a mere 22.67 miles. I knew the Arizona days would boost my efforts. I was figuring on 3 miles or so every day (or more) and then the 13.1 from the half.
          Sunday, February 15 was a nice, overcast day and heading into the final two miles the sun shone bright and temps climbed into the low 70s. But by the end of the Lost Dutchman Half Marathon I had a heel blister the size of a quarter!
          This certainly was going to put a crimp in my goal of adding daily mileage during my Arizona stay.
          Ah, but the pull of 50 degree mornings and 65-70 degree afternoons was stronger than the occasional "ouch" of the covered/padded blister area. Flipflops for three-four days limited speed, but not distance; and my hubby flipflopped along with me.  After five days, it was time to try a sneaker. Not the best, but not the worst feeling. 4 miles accomplished.  Then it was back to flipflops, but two 3-mile outings in one day kept my spirits and hopes up of piling on miles before returning to the snowy/cold northeast.
          Mind over matter! And good company (thanks David!)! This is how I logged close to 41 miles while in Arizona!
           And how did I finish out the coldest month of February in MANY, MANY years? I lead an 8-mile training session today, the 28th, in weather conditions of 0 degrees (air temp) at 8 AM and only 9 degrees at our finish. There were frozen eyelashes for a while and snowy hair sticking out of hats and earflaps, but we (Barbara and I) prevailed.
           What does all this mean for team No Easy Feet and the Run/Walk 2,015 in 2015 challenge? The trio logged 213 miles in February (24 miles over the 189 in January!) We are proud to have surpassed 400 cumulative team miles for two months (402)! Only 1,615 to go!
            What does March hold for team No Easy Feet? In my own case, two half marathons and plenty of daily mileage. Lion or lamb, we are team No Easy Feet!

 The bling from the Lost Dutchman Half Marathon!

5 of the 12 ladies who came out to brave the cold for either 7 or 8 miles on February 28th in Manchester Center, Vermont. No Easy Feet teammate Barbara is on the left in the red hat. I'm taking the pic. Barbara, Lisa and I are trying to find a date to log miles together maybe in March!

One Month Down, Eleven to Go!

The title says it all. One month down, eleven to go!
January was a month of cold, and colder, temperatures. And yes, snow. Now before you think another thought, I'll say it, "Yes, I know I live in Vermont and it is after all Winter!"
For me this was a tougher January to get outside for miles. Only 15 actual outside days. I did log some indoor miles through PE and recess at the school at work at.
What does this all boil down to in terms of the 2,015 in 2015 virtual challenge? Well, I logged 55 miles this month. My teammates Barbara and Lisa logged 64 and 70 miles, respectively. This means team No Easy Feet's January total is 189.
Not bad, especially since I do not have access to a treadmill (or as Lisa calls it the dreadmill).

There are thousands of people taking part in this virtual challenge from all over the world. People doing the 2,015 solo. Others in pairs. And plenty of trios like mine. The postings are constant. Sometimes I just have to step back and turn them off because it is important for me, and every one of us, to remember it's not a race and to go at one's own pace!

Welcome February! Yes, it is still cold. Yes it was windy today. But the sun was out. And the daylight is noticeably longer! Barbara and I did 5 chilly miles together this morning (especially gratifying after finding out each one of us was going to "bail" on getting out as individuals).

February is a short month. I am looking forward to the lost Dutchman Half Marathon in Apache Junction, AZ. With this in mind, and 8 days of AZ walking weather, I am willing to bet that No Easy Feet tops 189!

See ya in March!

  I told you it was frosty here in January!

Several participants in the virtual 2,015 in 2015 challenge celebrated their teams reaching 100 miles on January 25th. One of my teammates, Barbara, is wearing the read hat.

It's New Year's Day: A new beginning

A new year. A new beginning. There is quite a bit about 2014 I am ready to leave behind (but that would be another blog). So I am looking ahead!
As I begin 2015 I have jumped into the "virtual community of challenges" and signed up for 2,015 in 2015. That's 2, 015 miles in 2015. Now before you think I am an overachiever let me clarify that I have two partners in this challenge. This means we are each responsible for logging a minimum of 671.7 miles during the year.
That's more like it.
I figure I log 3 3-4 mile sessions during the work week and often 5+ on weekends (either Saturday or Sunday). And because I seem to constantly be "in training" for half marathons, those weekend miles can range from 5-11.
I have already signed up for 8 half marathons for 2015. That alone is 104.8 miles covering Race days. And there are probably another 2 half marathons to sign up for; oh, wait, there's a 10K I am registered for - that's another 6.2.
But why do this? I am going to go out for weekdays and weekends anyhow. Why be a part of this virtual mileage-collecting community? 
Support and the fun. Locally and abroad. This is group motivation!
The FB posts and Tweets are coming in from around the world! The Aussies began long before midnight struck here in Vermont. There are photos of men and women (and children) of many ages dressed in shorts and long-johns. Short-sleeves and layered fleece! There are before and after pictures. Outdoors and indoor treadmills. Mostly there are smiles.
This morning in Arlington, VT there were 36 of us ready to go, whether running or walking, or a combination. Ready for 3,4 or 6 miles. I looked at it as the first 5K of 2015. 
For me and walking buddy Barbara it was the beginning of our 2,015 journey. Lisa, who lives roughly 40 minutes away, the third of our trio, also got out this morning. So our team, No Easy Feet, logged 11 miles (Barbara and I figure our walk was 3.5 miles, and Lisa did 4).
Only 2,004 to go! Stay tuned!
Happy New Year!