SalsMiles2

A top ten list on running in the cold, dark, snowy northeast winters of upstate New York. 10. It’s always dark outside 9. My clothes make me feel like the little brother in the Christmas Story who falls down and can’t get back up. 8. Every spot on the road looks like black ice and I feel like I’m going to fall any second. 7. Slushy snow, yucky and cold. 6. An easy pace mile in the summer is a fast mile in the winter. 5. I get to wear funny looking hats 4. No longer have to carry fluids on a long run since I sweat so little. 3. People look at me like I’m weird being outside when it’s 15 degrees and 2 feet of snow, I like being different. 2. A hot shower never felt so good. 1. It’s fun touching Jan’s skin with my ice cold hands and having her scream.

Interested in knowing your predicted Ironman finishing time? There is a mathematical formula that has been tested and shown to be reasonably accurate. 152.1 +[1.332 x recent marathon time] + [1.964 x Olympic Tri time] = IM time. Example:   Jan’s predicted finish 152.1 +[1.332 x 270] + [1.964 x 191] =   14 hours and 48 minutes.   Jan finished IM 2009 Lake Placid in 15:54, with a final marathon @ 6:12 compared with her Marine Corps Marathon time of 4:30. Almost without fail the average age group athlete swims and bikes the IM legs faster than what they trained at and then slows precipitously in the marathon, running much slower than training pace. Of course variables such as weather, health, training load and race course design (hilly, water conditions, wet suit or not) play a significant role. Jan's example above used the FingerLakes Triathlon time which was a year after LP. It would be better to have a marathon and Olympic distance tri completed a few mont...