• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitness Fatale

Fitness Fatale

Conquering Fitness Goals One at a Time

  • About
    • Press
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Workout Program Options
      • 21 Day Fix Resources
      • P90X Resources
    • PRs & Race Reports
    • Pregnancy
      • Twin Pregnancy
    • Recipes
  • Coach Business Mentorship For Runners
  • Beachbody Accountability Groups For Runners
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Wind Blown

Holy Moly. This morning’s run can be summed up in one word: WINDY.

I’ve ran in wind before. It’s pretty normal for the coast to have some wind. But this was crazy! And the worst part was, I was doing tempo intervals.

 

The workout was 10 min warm-up with 4 x 10 minute tempo (@7:33-7:43 pace) with 2 minutes recovery between, then cool-down til I hit 60 minutes total. When we woke up (Mike was up to do P90X Plyo), Mike said it was really windy outside and that maybe I should go back to bed and run after work, or go to the gym and do the treadmill. I thought about it but I had gone to bed early the night before so I was feeling good after 9 hours sleep. The gym isn’t close and I also wanted my Garmin data to send to my new coach (yes I am a geek like that), so I decided to brave the weather and do it anyway.

encinitas weatgher

 

 

I should have checked the weather forecast before I left. Winds at 10 mph with 20 mph gusts aren’t fun to run in, but honestly I have no real basis for comparison since I hardly ever pay attention to the wind, so I may have run anyway.

As usual, I took the warm-up slow. The wind was definitely a factor but it didn’t seem THAT bad. During the first tempo interval I felt alright. I could feel the wind coming off shore but it wasn’t until the 2nd tempo interval where I hit the totally exposed beach did I really feel the wind. It was pushing me so hard that I was having a hard time running in a straight line. However, my pace was still pretty good so I thought I was winning. I finished out the 2nd interval at 32 minutes and then turned around, thinking I could make it back home in 28 minutes at the rate I was going.

I was wrong. It felt like I was running through water or straight up Torrey Pines hill. And this  was just the recovery segment. No wonder I’d only seen one other runner this morning instead of the usual 10-20. I was now in the neighborhood in Solana Beach so the wind was partially blocked and I knew it was only going to get worse once I got back into the long stretch of coast that is totally exposed. I started my 3rd tempo interval, which luckily had a short downhill portion, and knew immediately it was going to be a long road back home. The resistance against my body was like nothing I’d ever felt. Apparently that cross wind I was feeling on the way out was also a tailwind and now I was facing the nastiest headwind I’d ever encountered.

windy run
                                  All Over the Place!

I tried to stay positive, but 10 minute tempo intervals are long. A lot can happen during that time.  Looking down at my watch and knowing I was going all out and seeing high 8/low 9 min/miles at times was not easy. I told myself that this was a great exercise in mental toughness. I kept reminding myself that it didn’t matter what my pace was – it was about the effort. I pushed hard into the wind and tried not to let it get me down. At times I couldn’t keep up the positive talk. I got discouraged and probably let my effort wane a bit, letting the wind win.

I thought about my coach looking at the numbers and shaking his head. It made me realize that just knowing that someone is going to look at my workout afterward makes me work harder but also puts a bit more pressure on each workout. If I didn’t have a coach, I might have not been so pissed off about the wind affecting my speed. I might have just been ok with the fact that the intervals were slower because of tough conditions. I think that extra pressure will make me faster and stronger – I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s just the truth.

Lesson learned – if the wind is howling, head to the treadmill. Or, if you want a great test of mental toughness, go out there anyway. At least if it’s windy on race day I can always pull out this memory and remind myself that I can do it!

Have you ever had a crazy windy run (or worse – race!) like this? Do you tend to head to the treadmill when the weather is crazy or do you go out and brave it? 

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

February 20, 2013 By fitnessfatale 2 Comments

Filed Under: Running, Uncategorized Tagged With: running in the wind, tempo intervals to get faster

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BobbyB

    February 20, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I went out yesterday up in the Bronx just after a wake…I figured after a crappy commute home on nj turnpike I wouldn’t feel up to this workout….in the crazy wind and pouring rain….1.3 jog to track 4×100 fast w/u….then 10×800@ 630-645 paces with 100 walk /100 jog recovery between each rep…the wind had me slowing down to above 7 at times but there really was something about being out there in the elements that was exhilarating ….can’t get that on a treadmill !!! Knowing that no one else would think about being out there gave me that extra push on reps 8,9,10…. Good luck with the rest of ur training!!! I ll be reading!

    Reply
  2. Shannon @ Mon Amour

    February 20, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    My tempo run this past weekend was in some pretty strong wind also. Although it was incredibly frustrated I kept trying to remind myself how much better I’ll feel the next time when their isn’t wind. I’m convinced that toughing it out & training in all kinds of weather makes us mentally stronger for race day.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Get Stronger, Healthier & Faster Together!

I am specialize in working with runners to help them incorporate strength training & nutrition into their running routines.

I am passionate about mindset and love to help people find more joy and success in their running by breaking through mental barriers.

While weight loss is a result of our programs, women in my groups often find that they are running faster, are less injury prone, and have more energy and confidence!

I am the founder of Team Run the World, a group of BODi coaches who love running! I provide mentorship, support and training for women who want to start their own coaching business from home and work flexible hours.

I would love to help support you in reaching your goals!

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Fitness Fatale

 

Loading Comments...