If you live in the northern part of the world, 3 inches of snow is a drop in the bucket. You’re used to driving in it and running in it, and your streets are always prepared for it. If you live in a warm, sunny climate like my friends from Florida, you probably haven’t seen 3 inches of snow since you went on your last ski trip or holiday vacation to see Aunt Millie (or insert the appropriate family member here). Here where I live in Atlanta, snow is one of those things that rarely happens. Once a year we get a little dusting that never really sticks – except for every 4 to 5 years when we are hit with a snowpocalypse that sends our city to a standstill and bans every runner to the treadmill for days.

Last week, a state of emergency was called in Georgia due to all the snow. People were stuck in their cars for more than 12 hours trying to get home from work. Many had to abandon their vehicles on the side of the interstate and then walk miles to get to a safe, warm place. Others chose to sleep in their vehicles, in which it was 15 degrees because they were nearly out of gas from being on the roads so long. Hundreds of parents couldn’t get to their children, who were forced to sleep at their schools with the dedicated teachers and administrators who stayed to keep them safe. People died. People were injured. One woman lost her leg trying to push her vehicle with her elderly family member inside across the ice. For those who are used to the snow, this was no laughing matter.

When it came to my workouts last week, I found myself snowed in like so many others. Running just didn’t seem important compared to what so many were going through. From Tuesday through Friday, our roads and sidewalks were covered in ice, so most of my workouts had to be completed in doors.

With just 4 weeks to go until the Albany Marathon, every workout counts. Here’s how last week’s training went:

MONDAY
REST

TUESDAY
Ran 4.77 miles of speed work on the treadmill:
Slow warm-up mile followed by 5 to 10 minutes of dynamic stretching
3 x 1-mile repeats at 6:53/mile pace with a 400-meter recovery walk between each
Short cool down and static stretching.

WEDNESDAY
Biked 9.88 miles with an easy spin on the trainer, keeping my cadence around 90 rpms

THURSDAY
5.5-mile run on the treadmill
This was supposed to be a 10-mile run with about 6 tempo miles thrown in. However, since we were banned to our house and weren’t able to leave, we were down to nearly no food after being in California the week before. All I ate were eggs and some Clif Shot Bloks all day. I literally ran out of gas on this run. You will be glad to know our pantry is now fully stocked.

FRIDAY
REST

SATURDAY
16-mile hilly run at 8:34/mile average pace, with about 6 race pace miles thrown in during the middle portion of the run

SUNDAY
10-mile ride on a stationary bike followed by the California Crusher upper body workout and 15 minutes of ab work

How did your training go last week? What do you do to get your miles in when you are snowed in?