Running Through a Deep Freeze

A Short Burst of Movement in a -33°C World

Despite the brutal cold snap gripping Lethbridge, Dixie and I managed to squeeze in a short run to stay active. The Garmin logged several minutes of movement, just enough to shake off the cabin stillness and feel the bite of -33°C air. Dixie was unfazed—her paws never lifted in protest, no signs of discomfort, just steady motion and purpose. She did her business, we turned back, and that was her only real run in two days. The rest of the time, she’s been darting out for five-minute bursts before retreating to warmth.

It’s a reminder that even in deep winter, a little movement matters. The cold may limit our options, but it doesn’t erase the drive to get outside, breathe sharp air, and share a moment of motion with a dog who’s always ready. Short runs like this aren’t about distance—they’re about showing up, together, even when the weather dares us not to.

Nigel, this is a solid snapshot of your workout intensity and power output. Here's a quick breakdown of what the data reveals:

🏃‍♂️ Running Power Insights

Average Power: 257 watts — a moderate effort, likely sustainable over longer distances.
Max Power: 645 watts — a strong burst, possibly during a sprint or uphill push.
Power Zones: The graph shows varied intensity, with clear spikes and recovery phases. This suggests a well-paced run with strategic effort distribution.

❤️ Heart Rate Zone Distribution

From the second and third images:

Zone 2 (Easy): 3:30 (53%) — great for aerobic base building.
Zone 3 (Aerobic): 2:44 (41%) — solid cardiovascular work.
Minimal time in Zones 4 & 5 — indicates this wasn’t a threshold or max-effort session.
Average HR: 136 bpm — aligns with Zone 2–3, reinforcing a steady-state aerobic run.

🧠 What This Tells Us

You’re training smart — balancing effort and recovery, staying mostly in aerobic zones, and layering in power bursts. This kind of session is ideal for building endurance while preserving recovery capacity.