Itchin' to run

Today is the first time that I've wanted to run even though it's not a "run" day for me. Today is a rest day - one of two that I get each week - and normally I'm happy to rest on those two days. But today I actually feel restless and would love to go for a run. Perhaps it's the decreased mileage that my legs sense. Maybe it's pent up frustration from other areas of my life. Whatever it is, I'm itching to go for a run. But it's a rest day and I'm trying to respect the schedule. Tomorrow is a 40 minute run. Maybe I'll try for another PR.

The clothes make the run

Sometimes a good run can sneak up on you. At the start of my run today I wasn't feeling into it - the first 5 minutes or so I was running my normal pace but I felt slow. After another 5 minutes the kinks were working out and I was doing better. Then all of the sudden I was running a sub-10-minute mile. I realize that doesn't sound very impressive but that's fast for me. And I kept it up for the rest of the run - just over 4 miles. Not sure what happened but it was pretty cool. It's got to be the new running clothes, right?

Getting cold

When I checked weather.com before heading out for my run this morning it said "44 degrees - feels like 38". They weren't kidding. I'm not used to running in the cold. Next time around I'm going to have to do more of my training at the appropriate temperature. It took me 3 miles to get into the groove because of the cold but after that the rest of the run was OK. Eight miles today and my pace was actually faster than usual for a long run. I sweated off about 2 pounds this morning, despite the cold. Two weeks to go.

No turning back

It's official. I'm registered for the race. No backing out now. Yesterday was so hectic that I completely forgot about my cross training until it was 9pm and I was already in my PJs. I threw on some shoes and jumped on the stationary bike, PJs and all. I guess I can say I'm dedicated. I don't normally like to work out right before heading to bed but there was no way I was going to skip it. I don't want to miss a single workout this close to the race. 18 days to go. I just read on the race website that the average temperature at the start of the race is 45 degrees. Crap.

Chaffing

Ten miles. Done. The last two miles weren't pretty but it's done. I'm going to be sore tomorrow. Hell, I'm already sore tonight. And I really, really need to buy some non-chafing clothes. I start tapering now for the next two weeks. That scares me. I've done two half's before and I didn't taper much for those but then I wasn't following a specific training program like I am this time around. I'm going to trust the pros on this and just stick to the schedule but it scares me, after struggling so much to finish the 10 today, to start running less when I'm going to be running 13.1 miles in a few weeks.

Things I have learned

Things I have learned so far:

1. The mood I'm in greatly affects the quality of my run, and vice versa.
2. The right music can drastically improve a run.
3. An article of clothing that is very comfortable on a 3-mile run can chafe in unexpected places on an 8-mile run.
4. I can run in 54 degree weather wearing only a T-shirt and shorts and not freeze my ass off.

A good run

One more month to go until the race. I've managed to stay on track for the most part. I'm running alone but I think I've gotten used to that and running with someone at this point would probably be too difficult. I just crank the iPod and go. I am slowly determining which songs are the best to run to (The Mavericks "I Want To Know" being my favorite at the moment). I do occasionally see some of my students as I run around campus and I think it amuses them to see me running. I've increased my pace so I wouldn't say that I'm "lumbering" anymore but I'm not fast by any stretch of the imagination. I had an awesome run while in Tucson, AZ. A combination of time spent with good friends, being kid-free, and the gorgeous scenery made for a fast and fun run. Too bad they can't all be like that. This weekend is my 10-miler. The 8 that I did a couple of weeks ago wasn't pretty so we'll see how this one goes. I know I can do it, but I'd like to do it well.