So, when I got up this morning, with plans for 8 miles outside I knew it was going to be cold. The app on my phone was giving me single digits, though it looks like it might have been a little warmer…
Still too cold for snow, so I wouldn’t get my “I’m a bad ass running in snow flurries” feeling. *sniff* But I was determined I was running this today and I was doing it outside. (1) I HATE the treadmill. Anything longer than 4-5 miles on the treadmill makes me want to kill something and (2) once I move I won’t readily have treadmill access, and it’s still winter in PA for a couple more months. I’ve got to suck it up. So, I got dressed…
Hey, I don’t play around. You saw the temperature. And I thought it was colder than that. I head to the mall to run (which is why I couldn’t wait until it was warmer. Waiting til later = traffic at the mall = almost dying). I’m mildly amused at the progression of my Sunday running attire over the past 3 weeks–I’ve gone from capris and a t-shirt, to tights and heat tech top, to OMG THE LAYERS. In the above, I’m wearing: a long sleeve tech shirt, short sleeve tech shirt, running jacket, fleece, vest, two pairs of tights, gloves, and a hat UNDER the hood of my jacket.
So anyway, I head to the mall. And it’s effing cold for the first mile, but I do it. And I keep going. And I’m not keeping the pace I would really like, but I’m still going. And the miles pass. And I take a GU. And more miles pass. And soon the delightful voice in my ear chirps “8 miles” and I happen to be near my car so I stop. I was a little irritated when I saw that I had only actually run 7.97, but hey, close enough. I had really, REALLY wanted to do the 8 in 1:30 or less, but I’m happy with my 1:35–my PR for 7 miles up to this point was 1:38, so doing 8 in 1:35 was a high point of the day. I’ll shoot for 1:30 again next week (when my long run is 8 again).