Wednesday, December 8, 2010

didn't have it in me; or on me

It's been getting colder here in the Northeast.  And while I realize that is a given, it just seems that this December has been colder than previous Decembers have been.  So yesterday when I was about to head out on my lunchtime run, I checked the temp: 32deg.  Brr.  I thought it would have been a bit warmer by lunchtime, at least 38-40deg, which is why I had packed capri running pants, a winter running shirt with a shell underneath, mittens and no earband or hat.  This was not appropriate running gear for 32deg.  Oh, did I forget to mention the 15-20mph wind?  Yeah.  That too.

My breakfast for the past few weeks has been Chobani yogurt with Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal mixed in.  I do love yogurt and cereal together!  However, I didn't realize I'd run out of yogurts and hadn't gone to the store that morning.  So I had a cup of cereal, dry.  That's it.  It was not enough fuel for my run.  I had zero energy by mile 3.  Zip.

So both of these reasons combined led me to shorten a planned 7miler to a 4.5miler.  It's still a good amount, just not the amount I had hoped for.

This weekend, though, I did get an exceptional run in.  Saturday was a beautiful day!  Sunshine and 40deg.  I took advantage and headed out for a 14.5mile loop that took me into Melrose and back then over to the lake before heading home through downtown Wakefield.  It was really fun because both Melrose and Wakefield had Christmas-y things happening, Holiday Strolls and whatnot.  Carolers, free food in the shops, tons of families out and about.  I didn't even mind dodging them!  Oh, I'd also like to mention that I did those 14miles at a pace of 9:37/mile.  That's the fastest I've done a long run ever!

Just a little over a week till the official training plan begins.  I will have to be better prepared than I was yesterday!  Speaking of, I'm off to the grocery store...

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