The day my cheeks almost fell off!

On Sunday Jen and I met up to get our long run in. She is training for a half marathon in February and I have the full in March. She was looking to run ten and I was looking for 13. Being the good sport she decided to run my 13 with me. We picked Sunday to run since it was the warmer weekend day. I was hoping that the temps would reach 30 degrees.  I don't think it got that warm. 

We headed out after talking about our outfits. You would think by January I would figure out what to wear in the cold temperatures. No, I still am figuring it out. I'm sure I will get it right around March. I decided to lose the knit hat and go with a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes and some ear headband. Turned out the headband didn't last a mile before I had to tear it off. I also had my tights on with some shorts overtop since my rear always gets cold. 

We took off and had a nice slow run along the Potomac river. 

By the turn around point everything from my butt down was starting to get icy.  It was great having Jen to run with because I'm not sure I would have completed the entire cold thirteen miles. But we slogged through them. We even stopped to a photo along the way. 

By the 11th mile I was convinced that I was not going to have a$$ cheeks left because they were ice cubes. My knees were also turning into ice cubes too. The last two miles were by far the most horrid of the entire 13 miles. Im also convinced that someone moved Jen's house farther away!

When we got back to Jen's she was kind enough to make some hot chocolate to help warm us up. It didn't really work.  I couldn't get warm at all.  I headed home and took a nice hot bath. That is the only way to warm up my body, a hot bath. Next weekend I have 15 on the calendar and it is supposed to be in the 40's. So hopefully my lower half will stay warm. 

starting to feel like a wimp

This arctic air that has been here for most of January is starting to make me feel like a real wimp!

 I have not been on a run outside since I don't know when.  I can't bring myself to do it!  I don't want to do it!  This arctic air is really messing with my running.  I just need to

I headed to run club last night and with the temps in the low teens and the wind kicking..I didn't run. So as my friend put it I didn't go to run club, I went to club club.. yeah this weather is killing my training this winter. About twenty hard core runners bundled up with multiple layers and headed out for a run last night..I would say I was jealous..but they just looked cold both before and after the run.  I just need some 30 degree days.

Today we got a surprise snow day from school.  Such a surprise that I didn't have any yummy breakfast treats for this morning.  I normally like to make something to celebrate the snow day.  I ended up making a egg and cheese bagel.  Something I would not make during a school day because I don't have the time.  It was fine, not as good as my strawberry pancakes from last week.  If I would have guessed a snow day I would have picked something yummy up from the store.  I am guessing there was some icy spots on the roads this morning because really we only got maybe an inch of snow.  I'll take it though.  I love a surprise day off of work!  I will have to head to the gym this afternoon and force myself to run on the treadmill.  Either that or I will turn into Jabba the Hut.

And really nobody wants to hang out with Jabba!  

What is the temperature that you take your runs indoors?

looking back and cupcakes make running better

I was looking back over posts from previous years and noticed a trend..I alway seem to have a rough time running in November and December.  Looking at my running calendar, I also noticed that I was sick last October so that month was not very consistent.  Which means that I guess I have been a better runner this year than last?  So I don't feel really bad about my not wanting to run lately.  It will come.

I did run this Tuesday with run club, even though it was really cold outside. Megan and I were talking about not running.  But how could we not run when it was her 100th run at runclub?! And just like always, I warmed up quickly once I started running and I didn't notice the cold.  I really hate these first few colder runs.  It takes awhile to figure out the clothing needed and what temps are going to feel horrible and which temps are pretty ok for running.  I normally stick with capris and short sleeved shirts until the temps fall below 40 degrees.  But when you have had days of 70 degree weather followed by days of 30 degree my body just doesn't want to get used to that!

When we came back in from running, Megan received her long sleeve run club shirt for running 300 miles for beer.

Nestor came too and he earned his 100th shirt too!  We also had cupcakes galore!  Jen brought some yummy homemade cupcakes and I stopped off at our yummy cupcake place near school to pick up some 100th run cupcakes!

We had lots of cupcakes to make new friends with too :)  Really who does not like a cupcake after a run?  Way to go Megan on your 100th!

Today I was planning on going for a run, but I think I am going to scrap it..I will go tomorrow for a long run.  Today I have some chicken and dumplings in the crock pot.  And this afternoon Ironman Kona is on.  I love Kona!  You would think I would have some secret desire to run an Ironman..I don't.  I just am in awe of what those athletes that do an Ironman and especially an Ironman in Kona.  Well a tri is awesome by itself, but add the heat of Kona and Wow!

February = shorts and a t-shirt right?

I forgot to announce that I signed up for the Marine Corps Historic Half in May!  This will be race number 3 in 3 months which means I will be a Half Fanahttp://www.halffanatics.com/tic!!  Yeah!!!  I also just realized that there is 7 weeks until my next half and I am not really in the training mode.  Think they will move the RnR DC back a week for me??  Yeah I don't think so either, one can hope though. 

Well this past weekend was supposed to be my 6 mile run and that was a big fail thanks to the cold I have picked up.  Yesterday, my favorite day of the week , run club night, I didn't go b/c of a lovely case of pink eye.  I think the universe is telling me not to run. :)

Tonight I finally got back into my running shoes.  It was a beautiful winter night.  No snow to be seen.  70 degrees in February and I am running in shorts and a t-shirt.  Who would have thunk it?  This winter has be beautiful running weather.  Since it is 70 in February wonder what spring is going to hold?

breathing is good while running

So I headed out to run tonight.  I figured I might was well try to get used to the heat since tomorrow will be a killer one at run club.  As I was running up the hill that I dread I noticed that I was holding my breath.  The last time I ran that hill I noticed that I was holding my breath.  Now if you know me you know this is really really odd because I am the heavy, I'm a stalker, type of breather when I run.  I had always wondered how people could forget to breathe when the group instructors would say "Don't forget to breathe".  Well I guess it is official.  I forgot to breathe.

BRRR...baby its cold outside

So I got a new cold weather zip up and decided I would try it today. It is 35 degrees outside last week it was 65 degrees outside.  I figured I might as well try to get used to the cold weather running...FAIL!  I finished up 1 mile with ears that were way too cold, a bad knee that was not enjoying the running outside, arms and fingers that were near frostbite (and if you think it was too warm for the bite you should feel my arms and fingers..I am sure they must have been turning blue).  I hate this time of year, I never know what to wear.  Last week I ran with the running club and I was sweating with thin long sleeve shirt on...do I put gloves on yet?  Ear warmers??  I don't want to be an alpaca carrying all my extra layers b/c I wore too much clothing.  Today, however, I didn't wear enough.  The wind was a blowin' and I was a freezin'.  Oh well I will head to the gym later on and try the running thing again, maybe tomorrow after school. :)

On a totally unrelated note, the Steelers play the Ravens tonight.  I can't wait!  I hope Big Ben with his broken bone in his foot is able to play tonight.  Otherwise it might not be a very fun game to watch.  Is that bad that I am wishing that a guy with a broken foot sucks it up and plays football?  I mean he broke the thing in last week's game and he was able to finish the game out...

Last year's Steelers vs Ravens game.  Can you tell it was Christmas time?

This Ed Reed fan was so drunk and loved to hug all the Steeler fans.

Great sign lol