So winter has finally set in this winter wonderland I call home. It was another long weekend of running. After that one day I ran inside the gym when it was cold & raining and on the way home I saw several runners braving the elements. I vowed I would run outside on the weekends no matter what the weather conditions were.
So Saturday was a sunny 28 degrees. I think I have finally figured out how to dress for this weather on these long runs. Layers of three seem to work out just fine for me. But I always managed to leave my unused YakTrax and figured I could run on icy conditions. Yet there I go again on the 19th mile of my trail run, a full on face plant onto the trail. The only thing saving my ugly mug was my outstretched arms that took most of the impact. The worst part was that after passing a fellow runner who took the wiser course and was walking. I was trying to look all cool and look like a runner and fell right in front of her..
Oh nice...
So 21 miles, 3.5 hours later, and a coyote darting 50 yards in front of me, I was done for the day..
On Sunday, another warm 8 degrees with a wind chill factor I didn't want to know about. I headed out the door before sunrise around my neighborhood. I knew I could not meet my fellow tri club members for there run/mountain bike session. They were all having their type of cold ASS crazy fun.
So after 15 minutes I realized how dang cold it really was. My CamelBak had frozen solid. Oh nice... I have a semi-long run and no hydration, plus trying to eat a frozen cliff or fig bar was not going to happen without hydration. But as my eyes lashes froze I managed to squeak out a 2 hour run, needed to do 3, but ran out of time. So another 50+ mile run week with some bike trainer, swimming, and strength session sprinkled in.
So this weekend might be fun,
Okay a hard fun,
Okay maybe just really hard ASS type of fun.
I'm tentatively scheduled to run my first FAT ASS race this weekend. The Crusty Dick 50k (31 miles) in cheese-land (Wisconsin). A FAT ASS race is no frills, no t-shirts, few awards (if any), limited aid, type of race or run, I'm pretty sure no whining out loud is allowed also.
Saturday's Forecast: Partly cloudy. Highs around 12.
So fellow bloggers, I need inspiration, tell me I'm crazy and I surely will be there, tell me I'm sane and then what is really the point to be there.