I had to change my mindset to prepare for it. I remember reading an article by Kristen Armstrong in Runner's World. Stop thinking you "have to" do things. Instead, change it to, you "get to" do things. It worked like a charm. I don't have to run. I get to run!
Fuel for this run was a carrot-cake flavored Clif bar pre-run and a vanilla bean flavored GU for mid-run.
The Clif bar tasted okay. See those white bits in the bar? I think they represent the frosting on carrot cake because that part tasted really sweet. That was my favorite part of it.
It was super foggy outside. You couldn't see 30 feet out in front of you. It was a bit creepy. And scary because thoughts of getting hit by a car or getting killed without anyone seeing kept running through my head.
The first third of my run goes through mostly residential areas. It wasn't too bad until I came across a guy casually riding his bike in a circle in the middle of the street. My paranoid mind told me he was either a drug dealer or a thief, so I picked up my 11 minute/mile speed to 10 minute/mile and high-tailed it away from him. Hehe. Try and catch me now, sucka!
The second third of my run goes along one of my city's main streets - past the shopping areas, the high school, the water park. I found this bit of graffiti a bit interesting and a little different than your average tagging. Good thing I noticed it and snapped a pic, otherwise I would have never known when our demise is!
It was so cold that I noticed that condensation was forming on my vest! I was getting pretty thirsty and briefly thought about sucking it off. No worries. I didn't.
The urge to use the bathroom hit me at about 5 miles and I strongly considered calling the husband to come get me. But I told myself I was a big girl and could hold it. I was thankful I had the vanilla bean GU and not the chocolate or espresso flavor that sounded like it would have made my tummy issues worse.
It was still super foggy at this point. If you look to the upper left you can see some trees. Directly behind those trees is a restaurant - that you cannot see because it's so foggy!
The final third of my run is on a paved trail that goes along the a small creek/river/canal(?). It was here that I saw the first and only other runner during this run. He was a tall chipper guy who wished me good morning and then left me in his dust.
A look back at one of the many bridges/streets I had to cross (i.e. Forced walking break! Hooray! I didn't want to get hit by a car now, did I?).
I was feeling pretty beat by this time and started texting the husband. I always wondered how people could text and run. And now I knew! It's not that difficult really, especially since I was damn near at walking speed. I took a lot of walking breaks during the final third. It broke up what would have felt a long slow march to death.
Almost home! At this point I forced myself to stop checking my pace on my watch and to try and just enjoy the run and forget about how freakin slow I was moving. Yeah, didn't work. I was seeing 13 minute miles. Yikes!
The final big hill before I get to my house. It's a joy to run down. And sometimes a joy to run up. And run up it I did! If you look closely in the picture you can see a lady walking up the hill. I caught up to her and forced myself to keep running so I wouldn't look like a douche who just had to catch up to her to get ahead of her then walk.
Total time was 2:03:XX, about a 12:00/mile average. I didn't think it was so bad considering all the times I stopped to take pics and all the walking breaks I took. And then I checked the last time I ran this route. It was August last year and I did it in 1:52:XX, about an 11:00/mile average, and I remember feeling great during that run. And that made the 2:03:XX look like crap.
Next weekend, route! I shall get you next weekend!
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