Running for 2 hours on a Friday Night...

Is NOT my idea of a good time...LMAO! I have a very busy weekend so it had to be done. I left work and chowed down a protein bar on the way home. Picked up a pizza for the boys and was tortured by the smell for the rest of the way home.

I got my gear together...it was 48 degrees so this made me happy! I only wore a pair of running pants and a long sleeve shirt. I was trying not to hate my husband who was drinking beer and eating pizza. I grabbed my garmin and ipod and was off...I just wanted to get this over with.

I always seem to forget that the trail by the Lake is colder; and I also forgot any water or Sports Beans. I had to pee in the woods at mile 3 and mile 5. I am not used to running that late! I had been drinking water all day. By mile 8 I.WAS.STARVING. but I had nothing to eat. I just keep chugging along, by this time I was freezing my ass off because it was dark and much colder.

By mile 11 I felt like I was going to puke, but kept moving along. I finally was done..yay!!!!!

Distance: 12 miles

Duration: 2:07

Calories Burned: 1169

Winter Training Sucks.....

So I had 10 miles on tap for this weekend. Lately, I've been all about doing my long run on Saturdays, so I can relax on Sundays. And I only had 3 light beers last night (I do have some control, who knew?) and I got up at 6:45 this morning to head out for my run.

IT.WAS.12.DEGREES. Man was it cold. I wore 2 pairs of running pants, 3 under armour shirts, jacket, gloves and a hat. I absolutely hate when I have to wear a jacket to run! I don't like to feel cramped. But it's done now so it's all good.

Distance: 10 miles

Duration: 1:40

Calories Burned:1125

So I signed up for a 30k.....

because, well, it was on the weekend that I have to do an 18-miler for the Pittsburgh Marathon May 3rd. It makes sense to me, I think I would be more motivated if I had someone else to run with, plus I think that it will be a good indicator of whether I will be able to finish the Pittsburgh Marathon.

Thoughts from the seasoned runners out there? I don't plan on "racing". I'm not going to worry about the pace. I just want to go out there and do it.

The Mental Game

I think long distance running is all mental. Yeah, you need to be fit, but we can push our bodies so much more than what we do. I think it's more about breaking through the negative thoughts and just getting out there and doing it.

Last night, for instance, I had NINE beers, yes nine. Ridiculous, especially when I know I had to run 9 miles this morning! But they were going down too easily but it was fun at the time. But when I woke up this morning with that all too familiar head pain and dry mouth I was like "why did I do that"? I could have easily just went back to bed for another 3 hours. DH gave me the hairy eyeball when I asked him if we had sex last night...LMAO! Then he said, "thanks a lot, I was a stud too"!

But I got up and ran my 9 miles. It was actually a pretty good run, surprisingly!

Distance: 9 miles

Duration: 1:32

Calories Burned: 987