Looking for motivation....

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. - Hebrews 12:1

So I found this quote on the Fargo Marathon site tonight as I am trying to motivate myself to get out of bed early for the ability to get a run in. Looking ahead to this years challenges, and it is early so I am apprehensive to sign up for things in case of injuries but I don't want to wait too long for fear that I won't get in in time. This happened last year as I waited too long before I signed up for Regina's' Queen City Half Marathon and I was very torn up that I was too late to get in and they were full. So here it is January and I am looking forward to this upcoming year and I wonder what will be too much.

I only ask about too much because I did three half's last year in one month. I figure if I'm training for one, why not do them all. If I can do the distance once I should be able to keep it up. I had hoped that eventually the distance of 13 miles would be less daunting if I could do it over and over again, and so it is, less daunting. This year I look forward to the challenges of distance, weather, altitude, and I'm sure there will be others I will find along the way.

Distance: first marathon
Weather: first winter half marathon, in Canada
Altitude: first mountain area half marathon (not yet sure if I will have the time for this one, but here's to hoping)

I have decided that I will recognize that I am not a fast runner, although I have yet to find how far I can go. So this year will begin a new journey in running where I will learn new lessons along the way to finding new distances and challenges.

So I guess this is a "See you in the morning, along the road" answer to the question of "just how crazy are you feeling tonight?"

Keep thinking of what you would like to accomplish this year and let me know. Once you say it out loud it feels like more of a commitment, it keeps us accountable to ourselves and each other.

Nicole

January 9th long run

I am having a faint recollection of a lesson (that I should have learned?)that is in the back of my mind, nagging at me......

Oh yes, there it is #52 Listening to your body! Oh well, I guess I will have to work on that one as I travel through today. Which I have to say is not as unpleasant as I thought it would be, just a bit tender in the knees. Yesterday I had a hard time as me knees and legs protested the length of our run later in the afternoon, but of course where helped out (for a short time) with a nice sit in the hot tub I missed out on last week.

After 3 weeks without doing any real distance work I feel that maybe I might have overdone the run yesterday. Note for next time I suppose. But now that it is out of the way I am looking forward to getting some work in this week so I am better prepared for next weeks long run.

I did run this with mukluks. As we are still trying to run with a minimalist view, and I really do not see us inside on a track for the length of time it will take to accomplish a long run. We all may turn crazy with that thought! I was pleasantly surprised that the mukluks were not as slippery as I thought they might be, and they are still very warm. I have run in -32 with them as well and with one pair of thermal socks they are toasty warm; I am a suck for cold and will almost always overdress.

See you next week.
Nicole

See what happens when the organized one goes away?  We get the meeting place, date and mileage all mixed up.  On the upside we ran just over 10 miles when we thought we were running 8. Nicole will post an accurate run for next week.

Address Update for Today's Run

Nicole tells me the address I posted is the Unicity location.  We are meeting at Tim's by the car place which is by the perimeter and across from the cemetary, not the one at Unicity.  Sorry I cannot find the address in the phone book.  

Long Run Sunday Jan 3/10

We'll meet at Tim Horton's  3649 Portage at 7:30 am.  I am told it is located across from Chapel Lawn Cemetary.  We'll run 8 miles to the same destination as last week so remember to bring a swimming suit.  There is a bridge across Assiniboine River that we should sprint across.  It is not pedestrian friendly and is unerving should a semi pass inches away as we are crossing it.  Other that that little sprint it will be a long slow one as usual.  How will we get home you ask?  I'm working on that part.

Running in Cold Weather

I recently came across an article that recommended stopping outdoor running if the temperature drops below -20C.  Today it was minus 30 something  (with wind chill)  and  we all felt quite comfortable.   Granted we did not have the infamous western facing wind to contend with.

 The hot tub at the end of the run was an all around hit.  Thanks to Mr. & Mrs. C for their hospitality.

Long Run Jan 4/2010

This  run will not be done to prove we are crazy so much as it will take us where our running hearts desire.  Having a fun destination keeps our running fresh even in inhospitable temperatures.

 In a few days we'll  start out at 7 am for a  12 miler out on the bald prairie which at times has an  unforgiving western wind.  There is a hot tub at the end of this journey so don't forget a bathing suit along with your emergency supplies.  If you would like to join us please let me know via the comment section or email.  Looking forward to seeing Nicole next week when she returns from her vacation.  I miss both her and her garmin!

Gail