more of the same

I still haven't found any motivation to hit up the roads so far this winter. Nearly every run last week happened on the treadmill. 36 miles on a treadmill... I never thought I would say that! The only miles I managed outside were the first 11 of 19 miles on Sunday. I had every intention of running the full distance in the 15 degree windchill but I didn't take into account how much ice there would be after Saturday's snow. There was too many patches and as the sun started to go down I got nervous and started seeing myself breaking bones seeing as I'm a huge klutz so I turned around. I came home, changed, and headed to the gym to finish up. I typically don't like to break up super long runs but it was necessary on Sunday. Safety first!

This week has started out much the same because it hurts to be outside too long right now. Needless to say the treadmill next to the emergency exit at the World Gym and I are becoming intimately close. The temps should be making their way back into the 30's so I hope to get back outside sometime this week. I need to get back outside for my sanity and the fact that I'm running out of TV shows to watch on my phone! Commercial free helps when in the middle of a 10+ mile treadmill run. I caught up on the cheesetastic but equally addicting Vampire Diaries and I'm nearly done with the 2nd season of Fringe and there are few shows left on my phone I haven't watched after I get caught up on season 3 :)

Is your winter running off to a good start? Are you BFF's with your treadmill or braving the cold?

cold and snow = treadmill

Today was one of those days I started to question my sanity. Why did I think it wouldn't be too big of a deal to run high mileage needed for the Goofy training during winter in Chicago? The real feel temperature was in the teens, there were snow flurries, and I couldn't get warm even sitting next to my office space heater wrapped in a blanket. I could not fathom running outside for 10 miles. The treadmill didn't sound much better but at least I could wear shorts and a t-shirt. Treadmill it was. Though because I got to my gym much later than planned thanks to taking my sweet time walking around the house I cut the run down to 8 miles. I could have banged out those last 2 but I still needed to buy groceries for dinner and cook. The run itself was uneventful. My legs actually felt fresh even though I have been a bit sore the past couple of days. I zoned out to some cheesy TV shows on my phone and tried not to breathe in too deeply because I'm pretty sure the guy 2 treadmills over was letting them rip.

I'm slightly concerned about the next couple weeks of running. My will to run in cold weather has left the building. In the past I have gotten out there and gotten it done. It's taking a lot to work myself up to even getting dressed for cold weather running. I may need to start finding ways to love... err... tolerate the mill at least for a few weeks.

Wednesday randomness

I was ultra-productive yesterday and hung the lights on our balcony, decorated the tree, and even wrapped the presents I have purchased so far. I took a picture of my beautiful work on the tree for all of you to enjoy :)

While at Target yesterday I picked up the January Runners World. No, I don't have a subscription yet. Hopefully soon though as it's on my Christmas list ;) Then what do you know in the mail today?!? 3 guesses the first 2 don't count...The January RW. Anyone need a copy I'll send it to you tomorrow when I go to the post office for work. And it won't cost a thing - I'll add it to tab I'm going to expense :) Anyways, it seems that since I partook in the 2007 Chicago LaSalle Bank Marathon I get 3 free months of the magazine. Who knew I would get a gift for a DNF?!? And why couldn't this have kicked in 2 months ago so I could have saved myself the money on the last 2?!? Maybe they finally felt bad about not providing enough water, Gatorade, and cooling stations so they used the money they saved on these items for magazine subscriptions for 45,000 runners as a please accept our apology on such poor planning in October 2007 :)

On to today's run. I had a choice to make about my running. The schedule called for a 6 mile tempo run but a big storm moved through the city yesterday and today. I could take my chances and run outside in the fresh snow (and ice). But that would most likely mean me breaking my ass before Sunday as I am the worlds clumsiest person OR I could go to the gym and hit the treadmill again. But going to the gym was no easy feat either as my poor Libby (yes I named my car Libby the Liberty) was under a good 6-12 inches of snow. I opted for the workout before the run and dug out both my car and Jacob's car (I'm such a nice girlfriend).