I guess Sundays can’t really be considered lazy when you get up and run, but i do a fair amount of sitting around after so I’ll go with that.
I got up around 9am, toasted up a bagel and hit the trail by 10:15. One thing I have to say about winter- I love being able to sleep in and not worry about scorching heat. That said, while today’s run was only 9 miles, it was cold. (Okay, yes, I am a wimp. It was in the high 30s. I think my college years in Tennessee spoiled my sense of temperature. For me high 30s = cold. Deal with it.) Given the chilly temps, I was worried that running by the river would be colder so I opted to take the hilly Custis trail. Here’s the thing about hills – they are speedwork in disguise and when your run is mostly uphill going out, the part coming back will give you a nice negative split. I managed to keep an average pace of 9:14 which is good for me. There were points on this run where I could tell that I ran a four mile pace run yesterday at a pace that was a good minute faster. My legs felt like tree trunks in peanut butter during portions of the run. Also I realized I need new music to run to. Anyone got some good, upbeat tunes to recommend? Hit me up.
When I got home I started in on my post race rituals – numero uno is taking a hot shower. Any runner will tell you this is heaven after a long run. But my favorite (which I had kind of forgotten about because I haven’t done it since I was training for Steamtown) is getting into some compression socks. It feels SOOOOOOO good. Compression socks are like hugs for your calf muscles. Third favorite post-run ritual? Entering my mileage and notes into my running spreadsheet. J got me started on tracking all my runs and it’s really helpful when you’re trying to pinpoint an injury or comparing mileage year to year. It also drives me nuts to enter a big ol’ goose egg into my tracker…so it keeps me going to the gym and hitting the trail. The tracker is also great for tracking shoe mileage…currently these ladies are helping me out.
The Brooks Pure Flow 2 is now my go-to long run shoe. I’m a big fan of their pure project line in general. I did a lot of my training last year with the Pure Cadence, and then I picked up a pair of Pure Connects at the Steamtown Marathon Expo that I’ve been using for my shorter runs this year. I have extremely low (some would say non-existent) arches. The Pure Project line has just enough arch support and cushioning for someone like me. At the same time, they’re a kind if minimalist gateway shoe – and help encourage in me a nice forefoot strike.
Outside of running I’ve been getting my craft on. I picked up cross stitching to become even more of an old lady! A few of my crafty friends were participating in the Frosted Pumpkin’s Woodland Sampler so I dove right in too. It took a little getting used to … but here’s January.
I’m still working on February and March’s entries. That’s okay right? It’s still cold like February… again, I know I am a wimp.
What are you working on in March?
Fit For The Finish Line 
High 30s is totally cold!
I love making the Woodland Sampler so much. I think I’ll be able to finish January today and maybe even start on February. I signed up for their Springtime Sampler too!
I’ve been thinking about taking up running a lot lately. It’s something I’ve wated to do for a long time, but even when I was at my fittest my endurance has always been painfully bad. It makes the idea of getting out there and going for it really demoralizing.
I have you to thank for keeping me on the cross stitch path! The fact that I know that you’re also making the Woodland Sampler keeps me accountable.
I will say this about running – getting started is the hardest part. Once you get past the first two weeks, it gets much easier. I used to make little deals with myself – run to the end of the block and back. Then I would add another block to that. Then I got up to a half mile and back. I’d slowly try to add a little more distance which was helpful. I think that it is easy to think that the only distances that “matter” are long distances. That’s not true! I can tell you that I still have days where the first half mile or first mile of my run is the hardest part. When I was first starting out I would tell myself “Do what you can” because getting out there and doing a little bit is an accomplishment!