by | |
Motivation (and Lack Thereof)

Two weeks ago, I ran intervals in what was the start of yet another snowstorm. I did my 800s in what must have been record slow time and looked like this when I got home:



If you look close, you can see a giant snowball accumulated in my hair.


The ground actually had started out dry before we got all of this stuff again.


Saturday Steph and I went for a 14 miler that we managed to keep under 10 minutes/mile. I felt great during it and was barely sore the next day. Maybe all of this speed work is paying off!

Sunday Borsch and I did a nice easy bike ride of 22 miles in rain that was reminiscent of IMMOO 2006 except even colder and muddier. Up until then, I had the "no rides outside if it's not 50 degrees," but I don't think it even got up to 45. It actually felt great, and even though we were just out for an easy ride, we still maintained a pace well over 15 mph. In the rain. And the cold. And the wind. I felt way better than during last weekend's ride.

Training for an early summer marathon is so much different than I thought it would be. I've done plenty of fall ones, so I sort of thought that I had this all down. For some reason, I didn't think I would be battling intervals in the snow or waiting for my local track to melt. I didn't anticipate worrying about my footing on my long runs because there was so much ice on the sidewalk. I've lived here for 27 years. You'd think I would have known that there would still be snow in March and April. Thankfully, it's starting to warm up, and almost all of our snow is melted. The days are getting longer, so I should still be able to get my runs in even when I work the weekend. I'm sure looking forward to having the water fountains in the parks turned on for the season, though. This year is also a little different because I haven't been able to rely on my natural motivation to get out and go. My body usually comes out of hibernation sometime between mid-March and mid-April, and this year I had to force it out early. Plus, when I get home from a long day's work and sit on the couch for a couple of minutes, this happens:



Good luck getting me out the door then! Kermie is holding down my legs while catching a few ZZZs, and Ella is asking for a belly rub. I love taking naps with them.

If you haven't gone to vote for Steve's video in the Drymax socks contest, please go do it. If you've been to his blog, you've seen pictures of his feet after even a short long run. Can you imagine snuggling up to those dogs in bed at night? Not so romantic. He could definitely use a year's worth of quality socks! Voting ends tomorrow, so for my sake, stop over there :)

6 comments:

Unknown

I am having some motivational issues myself with all this cold weather. Not good timing as I am 49 days away from a marathon and still haven't gotten my long runs over 8 miles....... but this is my week, I can feel it!
(Now if it would just stop raining...)

Smithposts...

I have a new appreciation for northern runners, you guys are a tough bunch! Your cats look very warm after a snow run!

Unknown

Wow - I give you props girl... if it's even flurrying here, I'm inside, let alone outside with SHORTS on! Good for you! Good luck with the motivation this time of year... it's tough!

GoBigGreen

fun to see you and Steph on the tail end of your run saturday. Now if we can just get thru April and get the snow and 30's out of here we can all post about something more like : post run/ride smoothies sitting in the yard watching the birds chirp and our flowers grow. (July??)
See you soon.

Triteacher

Oh man, am I with you! We just got more snow yesterday. It was on the ground yet this morning. What's with that?? I have decided that I'm just going to "act as if" it's spring.

Yep, the kitties (and puppy too in my case) make it quite difficult to get out the door. They're so warm and snuggly!

21stCenturyMom

brrrr... I don't know how a woman who ran track in the snow can claim motivational issues. I'm freezing just looking at those pictures!

I voted, I voted!