There was a lot of snow and hail over the weekend, but it looked nice outside this morning. I was happy to not have to run in the snow again. But around 11 the clouds rolled in and it started raining, hailing, and snowing again. The wind was blowing hard. I looked at the radar and it seemed the storm would blow over by about 1. At 1:30 it was finally clearing up, so I headed out. The wind was still strong and cold, but at least it wasn’t wet.

I started off fairly strong and seemed to keep it up through the first two miles. I even went fairly quickly up the big hill on Ironwood and Sycamore. When I rounded the corner at the top of Sycamore onto Sandalwood it all started to fall apart. I fell into a 1/3 breathing rhythm, which felt very wrong. It wasn’t long until I had a side ache. I tried to get my breathing back in line, but it was hard. I finally found a 2/2 rhythm as I headed down the last hill, and snapped back into a 2/3 going up the other side.

As I headed around Mesquite, I figured I was still on track to set a new personal best. I was right.

30:37

That’s going to be tough to beat. Up to this point, there have been obvious areas for improvement, but there are less and less of those. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see what happens next.

It’s cold outside. It’s been snowing the past two days. When lunchtime came today, I looked out the window. I saw a blizzard. I couldn’t even make out the outline of the mountain we live next to. The snow was heavy and wet. I didn’t want to go outside, but I didn’t have a good alternative plan. So I got dressed in my shorts and t-shirt and realized that wasn’t going to cut it. I added a sweatshirt and a hat. That seemed just about right.

I knew the sweatshirt was much heavier than the light-weight sports shirt I normally wear running, so I figured I would wind up a little more tired at the end than usual, but nothing too extreme. As I ran, the snow piled up on the sweatshirt and hat. I was nice and warm inside. Unfortunately, that made most the snow on the sweatshirt melt, which made the sweatshirt even heavier. My shoes were also sopping wet and a little heavier than normal. I think the worst part was the snow. It was blowing around and seemed to fly into my eyes no matter which direction I headed.

I told myself I would find a way to just plow through it. I would be slow, but I would make it. This would be three days in a row with no walking. That would mean something. When I got to the big hill on Ironwood, I wasn’t sure I would make it. My breathing switched from 2/3 to 2/2. I found a way to get to the top, but I didn’t seem to be catching my breath. I was on the flat, but I was still stuck breathing a 2/2 rhythm. I was hurting. I slowly worked my way back to a 2/3 by the time I was heading down the last hill. I stayed at 2/3 back up the other side and onto Mesquite. I finally started feeling good as I rounded Mesquite and headed home.

31:02

Something magical must be happening. There’s no reason I should have been that fast today. It was a battle almost the whole way. I guess I’m glad I fought that battle. That’s three best times in a row. And that’s the first time that has happened. I just hope the weather clears up and I’m able to run without the extra gear.

My legs were sore yesterday. I started talking about possibly taking a few days off from running to let my legs recover. I thought I was serious, but somehow I found myself running again today. I didn’t particularly want to run today, and I especially didn’t want to push myself too hard. It is absolutely beautiful outside today, and I wanted to spend some time outside enjoying it. I thought about taking a ride on my scooter instead of doing my daily run. I thought about just walking the route to enjoy the great weather. But in the end I decided to run.

I started off slowly and never really picked up the pace. I kept telling myself that I didn’t have to run too hard, because I was going to run the whole loop again today, and that would make up for not going fast. I knew that wasn’t the ideal situation, but I figured it was fine, since I was at least out there running. I kept thinking the loop will get easier each time I do it. I don’t think I realized how much truth there was in that thought until I finished and looked at my time.

31:15

How did that happen? I didn’t run hard. I didn’t push myself. I barely even picked up the pace for the home stretch. So how did I get my best time yet? I’m still a bit confused about it. Maybe I should just go through the motions more often?

When I opened the door to see how warm it was today, I got blown back inside the house. The wind was really strong. So I looked up the weather forecast for today… heavy wind, rain, and snow… continuing for most the week. I had been toying with the idea of signing up for the “Ice-breaker” triathlon this weekend, but there’s no way I’m biking and running in rain and snow at 25 degrees while I’m soaking wet after the swim portion. At the same time, I realized my chances for running this week may be diminished, so I better hurry up and get out there.

I knew I had to run the whole loop today. I knew it as soon as I wrote it last Friday. I thought about that a few times this weekend. I was worried that it would be extremely difficult to pull off. It wasn’t. Running up the last bit of the hill on Sycamore wasn’t any more difficult than walking had been. Continuing to run along Sandalwood was a little tougher, but I was able to regain my rhythm after a house or two and then it was just a fun run to the finish line.

31:19

My tradition of setting a new record each Monday continues.

I wound up going out to lunch with some former coworkers today. Originally I figured doing so would mean not running, but somewhere in the back of my head I kept saying, “or you could run when you get back.” And that’s what I did. Let me just say eating a burger and fries right before running is not the best choice. I felt it bouncing around inside as I tried to run. I don’t recommend it.

I ran slower right from the start today. I was basically coasting through the first mile or two. Then I walked up the hill at Sycamore, even though I think I could have stayed running. I figured if I did run up that hill that I would have to take a break when I got to the top and that would suck. But I think I’m to the point where I can run the whole loop. Now I just need to prove it.

After walking a little bit, I ran the rest of the way home. The last mile actually felt pretty good. Lunch had stopped bothering me and my legs and breathing were in rhythm, which isn’t always the case at the end of the loop.

32:40

I did finish a full minute slower than Wednesday, but I’m still glad I went out there and got it done.

I don’t know if running is normally a psychological sport the way swimming is, but it seems to be that way for me. If I don’t feel good by the time I’m rounding that first corner, it turns into a tough run for me. Today was one of those days. I’m still fighting a bit of a cold and didn’t sleep well last night. I woke up around 5 and couldn’t get back to sleep. But somehow I kept thinking it would be a good run today. I was sure. I had taken the day off yesterday, so my legs had a chance to rest up for today. I might even finish the loop without walking at all. I kept thinking that all morning… right until I took the first few steps out the front door.

By the time I was rounding that first corner and facing the first hill, I was already wondering if I should walk. I haven’t even considered walking up that hill in weeks. When I got to the hill, I made a choice. I chose to run. I didn’t decide to run up that first hill. I decided to run at least as much as I ran on Monday. That turned out to be a very tough decision, but I’m glad I was strong enough (mentally) to stick to it. Several times during the run I kept thinking about all the “reasons” I had for not feeling bad about walking, but I pushed through them all. The only time I walked was up the hill at Sycamore. The last mile was especially brutal. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t fast. But it wasn’t walking.

A lot of times as I climb the last little hill and turn onto Mesquite, I know if I’m in contention for a new record. When I climbed that hill today, I had no idea. I didn’t let it stop me. I pushed hard around the last corner and may have even been “running” again by the time I got back.

31:41

When I beat the record by one second, can I doubt the value of that last push? Will I ever let myself walk to the finish line again? Let’s hope not.