10 Miles to be rewarded with...

Hours of football viewing, ignoring, sleeping, on the couch.  The Broncos play at 6:00 and I am not sure I can take watching that game.  They have been heartbreaking this year... but I could be singing a different story at about 9 o'clock tonight... or not.  

I went out to WALK 9 miles this morning.  I just thought I would see how a walk was compared with a run.  The weather was insane.  50º and gusts of wind up to 20 mph.  I headed out into the foothills where the wind was crazy.  At 5 miles, I decided that I could tough out 10 miles instead of 9 and feel less pressure about my terrible lack of training for a race in 20 days.  At 6 miles, I found myself running instead of walking.  I ran the last 4 miles.  It was more comfortable than walking.  

I am hurting from this effort, but an afternoon on the sofa should remedy that, I think.

Last night, I dreamed that I was in Phoenix for the race.  It was 5 minutes before the start and I was looking for something to eat!  All I could find was a hot dog and decided there was no way I wouldn't barf the wiener, so I decided to go hungry instead.  I think this dream is disturbing on a couple of different levels.

But even this amateur dream analyzer can see that this is classic performance anxiety....

8 miles on a treadmill

Really.  It is bitter cold outside.  I considered running outside, but stood outside for a minute talking with my neighbor and realized that the wind was too lazy to go around me, so it just went straight through me!  

So, I went to my new and wonderful gym (24 hour fitness) and tried running on the 'mill.  I decided to walk/run, and then I decided to just walk.  I can run 4 miles on the treadmill, but I knew I would never get the 8 miles I needed running.   

I was able to do 8 miles in one hour, fifty minutes, and thirty-seconds.  13:48 per mile.  It was a good workout.  I am wondering if I should perhaps plan on WALKING the PFC RnR in Phoenix?

My days of LDR I think are over.  It takes too big a toll.  On my body.  On my life.  

I long to train for a triathlon.  I long to get in the pool.  I long to get on my bike, or even a spinning class if it is too icy and cold.  

I know my blog has been an endless procession of complaints lately and I appreciate anyone who has read it.  I think I shall go read your blogs now about your youth and training and fast races.  

Slowly...

Getting back on track.  I don't know if I can possibly be ready to run a half-marathon by January 18.  But I am trying.

I got out and ran 7 miles yesterday, it was a lovely Colorado afternoon, with a high of around 50º.  During the week, I went to my new gym and ran on the treadmill which was fabulous!  I am so glad I have a gym membership now... it is 3º below zero right now, and expected to get colder.  I enjoyed the treadmill so much more than I expected.  

So, here's the plan:

Dec. 14 - 20:  run 3 miles X2 days.  Long Run 8 miles

Dec. 21 - 27:  run 3 miles X2 days.  Long Run 9 miles

Dec. 28-Jan. 3: run 3 miles X2 days.  Long Run 10 miles

Jan. 4 - 10: run 3 miles X2 days.  Long Run 3 miles.

Jan. 11 - 17 Taper Week 

January 18, 2009 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll (Half) Marathon

There is no margin for error there.  

Tomorrow is my 57th birthday.  Happy Birthday to me.  

Plans for my 58th year?  

• One half-marathon (I hope)
  
• Two Triathlons (Danskin and Tri for the Cure)
• THINK about the Boulder Backroads half marathon in September

But really, I think I need to scale back on the running.  Not quit, but stop the long distances, I am so crippled up with the piriformis syndrome, low back pain, and now plantar fasciitis (again).  I would like to focus more on triathlon, cross-training.  Getting in the pool and on the bike.  That's what I am thinking for now anyway.  

Sunday Morning Run

This is a doctored cell phone photo from my run this morning.  It was a glorious morning for a run.  Nice and warm (nearly 50º) and somewhat cloudy.  I chose a route near my house which included lots of hills.  The first 3 miles was mostly uphill.  

I had not run for 10 days.  I have totally lost my motivation.  But my run this morning was good.  I will try to get back on track.

On Wednesday of this week I was in a bad mood and went to Costco for lunch (really, really bad idea).  I left there with a new television set and an idea to get a 24 hour fitness membership.  Later in the afternoon, I ordered the 24 hour fitness membership... from Costco... $289. for 2 years... sounds like a good deal.  However, since I ordered it online, I had to pay $9. to ship it?  And I haven't gotten it yet.  What is there to ship?  Why does it cost $9.?  

Anyway, this will solve the bad weather problem.  And maybe a new gym will give me something new to do.  There is one very near my house.  I had a trial membership once and loved being able to get on a treadmill so close to home.  I could come home from there and get ready for work without spending a lot of time or gas.  

I am hopeful that my little crisis is over and I can get back to fitness and training.