I ran by myself in the snow. The snowflakes were more like rain drops, so they didn't float gracefully to the ground. They meant business and so did I. I was out to complete my first tempo run since the beginning of November. I knew I'd run as hard as I could, but I didn't know how fast or slow that would be. Here are my quarters.
2:00--I was pleasantly surprised. Because the course was flat, I felt I could do faster quarters. So, I tried to pick up the pace slightly.
1:53--Excited again.
1:54--Started to feel fatigued.
2:00--Kept pushing it. Felt great about the 7:47 mile.
2:00--Getting very tired.
1:57--This quarter felt the hardest.
1:47--Turned around and had a tail wind! No wonder the last three quarters were so tough.
1:46--Went as hard as I could. What a finish!
After the first mile, I thought, "How cool would it be to get 15:30?" But I quickly dismissed the thought and went back to focusing on keeping my pace. And I beat 15:30! I ran the two miles in 15:17, in thirty degrees, in snow, in January! The second mile was 7:30!
I am grateful for marked trails. I am grateful for the people that plow marked trails. I am grateful for 30 degree weather. I am grateful for running. | 