November 2005 Archives

The forecasts were not looking so good for this morning's run. The actual weather didn't disappoint. It was supposed to be an easy run; a nice 5K to help support the Technology Education Foundation. Instead it turned into a frigid stomp on cold, hard asphalt. It was 12°F when I left and the wind gusts reaching 40 miles per hour. Rather than have a time as a goal, the new goal was refined to finish as fast as comfortably possible. Then find the nearest cup of hot chocolate.

I donned the most warm stuff I could comfortably run in, and still froze waiting for the start. Twenty-five minutes later, I was done and within thirty seconds, had a cup of hot chocolate in my hand. (The water bottle I grabbed had ice in it.) Final results: 25:02 (8:04 pace), 6th in AG (now 30-34), and 105th overall. I think that's enough racing outside until next spring.

Proud of myself for actually getting out of bed on time, I got ready and climbed back in with all my clothes on until the alarm went off one last time. I struggled to get the car door open from the frozen rain, even needing two hands to get the trunk open to access the ice scraper. Damn, it's cold.

Once inside the friendly chlorinated confines of the Nat, the swimming felt good. Long, strong strokes were actually producing surprisingly efficient strokes. A quick set of harder 50s (two lengths) sparked the body into motion. The 400 that followed was a pleasantly fast 4:50 (1:12.5 pace). I need to pick that up if I'm to beat my 5:48 at the Alumni meet, though.