Will Run For Ice Cream

Cold, wet and very windy - that was the setting for this 5 Mile Race the day after Christmas. I had been told it was hilly, but I was not prepared for these hills. I literally could not see the top of the first hill. I couldn't even stand up straight. I had to lean forward to try to keep my balance to keep from falling over. But I dug in, and I gave it my best. I didn't walk the hill - many others did. Once I made it to the top, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I think I heard the Rocky Theme song playing in the background. (ha). I thought surely this was the worst of it and from here on it would be easy. I was wrong. That was the worst hill, but not the last. By the time I finally made to the decent part of the course, I was struggling to just keep moving. I made a up a little time on the downhill, but not enough. I ran the 5 mile race in 50:11. It was not my PR. I had wanted to come in under 50, but the course was brutal. Not only was the course brutal, but so was the ...

Struggle does not even begin to describe how I was feeling today in the race. The temp was in the 40’s, and it was raining with a slight breeze. I was cold and wet, but not really bothered by either. Today’s race felt difficult from the very first step. Everything I did felt 'off'. It was as if I couldn’t get my breathing right, and on top of that my legs felt sluggish and the knee was nagging me. At mile one we were a little over a 9 and half minute mile. At mile two, I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to finish without walking. At the two mile mark, I knew I had to slow my pace or I wasn’t going to make it. I watched as my boss (who was also running the race) eased farther ahead of me. I tried to concentrate on my breathing and the water splashing around me. By mile three I had warmed up, but I was soaked. I could feel the water seeping through layer after layer. I kept trudging ahead. I suppose the goal for the race was 55 minutes. This was my longest race s...