Almost done with long runs!

I set out last Saturday with the intention of running about 8.5 miles. I didn't know exactly how far I had to go to get to that mileage, so I decided to go by time -- I ran 50 minutes out and 50 minutes back. It was a really nice day!

When I got back, I went to gmap-pedometer.com to see if I could figure out how far I went, and I discovered that they had added the lakefront path to their maps! Very exciting. And even better, I estimated that I actually ran about 9.5 miles in 1 hour 40 minutes, a pace of about 10:20 per mile! Very speedy. I think running on the treadmill might be helping my speed because it's getting my body used to a ten-minute mile again.

Volunteering at the marathon last Sunday was wicked cold. It was in the low thirties for most of the day. That was good for the runners, but bad for those of us standing still for 6 hours holding chilled liquids. But, I survived, and I had a lot of fun. My left hand was a bit frostbitten but otherwise I was no worse for wear.

Last Monday I ran 5K on the treadmill, remembering to change the incline this time.

Wednesday I went for a short run with my friends who were recovering from the marathon. Then we had a beer. Best speed workout ever. :-)

Friday I did another treadmill 5K.

Saturday I got up and looked at the weather and radar. The radar was pretty clear, and the forecast said there was about a 15% chance of rain all morning. So, I figured it might sprinkle a bit, but it would be fine if I wore a hat to keep it off my face.

So, I started running, shooting for 10 miles. And for my 5 miles out, it was really nice. Then, exactly as I was turning around, at the furthest possible point from home, know what happened?

You think it started raining, didn't you?

Oh no. It didn't start raining. IT STARTED HAILING.

It was small hail, but it still was a "what the..?" kind of moment. But, I didn't have my train card or any cash, so I had little choice but to keep running.

Five minutes later the hail stopped. But then it started to rain.

With about 4 miles to go, I was running on the part of the path that is directly next the lake. The waves were crashing up onto the concrete and I was running into the wind. The water was starting to sink through my shoes. I should have been miserable. But you know what I was thinking?

"Hot damn, I feel alive!"

It was actually a lot of fun running through the rain! I felt like I was doing personal battle with Mother Nature and winning.

With about a mile and a half to go, it stopped raining, and then I felt kind of uncomfortable because I was wet and cold. But I finished my ten miles in just under 1 hour 40 -- a ten-minute mile pace!

All in all, not such a bad day for me.

Today I did another treadmill 5K -- totally uninteresting. But at least I had a good story to tell.

I'm planning on running about 5 miles next Saturday, plus a bike ride, as a taper for the Hot Chocolate 15K. Then the following Sunday is the race. Then no more long runs til the spring!