Week 11: Eleven miles

30:45 sec run/walk ratio
2:52:25 hours
11.46 miles
15.0 min/mile

Finally, a run with good stats again! And a good run, too. I almost didn't run today -- it was really cold again, in the mid-30s, and it was supposed to be marginally warmer tomorrow, so I considered waiting a day. Also, wanted to get to the Park by 11 AM if I was going to run today, so when I was still sitting around the house at 11, I thought I'd skip it. But I kept feeling like I really should get out there and run today, so I figured, what the heck, I can start at noon and still be done by 3 PM-ish, and it won't be too cold by then. So I quick-like put on my running clothes and headed for the park.

Got there just a few minutes after noon, and headed out. I'd eaten breakfast earlier, but since it was getting to be lunch time when I left, and I didn't want a full meal before my run, I made a protein shake with soy milk, coconut water, protein powder, and a bit of maple syrup to drink on my way to the park. I brought water and three GUs with me, and ate one GU at around 5 miles. I meant to eat another at 9 or 10 miles, but I forgot. I was starting to get hungry by the time I was done, but didn't feel like I was getting too tired, so I guess it was all right.

I wore my gray leggings, which I thought would be warm but they weren't really. Should have stuck with the newer ones. I was cold when I started out, and took about a mile before I really felt more or less comfortable. But once I got going, I was fine. I'm kind of impressed with myself that I'm continuing to do the long runs despite the cold weather and snow. I know I've tried a couple of times to train for winter or early spring races and gave it up part way through because I just couldn't make myself get out there and do the runs. This time it looks like I'm going to make it.

Didn't do the midweek runs, though. I decided that, even though my driveway is too muddy/snowy to run on, I can still walk for half an hour and that would be almost as good. But I only did it once. I even shuffled/jogged a few of the running intervals. But I was wearing my muck boots, which are my only waterproof boots, and they're really not designed for walking or especially running. I need some better boots to do my short walk/runs in. Maybe see what they've got at Kmart or Big 5 this week.