This week officially kicks off my marathon training. I’m oddly looking forward to it. At the same time, though, I have just a smidgen of regret that I didn’t hold out for a fall race. It’s cold and snowy, and despite receiving my YakTrax finally, it appears I’ll be needing snowshoes if I want to run any distance in one of our local parks any time soon. Otherwise I’ll be forced to jump between ice-free, snow-free roads and the treacherous sidewalks in an effort to not get hit by a car, and for some reason that doesn’t seem so appealing.
The silver lining is that I have several friends also training for the same marathon, so I should have plenty of company over the next 18 weeks. I look forward to running with friends even when I’m not in training. Running buddies definitely keep me motivated.
As you can imagine, I’ve been running on the treadmill for the last couple weeks. It’s no picnic. I can’t say that I loathe the treadmill or anything like that, because truthfully I’m very thankful that I have it. If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t be running at all. But, I’ve found it difficult to continue at a set pace without stopping or adjusting to increase speed, or even just to walk. It’s very demotivating. I know it’s just for the winter and there is an end in sight (when?) but while I’m running it seems like the longest three five one miles of my life. I’ve never had disdain for the treadmill. For some reason this winter’s different. Perhaps because up until the last two weeks it has been extremely mild, and I was rather enjoying the weather.
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| This is how I feel about the treadmill these days. |
The rest of my 2015 race schedule is shaking out quite nicely. There are several 5Ks I’m looking forward to in hopes of a PR. I’m anxious to get out on the road in the sunshine and warmth. I find myself daydreaming about summer every time I’m out shuttling the little people back and forth to playdates or preschool. Green leaves, green grass, sunshine, birds. Sunrises! Oh how I miss running and seeing the sunrise in the summer.
To anyone who has to put up with me during these cold, dreary, depressing months: I’m sorry for the things I said when it was winter. But in the words of my boy: “Let’s play run!!!”
xo
How do you fare when the temps drop and the clouds prevail?
Still with me on the PPB Challenge? How do you feel?
