Long run. Average pace: 10:12/mile.
Outside temp: 19°F. Wind: 9.2 mph WSW.
I ran on the roads in Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree instead of running on the Highline Canal Trail. I just didn't feel like running on the trail today. The trail is actually kind of boring because the scenery doesn't change much. Running on the roads I can at least measure my progress by what intersections I've crossed. But the roads around here are very hilly so I had a lot of hill running today on my long run.
I was going to listen to Cold Sassy Tree while I ran, but I had lost my place in the audio files and gave up trying to find it before my run. So I ran without headphones.
I thought for the first 3 miles that I had overdressed, but that's because I was heading east, away from the wind. As soon as I turned south I started getting cold again. I had taken off my hoody and tied it around my waist after about 1/2 mile, and left it there for the whole run, but my hat and gloves went on and off several times during the run, as did my neck gaitor, but I had a problem with the neck gator. When I had it on it would get damp from my breath and then when I pulled it down it would freeze and so next time I pulled it up it would be all stiff, but my breath would thaw it out and soften it up.
Next week is 20 weeks out from the Ogden Marathon and I start my official marathon training schedule, which I got from Run Faster by Brad Hudson. This schedule has longer runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays than I've been doing. I'm going to have to get up really early to get in 10-12 miles on those days before going to work. It will be okay next week because of the holiday, but after that, kids are back at school and I'll have to be out running in the cold at 5 am. I wonder if I'll still have the will to run after I finish this marathon. | 