While that doesn’t seem like much (especially if you read the running blogs of the folks listed to the right who are all hardier than I), I haven’t run outside in almost two weeks. Mostly due to the frickin’ cold. I have learned over my almost seven years of running (this latest stretch only) that I really can’t handle it when it’s below 20F, either with or without the wind chill. That may seem kinda wimpy, but I don’t like starting out a run and then having to bag it part way through because I can’t get warm. I put on the warmest close I have, including the balaclava. I looked like a goober (even moreso than usual), but at least I was a warm goober.
I did use Karen’s treadmill twice this past week, and it was fairly awful. First, because I’ve never really run on a treadmill before and I find it insanely boring (probably because there’s no TV down here in the office where the treadmill is) and I don’t like wearing headphone when I run (chalk that one up to living in Center City for over six year and having far too many vehicular run-ins when I could hear everything). Second, the treadmill is at least 10 years old. The belt rubs from time to time, so I have to run to one side for a little to move it back over. It’s not worth trying to have it fixed. I could only stand about 20 minutes per run.
If I don’t hit the treadmill more, running the Caesar Rodney half in a month will be rather rough. Check the course elevation map (scroll down a bit on the page) – yes, miles 5-7 are a bit rough due to the uphill, but the real kicker is the last 0.1 hill. You round a corner, knowing that the finish line is getting close because crowds are starting to form along the roadside, and then see the hill. “You’ve got to be kidding!” seems to be the response of those who haven’t seen it before. At least, that was my reaction, and I knew the hill would be there.
(20 pages)
