Tom

It is not just that I want to make Tom's Monday by not only mentioning him in the blog, but also doing so by name. As regular blog readers may remember my reference to a person "who shall not be named". Well, that is Tom. Today he earned being mentioned by name because he ran the last 5 miles with me. It was also the first time is almost a year that he ran with us. (That might be an exaggeration since I didn't look back at old blogs to confirm, but I think naming him by name is good enough. Of course, I was tempted to not be not so bold since the first thing he said to me when we were alone was "I am going to make the blog now, aren't I?". Tom apparently doesn't know the power of fake indifference, kinda like playing hard to get.

It was a nice day (FINALLY) for a run, despite a strong wind from the south. It was 24 degrees! Wow! AND at the end of the run the sun came out! Wonderful, Wonderful. We started out with a big group, Judy, Jill, Elyse, Sheri and Al with Larry walking. Tom and I went 1:40 and 10.86 miles.

Whining

I used to like the website The Complete Running Network, but I am afraid the thrill is gone. It is hard to stay in love with something that never changes. I have checked the website frequently hoping for a new article, new picture, new ANYTHING! But no, I have been repeatedly greeted by a picture of a rib cage since December 23rd. I may be a slow reader, but not THAT slow. (Mike - be quiet). I may be a loyal friend, but a friend can only take so much rejection!

On with the whining... actually this morning wasn't as cold as they had predicted... so I can't complaint. Well, I could but I am trying to take the high road. Plus it is Friday and that in itself puts me in a good mood!

Repeating

Do you ever feel like your are repeating yourself? Such as "Are you sick of the cold/winter yet?" How many times did I answer that question yesterday? And now I must write that we ran in sub zero temperatures yet again today. My fellow runners tell me that we ran in a lot of cold last year, but my memory thankfully fails me on that account.

I ran with the Cousins and Beer-Hater today. The thing of most note is that Mike was wondering when Jill would return. Beer-Hater was quick to point out "See! You do miss her!"

Beer-Hater was also wondering about my new favorite running item... the Seirus Masque. Like I said, I like it because it doesn't get wet and then frozen like fleece, is easy to breath through and my fellow runners can hear me talk (much to their dismay). The only negative is that you probably only want to wear it when it is very cold out aka - your breath freezes. It might be a little too warm otherwise.

Another cold morning

It seems like this is the coldest winter in a couple of years. It was -9 again this morning. I did learn (again) that if I wear enough on my top, then I don't struggle as much with cold hands. Today I wore 3 layers on top and my hands were never cold. I forgot to put another layer on my legs, so they were a little red when I got home.

I did try a new face mask today. I was really happy with it. It was easy to breath through, but didn't get all wet. It is one of those foamy kind. I was actually worried that it might be too hot... not today!

The temperature was above zero

Apparently the hi tech thermometer that Katie got for her husband doesn't work well because it was above zero this morning, but Katie wasn't there. Katie, you should take it back. I hope you still have the receipt!

A fast run with the Cousins and Beer-hater. I am not sure if Beer-hater was running fast to make sure she didn't get stabbed in the back or if she is trying to get ready for training season. Since Mike was behind her I am guessing it was the stabbing (or maybe tripping is more appropriate in this case).

Sick, Sick, Sick of the cold weather. The frosty eyelashes look is no longer cute. I think it went out of fashion well over a month ago.

Change We Can Believe In

It became apparent this morning that the morning running group needs to get swept up in the President Elect's "Change We Can Believe In" message. It is time for some formalized rules. Oh, yes, we joke about our "rules" such as sprinkler runs when one doesn't show up, donuts on the anniversary of starting running with the group, no running with water bottles tied to your waist with a string, but sometimes someone feels the need to push a little too far as was the case this morning.

As is typical, when we run we don't talk about running. Although this morning it was slightly different because we started talking about what marathons we were thinking about running when the topic got wildly out of control. One of the runners admitted that she was having a hard time getting excited about Green Bay. We in our naivete thought it was because she is a Cowboys fan AND from New York. (On a side note, I think it is pretty gracious of the group to still allow her to run even though she blatantly does not support the Pack OR the Vikings). But NO - it is because she doesn't like BEER (I think she also said brats, but I am not sure because I was in a state of shock.) She must have taken our silence as agreement because then she said "In fact, I HATE BEER". Good thing it was -5 out this morning and we had to keep moving to keep from freezing or else I think the rest of us would have stopped dead in our tracks. Again, she must have taken our silence for agreement because she then went on and on about WHY she doesn't like beer. And it wasn't in a "I need to explain myself" voice, it was in her "I am proud to be a New Yorker and Hater of Beer voice".

It seems that this all has now come out because she has gotten comfortable with us and thinks that she has run long enough with us that she won't be kicked out. Well, she might be right, but it doesn't mean that we will let this happen again! So, the first rule of the morning running club is:

1. Must NOT hate Beer.

I hope you notice that I am being quite lenient here... I didn't not say "Must LIKE beer.". No, our standards are pretty low, we just ask that you don't HATE the nectar of our life - beer.

Finally!

The deep freeze has finally lifted and I was able to get out for an enjoyable run! We did 9 miles and although I felt very sluggish the first half, I felt better the second despite having a long jaunt into the run. I totally understand why Kwik Trip gal hates the "Arnoldsville" route, but sometimes you need something different! Just felt great to finally get out there and run and not freeze to death or at least being afraid of freezing to death!!

Did it.

Yes, I did it. I ran 5 miles on the treadmill this morning. Not pleasant. Even my This American Life podcast didn't do a good job of distracting me. However, after getting on the scale, I was glad I was doing it. It was a helpful bit of motivation when I wanted to stop.

Benefit of writing a blog?

So, tomorrow is supposed to be cold PLUS 1-3" of new snow. I didn't do a good job of fighting evil influences when the devil (aka Jill) called and asked if "I REALLY wanted to run tomorrow". No, it was not that she REALLY wanted to run, rather she REALLY wanted me to convince the others signed up for the "suicide run" (her words, not mine) to not go too. Just so you know..... Jill REALLY loves to try and convince you to do 12 marathons in a year, but is also REALLY good at trying to make you wimp out on training runs. So, after a couple of other phone calls it was decided not to run tomorrow.

I have now spent the whole night doubting my decision. Why is it that you go to sleep in the morning you hope, hope, hope that it will be raining when you look outside at 4:30 the next morning. (Rain is the one sure fire way to ensure no one will show up - subzero temperatures or snow is not.) But when you have a VALID excuse the night before not to run the next morning - it is torture. Suddenly, you WANT to run. No "rainy morning happy dance" just doubt - should I or shouldn't I??? It is almost as bad as the "What should I wear tomorrow for the marathon?", but not quite. Jim - who loves to play with my mind - said "You have run in colder already this year". Earlier he was saying "You aren't really going to run tomorrow are you " (hmmm.. maybe Jill called him before me - as diabolical as she is). At one point I even said "I am going to call Elyse and convince her to run" . Obviously Jill is not on my "can be convinced list", Katie is too new to torture like this and Christy has a valid (darn her!) excuse after her scary fall yesterday. Elyse is from New York, she can be convinced to do anything!

THEN I looked at the La Crosse National Weather Service wind chill projections for the next few days. No, it did not help. Tomorrow is ONLY-20. I can say ONLY because Thursday is supposed to be -46! Wait for it..... Friday is supposed to be -40!!!! I did not run today. I CANNOT go 4 days without running. Okay, I can, but I really, really do not want to. In this month's Runner's World it said you should have a mantra to get you through the hard times. Amazingly my mantra: "You are not in training (yet). There is nothing wrong with a week off" Is not working. Why can it not be raining tomorrow morning and for the next 3 mornings? Life would be SOOOOO much simpler.

Yes, treadmill friends - I can hear you - "Run on the treadmill ! Run on the Treadmill". Ugh. Well, I am going to try and do it and just to double dare myself I am going to go at 5:00 a.m. I know if I don't, it won't happen. So, the treadmill is set up, my Ipod is charging. I made sure my audio book is cued and ready to go. I have a sweat towel laying out. A have a bottle ready to be filled with water. (I just remembered I should go put the fan out) I have TWO sets of headphones out just in case one fails... because we all know if the Ipod fails, there is NO WAY I am running on the treadmill.

But my SECRET weapon is to write about it in the blog. I figure if I am telling people I am going to do it... then I will have to admit when I don't or get to rant about how horrible it was if I do!

My back up is to write about it on my Facebook page... just to double doom myself.

So - wish me good luck and I will let you know how it goes - tomorrow.

Lessons

This morning we learned that one of us should always have a cell phone and it is best to be running with someone.

Christy took quite a spill this morning on some ice. She hit her head pretty hard and has a nice goose egg. CHRISTY - if you are reading this... do not hesitate to call the doctor.

An overall scary experience.

New Things

It was a morning of new things...

I broke out my NEW running shoes... always a happy day even though the new ones are brown.

CHRISTY showed us a NEW route this morning. At one point I almost took over again from sure habit, but she quickly stepped in and reminded me who was boss this morning.

My NEW experience was being a little late... my CAR battery was dead. NOT my GARMIN battery like Christy thought. Yes, we all know it is a little early in the morning and our brains (Christy's) aren't making all the connections they should.

Another NEW experience was NOT wearing my Yak-Trax. Although it wasn't because I didn't intend to, I was just running (no pun intended) late and didn't have time to put them on. But it was good - the ice seems to have dissipated to a acceptable level for January. PLEASE no more ice storms!!!!

NEW - Mike didn't say a word through the whole run!!!! (gottcha!)

Quiet Run

Since Bryan told us Christy's crash story on Saturday, Mike, Jill, Christy and I didn't have anything to talk about so it was a quiet run. Thanks Bryan.

Dedication

I thought I was going to be running alone this morning. Katie bailed...something about it being too cold and Mike was a little tardy in coming. I had already decided that I was going to run anyway. (getting on the scale before coming helped with that decision) Thankfully, Mike came. We almost slipped and fell in the first 5 feet. Edwards parking spot and sidewalk had not been salted and was glare ice. The number on my scale was instantly forgotten and I said "Maybe we shouldn't run today" but Mike was dedicated and we continued on. It was slick, but for the most part manageable. A slow, but good 6.06 miles.

2009

Just Christy and I for the first run (for me) of 2009. It was a bit chilly when running into the wind, but still warmer than it has been. Unfortunately, I don't have any humorous tidbits to start of the new year, but here is what I hear on the running front:

Christy - GB Marathon
Rhonda - GB(?) Marathon - FIRST ONE!
Katie - GB Marathon - FIRST ONE!
Allison - GB Marathon
Wendy - GB Marathon
Jill - LAX Marathon
Elyse - LAX(?) Marathon
Sandy - GB Half(?)
Al -GB Half??????
Jenny - ??????
Sheri - ?????
Bryan - ????
Tom - ????
Mike - ?????

I think there may be some newbies out there we need to draw into our circle......