In Medias Race

This is a pretty mundane post just to keep me accountable to my training. I actually wrote it last week, but I had some technical issues and just now got back to it.

I may have mentioned this in another post, but I decided to train for a half marathon this spring before beginning the full marathon training in May. Red Coyote Running, a local running store, is hosting the training followed by a race on May 8th. This week has started okay. We are supposed to run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and cross-train on Mondays and Wednesdays (or whatever our schedule allows). I’ve already built up quite a few miles and was averaging 12-16 miles a week, so the training is really just a more structured version of what I was already doing.

This week has been a bit of a struggle because of the weather and work. The weather in Oklahoma is inconsistent at best. We technically have seasons, with mostly mild winters but some incredibly cold days thrown in just often enough that you need coats for all weather types and you can never really put any of them away. It is not that unusual to have a bitterly cold day in April or September. I read about people in other parts of the country packing their winter clothes or getting out their fall sweaters. I have never done observed that practice. With our temperature fluctuations throughout the year, other than in July and August when it is just hot, it is not worth the effort to store seasonal clothing separately. Work is a completely different post coming later.

The first run of the season was Tuesday evening, and it was miserably cold. My nasal passages and lungs burned from trying to breath in the cold air. If anyone has tips on how to breath better in the cold, I would love to know them. Yesterday, the temperature was fine, but it was overcast, incredibly windy and gloomy. Today, it was storming when I was supposed to run. Now, it is sunny and almost spring-like. I would run now, but I have plans in a few minutes. It is January, and I am wearing a spring mini-dress when three/four days okay I was bundled in winter gear. With the winter wind, and daily temperature swings, I struggle dressing correctly for a run from day-to-day. I have finally learned there is a big difference between sunny and 45° and overcast and 45°. The wind adds a layer of complication sometimes too. I guess, soon it will just be hot and windy, so I should be grateful for the cooler weather while it lasts.

I did my second training run yesterday, which was a little off schedule. I hit a new PR for a 5k or at least a PR since I was 24 or 25. I am not sure if I will get back to my early twenties pace, but I was never really in this to be fast or win. Though, as I get faster I find myself having delusions of grandeur about winning local races. Am I too old to qualify for an Olympic distance team? Every time I beat a previous record it is incredibly gratifying to know I am stronger than I was the day before. I know there will come a point that I probably won’t be able to push past, but I think I am still a ways from that point. With getting faster and my cardiovascular health improving, my workouts are not burning as many calories as they once did, so to continue get slimmer, I am going to have to increase my workouts in other areas. This is a good problem. I would certainly rather be in better overall health than achieve some arbitrary number on the scale, but doing both would be okay too. Since I missed this morning’s run, I will either need to run three miles tonight and 4-5 tomorrow, or I will just do 7-8 tomorrow. I also need better cross-training activities. With avoiding gyms, there is only so much I can do in my house. What is your favorite form of cross-training? Is there anything you like doing from home?

Well, as always, I appreciate you indulging me as I chronicle my running journey.