Thursday, December 08, 2011

Brrrrrrrrrrr....part II

Hard to believe it, but it was actually COLDER this morning!

It was 28 degrees and there was frost on the rooftops and cars. I headed out for my 5-mile TEMPO run a little after 4:00 am (yes, not stupid-thirty, just stupid). With my slower paces, I have been running late in the morning, which makes for a stressed out Runner Mom - running all over the house, hurrying everyone around, driving myself and the kids crazy, and well, that's just not fun. So I decided to lose a few minutes of precious sleep and get out there a little earlier.

My McMillan pace for a tempo run is supposed to be between 9:59 and 10:29...YIPEE, I was allowed to run faster than a 12-minute mile today! I started out too fast, which is easy to do when it's freezing outside, and then reigned it in a little and held steady around a 10:14/10:15-ish pace. I ran 2-miles and then met up with my fellow-insane-to-get-out-in-the-cold-this-early friend, Julie for another 3-miles. Julie is obviously crazy dedicated, because today is her birthday and she STILL got up early to run! In the cold!

Tonight, I brave the cold and head to the (indoor, heated) pool. For some reason, I have a major lack of motivation getting to the pool in general. But when it's cold, it's 100 times worse. And, when coach saw that I was finishing my 1,800 workout in around 45 minutes, she told me that was great and that I was ready to move to 2,500. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) But hey, with all the upcoming holiday parties (meaning temptation to eat bad stuff), I gotta get the workouts in and stay focused.

Is it hard to maintain your focus this time of year? How do you stay motivated?

6 comments:

Jill said...

I thought having a marathon in January would help motivate me, but I seem uninspired right now. Weather, personal garbage, holidays, etc. I gotta get my act together, races don't wait to get your mojo back - ha. Nice job on the run, in the cold. YAY!

Unknown said...

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is hard to keep your mojo. You mind is running in a million different places, as are you. I find that sticking to the morning workouts it helps me to stay on track. I'm less likely to miss a morning workout, than an evening workout. Keep running ... before you know it your mojo will have kicked back into full gear! www.dashingdiva.net

Lisa said...

Oh my, you just gave me some motivation to start getting my lazy butt up early! Thanks! :-)

Swim Bike Mom said...

I struggle with getting into the pool also... I think as women.. it has something to do with getting our hair wet :)

Terri said...

It was sooo cold this week. I actually had to scrape thick frost off the windshield. I wimped out and ran after the sun came up. Good job on getting it done!

Laura said...

I've been surprised that Tx gets as cold as it does... and I am the same way about the pool! The one at our Y is outdoor, but heated, and I haven't been back since summer. :(