52 minutes
12:08 pace
Yesterday morning, I woke up to this....
 |
| It was dumping & coming down sideways! |
Sigh. Welcome to Washington state in march, folks! Shelly and I had been planning to run 8 - 9 mile on 3/14 for weeks. We woke up to 42 degrees, torrential rain, and high wind. The weatherman told me it was 42 out. I texted Shelly to see if we were still on for our run. That's when she let me know how her evening went. No sleep. Crying all night. Her best friend passed away the day before. I immediately responded with "let's not run today". She insisted we follow through with our plan. Knowing exactly where her motivation was coming from, I agreed. We decided to cut the run short, and do a loop in her neighborhood. Something familiar. Something comforting. After a night like her's, something much needed!
It was cold. Super cold. By mile 2, the skin on the fronts of my thighs was burning and stinging. (I got rid of my winter CW-X tights due to them rubbing me in the wrong place - if you know what I mean.) I probably should have worn two pair of my lightweight tights, but didn't think about it until I was running. Ironically, my upper body was too hot! I wore a rain jacket, and should have worn a tank top underneath, it seems. I was cooking under that jacket. [Note To Self: I need to remember that Sunday morning for the Shamrock Run!]
My legs are trashed from a full week of cross training. Saturday's 15 mile run probably had something to do with the level of tiredness, too. Anyway, we were pushing as hard as we could. The wind was pushing right back at us. I heard some great stories about Shelly's friend, Blynda. Sounded like she was my kind of gal.
{the good} Running to remember Blynda. Also, as much as I dread & talk myself out of running in the rain, there's something really fun about doing so. Let's see if I still have that chipper attitude during Sunday's Shamrock 15k, where it's supposed to be even colder and rainier than yesterday. lol
{the ugly} Not layering properly, which seems to be a theme for me lately. I've posted that scenario more than once in the past couple of months.
yes, the weather's been lovely lately hasn't it? Those 60 degree days last week were just a cruel tease! Good job getting out there - I'm sorry for your friend!
ReplyDeleteA tease they WERE! I was ready to keep them around for a while. :)
DeleteMy condolences to your friend Shelly, what a sad thing to happen. Great job on getting a run in with that rain, I hate running in the rain like that. so hard to dress right.
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to guess what I'll need or not need when the weather is like this. I'm only willing to layer so much. We've been pounded by hard rain for days & days now. Looks like no end in sight. Blah! I'm ready to see the sun. Not ready for it to be hot. Just sunny. lol
DeleteHeather, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's loss. There are no words to comfort someone with such a loss. I'll keep her in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your Shamrock race this weekend. I've got a half marathon on Sunday and the temps are going to be WAY too hot for my taste. I have NO idea what to wear. Fun times ahead for us both it seems. LOL!
Chris, I sympathize with you! I had to run a 5k (not anywhere near a half) on the 4th of July in Dallas, TX last summer. Back when record temps were hitting the area. By 3pm each day, it was 105-108. When we started the race that morning, it was already above 90! At 8am!!!!! I have no clue how I made it through that. Thank God for my friend Karen who was there with me. We ended up doing loads of walk/run intervals just to make it through. lol I do NOT deal with heat well. Especially now that I've acclimatized to Washington state. I was fine with hot and humid when we lived in Ohio! It's crazy how our bodies adjust over time. Too bad that won't happen by the weekend for ya! Good luck. I can't wait to read all about it. Keep your chin up, think positive, and strive to cross that finish line. :)
DeleteThanks so much for the comments, guys. Shelly reads my blog, and I'm sure she will appreciate the kind thoughts for Blynda. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts to Shelly. I couldn't imagine what she felt and am sure she really appreciated that run.
ReplyDeleteI had my first PNW soaking yesterday in that same rain. That is why I am buying my first Bodyglide Saturday when I go into Portland to pick up the race packets for my friend and I. Good news is that I did have a tank top under my rain jacket yesterday but the jacket I had on soaked through within 30 minutes and clung to bare arms like a cold wet trash bag. If any one can recommend a great jacket for our PNW deluges, I would appreciate the tips.
Have a great run Sunday. I will be waaaaay in the back. It is entirely likely you will finish your long run before I complete my 5k. ;D
Leia, I got mine at REI. It's actually an REI brand jacket I found on clearance. I'll pull it out of the closet & see if it has a specific name. Totally keeps me dry from rain, but you do sweat like a mother when running while wearing a rain jacket. I'd rather it be my own sweat vs. buckets of rain. Two different kinds of wetness. lol
DeleteMy thoughts to Shelly. I couldn't imagine what she felt and am sure she really appreciated that run.
ReplyDeleteI had my first PNW soaking yesterday in that same rain. That is why I am buying my first Bodyglide Saturday when I go into Portland to pick up the race packets for my friend and I. Good news is that I did have a tank top under my rain jacket yesterday but the jacket I had on soaked through within 30 minutes and clung to bare arms like a cold wet trash bag. If any one can recommend a great jacket for our PNW deluges, I would appreciate the tips.
Have a great run Sunday. I will be waaaaay in the back. It is entirely likely you will finish your long run before I complete my 5k. ;D
So sorry to hear of your friend's loss, Heather. That's got to be awful. I think that when the day comes that I lose one of my closest friends, I will probably want to run and run and run and not stop running. Of course, best case scenario is that ALL my friends and family live a long life and that when and if I do lose them I'm still running, right?
ReplyDeleteDitto to what Reen said! I hope I'm still running & everyone is healthy and happy!!!!
DeleteThanks again Heather for getting out in that cold nasty weather to run with me. Oh boy, there was not enough hot water in my house to completely defrost me. I had to turn up the pellet stove. Cold, windy, COLD, Wet, Cold, no sleep, mentally & physically exhausted, but it did make me feel so much better.
ReplyDeleteThank You!
And thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Blynda was a great friend and I will miss her very much.