It has been brutally cold this week in the Northeast corner of CT. Temps are in the teens and that's not mentioning the wind chill factor. Running has been as consistent as consistent gets for me. I've been running 3-4 times a week for about a month now. I missed this past weekend's long run due to bad weather on Sat and then feeling under the weather on Sun. I thought I would make up for it on Mon with a run in the morning with April Anne. We both decided it was too cold to be exposed to the elements and decided we would run separately on the dreadmill. I arrived at the community center a little before 4:30 for Maggie's swim lessons. Got her and Hubby good to go and headed up for my run. As soon as I got on the machine I realized I forgot my MP3 player. As if it's not bad enough to be running indoors, now I had to do it without my music. I started running to a 9:00min mile pace and quickly increased the speed thinking it would keep my mind off of how bored I was. That didn't work. So I began counting and categorizing cars that went by out the window. I got up to 6 black cars, 4 gray cars, 1 white, 2 cops and 2 minivans before that was boring too. Then all I could focus on was the pounding noise coming from the guy running next to me. A quick check of the watch and I realized if I stopped then I could make it down to see the last 5 minutes of swim. That was all the excuse I needed, so I cut the run short at 2.68 miles. I should have kept running for when I arrived at swim lessons Maggie was fully dressed and not participating in class. (Any help on this one? I think she is nervous trusting the teacher. I took her swimming today and she was fine- did all the "exercises" they did in class yesterday.)
Anyway, I thought I would get out today and make up for the poor run last night- it was supposed to warm up to a balmy 32F today- but my hubby broke his hand last night in a men's rec bball game so that became my excuse for the today. Yes, he survived a year in a combat zone without injury but broke his hand in the last game of the season in rec bball- it's true.
Tomorrow more swimming lessons, maybe I can squeeze a quick run in between the hand doctor consult and lessons.

We can't run the same race twice, or that's what John Bingham's article Going with the Flow in the March issue of Runner's World discusses. I thought about it for my own circumstance. I ran Disney the past 2 years and was so pleased when I took 20 minutes off my time and set a Post Maggie PR this year. Reflecting on the day it was a lot colder this year, my husband was home from Iraq this year (which was less stress for me), I did more speedwork but less long runs this year, on and on I could think of the differences.
Last Monday I ran a 3 mile loop from my house, a route I've run so many times. I was all bundled up with YakTrax and all since it was the day after the blizzard the woods looked pretty, the fields were glistening. Four days later, I ran the same route wearing shorts and a long sleeve shirt, the weather was 50F (gotta love New England). The woods were not as pretty, the trees were naked, the snow in the field was dirty and the street was very sandy. Completely different runs on the same course in the same week.
I wrapped up my week with a 6 mile BRRR cold long run. It felt great! I am looking forward to see where I am going this week!

The woods. 

My car after being cleaned off once already! 

Well, I guess I spoke too soon regarding the weather. I have sat all day looking out the window watching the snow pile up. My snow plow guy has already been by once and I am expecting him again before the day is done- (expensive but necessary for Snow White's cottage in the woods). My hubby was supposed to have his last "hoorah" today with a Freedom Salute Ceremony where the soldiers would receive their awards earned in Iraq. It would also close the book on our deployment experience, which I was looking forward to. It was cancelled due to the BLIZZARD so our journey will be dragged out just a bit longer (and may also put a damper on my plan to run in The Run to Remember in Boston). I did get out this week this week though!

I met up with my favorite Running Chicks on Wed night for a run under the lights at UCONN. It was a little chilly but chasing the recovering, stretched out Running Chick made for a quick warm up. It was great to all be together again. We haven't all run together since before the marathon!! I did miss out on the long run yesterday because of child care issues (Hubby's back at drill) so I had to settle for a toning workout with Carmen Electra. Yes, Carmen and I worked on our stripping, dancer body in Carmen Electra's Fit to Strip DVD series. A couple more weeks of this one and then I can buy the dance routine one ;) ! Unless that's what hubby is suprising me with for Valentine's Day?!

Yes, it's true, I ran in shorts today!! It's February 5 and I live in New England and I ran in shorts today! When I woke up this morning I looked out my window and thought I was going to have to force myself out to the gym to run 3 miles on the dreadmill. After doing the morning chores I realized that it wasn't raining and I could actually see the sun shining on the street. I referred to the weatherbug on the computer to find that it was actually 50F outside! WooHoo! I can run outside today! After sick hubby woke from his nap I put on my shorts and long sleeve tshirt and went out for a nice 3 mile run. It went quick and I felt strong. There wasn't much scenery except the big puddles of melting snow and mud but it was warm and that was nice. Next week I plan to start logging the miles for the Boston 1/2 coming up in March. I have been requested to supply more info on that.
Boston Run to Remember is on March 12 beginning at 8:15am Seaport Boulevard. Its to honor Massachusetts Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty by celebrating their lives and giving back to the community.
Having grown up in a suburb just south of Boston I thought it would be a fun one to do. And people -it's BOSTON!!!