December 2014 runs

December.  Beautiful fall foliage turns into colder days with snow flurries and frosty grass.  The worst thing about winter is the cold while running.  Sometimes just cold, cold, cold.

December 1, 2014--What a bummer.  I tried to head out, but waited too late.  It not only started getting dark, but it started raining.  Instead of chancing getting run over and soaking wet, I just headed home and only made it 1.5 miles.  Oh well.

December 6, 2014--3.37 miles.  A nice little run.  A bit slow with my pace, but oh well.  It was COLD.  32 degree, but felt like 24 with the windchill.  I ran bundled up with my Buff over my face to warm my breath.  I was in Massachusetts visiting Sarah at college, so it was a bit colder than I am used to.  

December 7, 2014--I really wanted to run, but I just couldn't do the extreme cold again.  Instead, I rode the elliptical for 25 minutes.  What a different type of exercise than I am used to.  It took quite a bit for me to get the rhythm and get the hang of it.  I guess anything new takes a little effort to make it second nature.  I can remember when I started running again, it took a while to run without worrying about where my hands were, how I held my arms, what part of my foot I landed on, and so forth and so forth.  

December 17, 2014--Another day where the GPS wouldn't find the signal.  Another bad weather day.  I need to start picking better days with better weather to run.  I only ran for 19 minutes.  

December 20, 2014--A great day to run 5 miles.  Not a fast pace, but I ran.   The first day I was able to use my Garmin watch again since the strap broke.  Chris gave me a new strap a few days ago, so I got it on and charged it up.  Running on Saturday is an excellent way to give my brain a break from all my studies.  

December 27, 2014--What a month.  Sarah had a tonsillectomy, Laura and Ethan and grandbaby went to Williamsburg, andI hopped on a quick trip to Paris with Chris while he was working.  What a great month.  Today I ran 3.3 miles.  Not a long distance, but a nice pace and it felt great.  

December 29, 2014--Today I got to run with a few snow flurries.  I love that.  It is so quiet and so peaceful.  Even thought it is cold and wet, it is so nice.  4.4 miles.  My pace was good--I think the nice flurries make me run a little faster!  :-)

4.45 miles

I worked all day, and stayed a little later today, so I was worried about how far I'd be able to run.  When I got home, our flag was flapping furiously in the wind.  I almost didn't go, but made myself get dressed and step outside.  That is one trick I read.  Don't think about how far or where you will go, but get your running clothes on and head outside.  Then you will just have to run!

I forgot to take my inhaler, but luckily I was ok.  I had planned on doing only about 3 miles, but went farther.  I did the route I do if I think it will get dark on me while running.  I run a 1/2 mile or so to the right of our road turn around  then I pass our road and go another mile or 2.  When I reached the turnaround point, I felt great, so I just kept going.  It is staying lighter longer, so I was able to be out later.  

5.1 miles~~it feels good to move!

It felt so good to get out and move, and move a lot!  It was sunny today, but still a bit breezy.   The sun felt wonderful on my face as I trotted down the road.   

I was able to run 5 miles at an ok pace--averaging 12:40 mile pace.  I used the Galloway run/walk/run method today to make sure I could make the longer distance. 

After this 5 miles, I have run a total of 793.8 miles since I've started tracking my runs.  Which is almost all of my runs since I started back running.  Wow.  Almost 800 miles (although it has been almost 2 years...about 1.5 years so far).