Winter Run - Run

Windy conditions made for a fun 1st half of the race, but a difficult return. Very gusty! The first 2-2.5 miles, I walked the flats and uphills and ran the downhill sections. The wind felt like a giant hand giving me a push in the middle of my back. After 2.5 miles, I started to question whether or not I should really be out there. My newly constructed toe hurt on the uphills, but otherwise I didn't notice it until the final mile when I could feel a blister growing just under the fused joint on my big toe. I stayed positive and knew once I got past the halfway mark I was ok. Actually, there was no way in hell I was going to quit once I started. I guess I knew that from the beginning. The last 3 miles into the wind were just brutal and mile 4 had the steepest hill. I was so happy to get past it. I knew at this point, there was no way in hell I was going to make my time goal of 2 hours, so I set it out another 6 minutes. (My brain at the time was convinced that was another minute per mile,) I had a gel somewhere between miles 2.5 & 3. Worked out perfectly because shortly after I had it, there was a water station. I had my second gel really just to give myself a mental boost around mile 6. I needed some water to get it washed down, but there were no more stops. Like magic, a vehicle drove up beside me and handed me a bottle of water. Nice touch - It came at just the right time! The final 3/4 mile stretch was slightly uphill and I was still working towards my time goal. I picked up the pace as best I could, but even rounding the final turn, my finish line run was more of a shuffle.

I'm not really sure. This was a starting point for the season and something to build on. I didn't really train for it and I was definitely winging it. Not making any excuses, considering the health issues, I'm thrilled to be out there! I had some problems with blistering that I need to get figured out, but I'm not sure if it was my shoes (Altras) or new socks (Balegas) This was roughly twice the longest distance I've worn the zero drop Altras. No complaints from my calves at all, but they may have been the culprit for the blistering.

Went inside, had some water and ice cream and talked to a lady who was just ahead of me on the course. Turns out she kept waiting for me to pass her and all the while, she was slowly pulling away from me.


1. Lack of conditioning
2. Lack of training
3. Feet


Race is a block from my house on a beautiful rolling country loop.