30k

When I see numbers beginning with a 3 on the schedule I become afraid.  It's a long long way to run (if I may quote Julie Andrews) and it means we are getting closer to the marathon.  Everything counts now.  Last year my 30k was painful, it was too hot and I did not want to do it.  I tried not to think about that too much, I put my shoes on and got my rear out the door.  Into the cold.

It was chilly, -6C with -12 wind chill despite the promise of 0 in the afternoon.  All the lies!  

Riverwalk murals, a treat near the end - so grey today

So I put one foot in front of the other.  It was freezing, my face went numb and I was not encouraged to sit down as it was too damn cold.  By 22k I realized I had about half the amount of Tailwind recommended for this amount of time and I really did not have much energy.  (By 'not much energy' I mean I wanted to sit on the pathway and cry.  To hell with the marathon).  The wind in my face was so unpleasant I changed my route and spent the last 5k literally running up and down past Eau Claire.  

Finally (FINALLY) my watch hit the magic 30.00.  It took 3 hrs 46 mins at a 7:32/km pace.  Last year I ran at 8:24/km pace.  Yes, I am extremely happy with that time.  But, I am not happy at all with how awful I felt over the last 10k or so.  My legs were strong and the rest of me was a mess.  

Next long run: more Tailwind, extra measured powder in the car to grab & fill up midway plus my bag of Energy Bits should have arrived so I can take them for an energy boost at 20k.  Would it be possible for all this snow and cold to end now do you think?  I would quite like to do my 32.2k in the WARM.

This sums up the day:

4 more training weeks to the marathon!  I lost 2lbs last week putting my weight loss at 5lbs total with 6 more to go - hurrah!  I may not shift 6, but even another 3lbs would be awesome.  If I train hard over the next 4 weeks I feel like I just might be able to pull this craziness off.