Icy sidewalks, watery roads

We had our first track practice on Tuesday night. It was great. We did 4 x 400m four times. It is shocking how painful 1 minute and 35 seconds can feel. After going through our first set, I was coaching myself through the second lap of one of our 400's. As I was telling myself to keep pushing it, we crossed the line and Jack yelled out 'one minute 35 seconds'. ONE MINUTE, 35 SECONDS. Really? I am coaching myself through that small amount of time. I am training for a THREE HOUR, 30 MINUTE (at least) race!!! Anyhow, I thought focusing on how short of an amount of time it was would make it easier... it did not work quite like I thought it would. Regardless, I am glad to have that workout in my weekly schedule. It is a good group of people and it definitely helps push my limits.

Last night (Wednesday) is exactly the type of night that I wish I belonged to an actual gym. It snowed all morning and then by 1:00pm turned to rain. Then it proceeded to rain until well into the evening (stopping around 8:30pm). When the snow stopped I realized that there would not be too much snow to run in the road, and since it was raining none of the melted snow would have turned to ice. Running on wet roads has never really stopped me (even if it may be raining out and fairly cold). My next idea was that if I saw anyone else running between leaving work and arriving at my house, then I would have to run because clearly the conditions would not be bad enough if someone else was out there.

All my justification for trying to get out for a run failed after walking home from the BU shuttle in the rain and extreme slush. Walking down Pleasant street was like wading through where the waves have just finished crashing on a beach (except it was not warm, I was in boots, and my pants were soaked up to my knees). I did pass by one guy running. That was supposed to be my rationale for pushing myself out my own door, but I saw him much too early in the walk home. The rest of the walk home gave me more rationale as to why NOT to run in those conditions.

Needless to say, yesterday was a day I had kind of wished I could have walked to the gym and gotten on a treadmill for forty-five minutes. I wanted to run, but I felt as though I couldn't. In my ideal world I could run six days a week. But, with this weather, I am hard pressed to get four days of running in before the weather channel launches the next winter weather advisory.

So, yesterday was a rest day. And, in all honesty, is probably a good thing because today I have my second double session of the week. I swam this morning and I will be heading out for a 9 mile run along the marathon course with the Crossroads group tonight. The extra rest yesterday probably was not such a bad idea.