catherine's running efforts

At the Cardio Cinema at the gym in American Fork. It's kind of a nice gym. It makes me want to swim or something. I went pretty slow (but was still running), so no random pains. I'm looking forward to the Beat the New Year 5K this weekend! It definitely won't be a PR, but I think it'll be fun. 

It was a little easier to get up this morning than it was yesterday morning. Mostly because I had to go to the bathroom. Three slow miles to Dream Girls at the Cardio Cinema. I don't think Eric was a fan. 

Three slow (running) miles on the treadmill. Actually, I did walk for about a half mile because I was having some sort of random pain, but it turns out I just had to go to the bathroom. Fortunately I was able to time my break for just before the dog died in I am Legend. I really really really hate that part of the movie. 

At the Cardio Cinema to Rush Hour. Excellent treadmill movie, and Eric had never seen it. He and I should watch that one and the one about the cops and some money (or a diamond?) that's hidden in the heating/cooling tubes in a building. Something about a blue line? 

I'm getting pretty worried about tomorrow night's 5K. It's later than I ever stay up, it's going to be super cold, and it's probably going to be treacherously icy. What if I fall down? What if I can't beat the new year?

I wasn't feeling it at the Cardio Cinema today. And I accidentally lied and told Eric the movie was Independence Day, and really it was Shall We Dance. Maybe it got him excited for the ballroom dance class we're starting this week. 

I'm kind of dreading tonight's 5K. It's *SO COLD* outside.  Eric says it'll make me tougher. I think I'm okay with my current level of wussiness.

*The "Race"*

It *was* really cold at 11:30 at night. I felt okay at the start in my warm tights, snow pants, long socks, under armor base layer, hooded warm layer, snow jacket, balaclava, hat, and snow gloves, but about a third of a mile in I was way too warm and I unzipped my jacket. There was also packed snow on the ground, but it wasn't slippery/icy. After about a half mile I must have slowed down because from then on I got passed continually. That was kind of depressing. After the first lap I stopped to remove the jacket and snow pants. After that the fronts of my thighs and my elbows were a little cold, but I felt like I could run faster. Or maybe it was just that I was passing some of the people who had passed me while I was undressing.

Eric came back for me and met me with about a half mile to go. It was nice to have the company, and as we talked I realized that I hadn't been working as hard as I thought I was. I was still embarrassed at how slow I was, though. It was my slowest 5K in like 4 years, and I wasn't really happy being at the same pace as the people I saw around me. It makes me rethink doing the races I thought I'd do this spring. I thought I'd be okay with just going out and doing them for fun, but it's a huge bummer to be back at the back of the pack.

Happy New Year!

We had errands and yet more unpacking today, so it was almost 7 when we were ready to head over to the gym. We called first and found out that it was about to close, so we bundled up to head outside for our runs (I only wanted a couple of miles, so Eric was going to run with me until I was done and then continue on his own). It felt warmer than it was last night, and I was ready to buckle down and just get it done, but the sidewalks were super icy and I'm pretty afraid of falling down. Or tweaking my back. So I turned around after about a block. I'm counting it, though. And we're going to post a gym schedule in our apartment.