Going Long

Nice long run this morning.  Showed up at the store in shorts, and two layers on top - and things were a bit brisk at the beginning.  Luckily getting off of Bloor St into the neighbourhoods deadened some of the wind and I maintained a really comfortable core temperature for most of the 2 1/2 hours. 

I lost the main group a few kms into the route, after I went back to find our last straggler.  It looked like she was having watch issues, but I couldn't see her anywhere near where I thought we'd dropped her.  Of course, once I was back heading in the right direction, I couldn't catch up to either the main group, or the slower group.  I ended up missing a turn and doing my own run for most of the 23km. 

I wonder if I'm destined to run solo most if not all of this fall season?

The "wind shorts" have now officially debuted as the undergarment of choice, as has my bright purple Union Suit, or one-piece long johns, or "the Barney Suit" as some like to call it.  Whatever ridicule I receive for wearing such outlandish clothing (including the ubiquitous Gore Tex socks and Orange reflective vest!) I'm almost never crying at the end of a run because of temperature, precipitation or (lack of ) fashion sense.

I'm posting this at 1130 pm, and I'm supposed to be doing 5 hill repeats tomorrow morning.  Christine has to be at the train station to London, ON by 7 am, so things are going to happen around here pretty early, if at all. 

 Can anyone say "Crack of Dawn?"   Stay tuned. 

My wristwatch alarm went off at 4:30 am this morning . . .

I opened and then closed my eyes.

The clock radio went off at 5:00 am.

I rolled over.

I was going to get up. 

Then I remembered I was on my feet all day yesterday, and I was still sore from Sunday's long run.

Closed my eyes again.

The girls had to be at daycare by 7 am, and Christine at the train to London, ON  by 7:45.  I needed to be at a conference by 8:30 am.  There was no way this run was going to happen.

Then I realized that it would be impossible to get out for hills with the girls in the double jogger after work, or even when Christine finally made it home by 11 pm.

Out of bed, into my running gear, out the door and timing watch started at 5:24 am.

Five repeats on the double switchback.  Tried to maintain a steady pace for each of the repeats. 

Really happy that I got this workout done.  :-)

Out and back to the "bird feeder" on the Lakeshore west of the Humber River this evening.  It was a balmy 7C with no wind.  Perfect night for a run.  Sounds like heavy rain this weekend.  Yuk!

Rain, rain, rain!  Had a very wet run much later than normal for a Saturday morning.  Only saving grace was seeing some peeps heading into Starbucks at the end of the run. I joined them for a hot Green Tea, and good conversation.  Miss you guys!