Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

~40F, cloudy w/ light wind.  Recovery run in VFFs.

My weather website seems to be down.  I hope they fix it soon, because the site records conditions just a couple of blocks from my house.  The other weather sites collect data for my zip code, which has two very distinct and different microclimates.  

The VFFs were too cold and my toes froze.  I even wore some new merino wool Ininji socks with them, but I am so used to my nice warm shoes that it became extremely uncomfortable by the end of the run.  

Enough whining. Here are two nice surprises I had this weekend.  The first is that I discovered a mistake in my favor: what I thought was an ounce of dark chocolate is actually only a half ounce!  I've been tracking my food intake lately and cutting back on certain foods. To be "allowed" twice as much dark chocolate is a very happy discovery indeed.  

Secondly, I discovered an extra, unworn pair of Brooks ST3s in my closet!  Last fall, when I realized the ST3's might not continue being produced, I bought a few pairs at discount on the internet.  I'm such a space cadet, I have been staring right at the box every time I pick out shoes for my day's run, but it didn't register that there was anything in it.  OK. Confession. I have a thing for shoe boxes.  I try to limit myself and put some in the recycling, but they pile up anyway.  They have so many uses I can't help it!  This morning I was pushing this box out of the way, searching for my Ininji socks, when I realized, "hey - there's something inside this one!" 

More chocolate, a new pair of ST3s (to be saved for marathons only!) -- it's a good day.  

ETA:  Oops - forgot my weekly roundup.... total 45.74 miles for Mon-Sun.  Out of time to do my usual details... 

Low 40sF, very rainy, very windy.  Easy run, with  last mile barefoot on TM.  20 min strength.

It's been a while since I had a "carwash" run, so I guess I was due for one.  It was fine. Plenty comfortable in my "getup," though of course I'd prefer drier weather.  I think the worst thing is knowing that car drivers can't see me.  I was extra careful, but still had two close calls. 

~40F, lots of rain, windy in open spaces.  General-aerobic run.  Finished on TM.  Core & pushups. 

Ho. Hum. Drip.

40F, cloudy but dry. Very strong winds.  Mini-run.  20 min. strength & stretching.

I did not get to bed until after 10 PM last night - unheard of for me on a week night.  So I had the "opportunity" to practice non-perfectionism this morning.  First I almost did not get out of bed at all. The Cat Who Must Be Obeyed vetoed that. Then, I nearly went back to bed.  I felt so tired.  But, since I was up anyway, I figured I could at least run what amounts to a warm up and get the blood flowing.  

40F, mostly clear, extreme wind: 20-30 mph w/ gusts to 45. Wind chill 29F.  Core and pushups. 

On a family vacation last summer, we were talking to a guy in Eastern Washington who was familiar with our neighborhood. He looked at us and said, "Y'all don't look like you weigh enough to live there."  Today was one of those days when it seemed like he was right.  I got blown all over the sidewalk, and frequently found one foot blowing into the other leg in its journey forward.  Running into the wind was a lot like being on the treadmill: run, run, run but don't go anywhere.  Oh well, at least it's dry! 

40F Showers first half. Sun breaks near end. Windy at times.  Endurance run, club run, Leg Builder Hill at miles 14-16. 

I meant to run 22. What a loser.  ;)  J/K

At first I had no one to run with at the club, but one of the fast guys said he was feeling kind of tired and would run with me.  Then another guy, who is super fit (ultramarathons, ironman triathlons, etc.) said that he was saving his strength for an 8K later today so he "might as well" run with us too.   And I only had to ask them to slow down once, at the beginning, when we were approaching my marathon pace. 

So I had two kind, interesting fellows to accompany me on the SVT and we ran down to Mt. Si Rd and back (about 6 miles) keeping pretty close to 10:30 pace.  We made really fun conversation about trail running, ultras, stupid articles in RW, training methods, footwear, and Pose Method running. 

Thank goodness our weather settled down a bit today.  Even last night, the wind was still howling and the rain was coming down in sheets.  I couldn't have had such a great run without a little break in the weather.  I am ready to enjoy an afternoon on the couch, knitting and eating with a friend who is coming over.