So a while back, when I was being a huge baby about losing my non-essential organ, I signed up for the Illinois Marathon. I’ve prob posted about this before, but because I am a terrible blogger, I can’t remember what I’ve posted about it. Sorry ’bout it.
I understand the ole appendix is not that big of a deal, but when your life is boring and you were pumped to train your ass off and hopefully run a PR in October, having to go under da knife sucks. I still ran the Chicago Marathon (and it was awesome), but it wasn’t what I was hoping for. Enter the Illinois Marathon. Also: I was signed up for the Illinois Half last spring, but I got stupid pneumonia. Womp womp.
I WILL get one of these in 2013.
I grew up outside of Champaign and went to U of Illinois, so I am excited to run around my old stomping groups. What I am not excited about is winter training.
See this? This is what winter running looks like in Chicago.
This is the first time I’ve ever signed up for a spring marathon. Usually I am so maxed out on running after training all summer that the thought of running 15 miles in like February makes me want to barf. I also hate the treadmill, but it is a necessary evil in the winter. I’m hoping my motivation to tear up the marathon course (THAT WAS CRUSHED THIS SUMMER) will carry me through to April 27! And we all know Champaign is flat as hell, so a PR might not be out of the question!
So what I need to know, from all you crazy year long runners, is how do you stay motivated to train when it is pitch black at at 4:45pm and super cold?!
I have faith you will kick ass!
After my run this morning, I am wondering how to run in the winter… Today wasn’t super bad but in the dark before sun rise with snow probably is just plain unsafe. I’ve done winter running before…but… do I have the motivation? I dunno.
I’m too scared to run in the dark… thinking I will need to hit the treadmill before work? This way the PM darkness won’t have a chance to zap my motivation!
Call me strange, but that picture of the snow by the lake makes me excited to train this winter for my Spring marathon. I run well in the crisp, cold air with the strong winter wind in my face. These winter workouts tend to be more exhausting, but therefore they are much more beneficial to my fitness come Spring race season. I’d much rather run when it is 10 degrees outside versus when it’s 90 plus degrees and humid (like those conditions that I had to train in for Chicago Marathon). On top of that, the trail is much less crowded in the winter than in the summer!
Oh I agree! I like that I don’t have to get my long run miles in before 10am to avoid sweltering heat and humidity! Do you run with those Yak-Trak things?
I usually go in the morning – if I’m going short, I’ll wait until it’s light out. If I’m going longer, I’ll get up earlier and hit the treadmill. I hate hate hate running in the dark. I have some ice grips for my running shoes, but I rarely use them. I find I can make do with regular shoes even if it’s snowing out, for the most part.
I generally find running in the pitch black, freezing, snowy night is better than a treadmill. No matter how miserable it gets I think “AT LEAST ITS NOT THE TREADMILL.”
It usually works.
I absolutely LOVE running in cold weather. But it’s also a good excuse to go buy new, bright colored running clothes so that you’re easier to see in the dark!