Running with Jack

Yesterday I went out for a nice easy 14K/8.7M run. It was still challenging because Friday it snowed, then rained and we woke up on Saturday to 4 inches of new snow. The result was frozen slosh with four inches of wet snow on top of it. I literally had to plow my way through the woods, slipping and sliding like a mud wrestler. On the other side at 7:30 a.m. when I left for my run it was 1C/34F, windless and the air was fresh and clean. For the most part I ran on virgin snow, I guess it was too early for the dog walkers, kids with sleds and logging crews. There was a gentle fog drifting over the fields, I saw several deer and rabbits, a fox, in the forest - and as I finished the last few kilometers the sun greeted me with all its glory – what a way to finish a week of running!

Speaking of a week, next Sunday is the big day – my marathon starts at 10 a.m. (USA = 4 a.m. EST). It is supposed to start warming up again over the next few days, but it is still too early for next weekend’s prediction. I hope that we don’t get another snow storm, this could result either in an event cancellation (worst case) or a slow, messy race (which I could live with – good cross-country training ;-)

In any case any race this time of year in my area is very dependant upon the weather – anything can happen! If this were my first (or second) marathon I would be all paranoid and worried about it, but being number three I know if is not my day than I will just do better next time. Of course I will do my best and try to run a smart race, I didn’t train through the whole winter to fall apart on race day.

My personal motto for race day: Rock Steady!