Back from "Vacation"

I use quotation marks because it was at times relaxing but at others, very busy and stressful. I made it back to Baltimore last night despite a blowing snowstorm in Cincinnati. Overall, the holidays were not too bad and we got a lot done for the wedding over the past week.

Unfortunately, I was not able to make any progress on my running. I was only able to maintain my fitness by running a few 5 milers while in Ohio. That sucks, but I’m still almost 3 months out from the half marathon, so I am confident I didn’t doom myself to failure quite yet. Tomorrow I will do 5 miles in what is sure to be frigid temperatures. But I need to get back out there! Some cross training on Friday and then a 6 miler on Saturday, when the weather is supposed to be warmer, followed by a 9 mile long run on Sunday, will total 20 miles for the week. Not bad and right in line with my schedule. However, next week is a scheduled “mini-taper” week where I don’t run as hard. I would re-tool my schedule, but next weekend is out Engaged Encounter weekend, which will limit my long run on Sunday morning. Right now I have 7 miles scheduled. Adding anymore would probably necessitate getting up even earlier before the day’s festivities begin. I might add miles in the week, though. As of now, I’m doing 19 next week, so if I add just 3 miles in there somewhere, I can push it up to 22. The week after calls for 25 miles and that’s when we start really adding the miles and getting up earlier and earlier to train so the sooner I get back in the swing of things, the less pain I will feel later on.

My Christmas was very running dominated. I’ll list the running gifts I received for the holiday.

- Hind cold weather running jacket (grey)
- Brooks medium weight running jacket with Scotchbright (black and neon yellow)
- Underarmour Cold Gear beanie
- Underarmour Cold Gear mock turtleneck
- Three pair Ironman running socks
- Body Glide
- Brooks running tights (black)
- “Strides: Running Through History” (memoir by Benjamin Cheever; not bad but not as great as I thought it would be)
- “Again to Carthage” (still on order from the company but should arrive shortly)

As you can see, there was a thee to what I asked for this year. I’ve already gotten the chance to try out the winter jacket and it works great! The beanie is smaller than I anticipated, but works really well. I think I might wear my mock turtleneck from Underarmour tomorrow morning to fight the bitter cold as it’s supposed to be in the 20’s with wind up to 14 mph, which would be a wind chill of 10 degrees or so.

Anyway, I’m back in Baltimore, back at work, and back on track for the National Half in March. 86 days and counting! Which reminds me, I need to register for the race! I already procrastinated until the December 31st deadline passed. Now it’s $10 more expensive to run. Crap.