Hello!
Happy Tuesday!
Okay, I’ll be honest. Yesterday I was grouchy (I blame Monday. And winter.)
and today, I’m unmotivated.
Okay, so I was unmotivated yesterday, too.
And the day before that.
I had a 20-miler on the books on Saturday. I wasn’t planning 20 but figured I could knock out a 15-miler and that would be good.
I met up with a new running group (not that many people there – I don’t know if that’s normal or just because it’s cold) at a whole new place.
We ran at the Noland Trail in Newport News.
The email said the course was pretty challenging and those training for the Shamrock Marathon next month in Virginia Beach might want to consider getting their 18 miles in at a different location. Or breaking up the run into 2 parts (and 2 locations).
That should have been my first clue.
Why wasn’t it?
Anywho, I got up Saturday morning and got ready to go.
I should say that meeting up with new people at a new location makes me REALLY REALLY nervous and I almost didn’t go. Twice.
I got there early (of course) and waited. And made use of the porta-potty. And then waited some more.
Hey, I said I was early.
The group finally showed up and I shivered my way over to them and met a couple of new people. The “leaders” talked a little about the course (for us newbies) and we started off.
Now, this isn’t an “everyone runs together” group. We all ran at our own paces. I am thankful for 2 things – that the course was a well-marked loop so I couldn’t get lost and that there were a couple other people out there running my pace who already knew the course.
I can get lost in my own house sometimes.
Don’t judge me.
I did a loop and paused with some others for a water/gel break.
Then I did another loop.
O. M. G.
Remember that “challenging course” description?
Yeah.
It’s a trail around a lake. It’s mostly rock/gravel and dirt and wooden foot bridges with a little bit of street and shell covered path thrown in.
Seriously. Shells. Whole new experience right there.
It has hills and turns and corners and trees.
I bet it’s AMAZING to see in the Spring and then in the Fall.
The hills, however, are not your average, every day hills you find in a park.
Oh, no.
These hills have steps.
Enter the part where I wish I had carried my phone with me so I could take some pictures so you could really see what I mean.
Not steps like your front porch or going up to the second floor but graduated steps, big ole railroad ties popping up – and sticking up – in the uphills and downs.
Hey! I found a picture on the all-knowing internet to show you. Technology rocks! 🙂
They’re clearly for drainage and soil erosion prevention purposes (some even have little metal grates in front of them to force water collection) but I think they have another purpose.
To break a runner.
Both figuratively and literally.
In addition to pausing your uphill stride to step either on or over these things, you are forced to jump/hop/skip/fly over them on the downhills.
I tried to skirt around the side of them but that wasn’t possible in all areas.
Needless to say, after 2 loops around that trail (5 mile loops, remember?), my legs were so heavy I wasn’t even sure I was going to be able to lift them enough to walk back to my car!
If it had just been the hills, I would have gone again. But those steps did me in.
I caved. And quit. And went home. For the sake of my legs. And my face.
I knew I was likely to trip if I went around again.
And, because my Garmin decided to not store that run, I don’t even have any physical proof that I ran on Saturday.
So, does that mean it didn’t happen?
And seriously, what’s up the Garmin fail?!
And now, I’m unmotivated.
And cold.
And the thought of running after I get home from work doesn’t entice me at all.
Not even a little.
I have mile repeats today.
It’s presently 29 degrees and feels 18 and we’re under a winter storm watch.
I do not want to go outside and run.
I’ve also fallen off the #CoreCommit Core Power Challenge bus. 
And, I’m totally slacking on my burpees.
I didn’t even write a single workout last week in my log.
BLAH!
I think I need a little time out.
Is it spring yet?
Talk to me: Are you a seasonal person? Does certain weather affect your moods/motivation/etc? How do you stay on track with your fitness plan/goals?
– jennifer
A Hungry Runner 