Thursday has been my long run day for a couple of years now. Having kids with busy weekend schedules and a working husband that already has dibs on Saturday long runs, I need to get my long run out of the way during the week so I can play car pool driver and sport spectator on the weekends. My favorite benefit of the Thursday long run is that it gets it out of the way, so when Saturday comes around, I know that I already have mine in the bag.

Today was Thursday and there was a 85% chance of rain starting at 8:00 a.m. My kids leave for school at 7:20. The moment they left, I turned on the Garmin, turned up the iPod and bolted out the door. I was determined to get in a few miles before the rain started coming down. The 2 mile loop around my house is perfect for days like today. Yes, it’s boring, but knowing that I’m never more than 10 minutes from home makes up for it.

The air was saturated enough that the ground was wet, but for the first loop it was just foggy. During the middle of the second loop, it started to mist. I could see to the west that the air was thick with moisture and that the rain was on its way. At mile 4, it still wasn’t raining. Now I was kind of disappointed. I had figured my run would be cut short by the rain so I really hadn’t mentally prepared for more than 4 miles. Where was my excuse? I started out trying to beat the rain but was now was getting irritated that I wasn’t going to get out of my run early. I rounded the nearby subdivision which adds another mile, and thankfully it started to precipitate a little more than a mist. I decided that this was a legitimate sprinkle. Whew! Now I could head home with no guilt. I hit the driveway right at 5 miles and was still pretty dry. Sure, 5 miles doesn’t count as a long run, but it’s the off season and it was raining. See, I couldn’t help it!

Next Monday, November 1st, is a big day on my running calendar. The Plymouth Dome, my winter sanctuary, with it’s AstroTurf track, temperature controlled atmosphere, and walkers that don’t pay attention and hog the whole track will be open for the public. There is a “usual crowd” at the dome and I have to admit that I miss them. Let’s face it, runners are a pretty homogeneous group compared to the general population. Walkers, however, are very diverse. They come in all ages, some walk with evidence of a battle against an injury or disease, some are very serious and some are there to socialize. They all make for great people watching and help pass the time on the little track.

So this Monday will mark my freedom from the weather man. Bring on the rain, the snow, the bitter cold winds. I’ll have my hodgepodge of regulars and the dome as my back up plan. Thank you, taxpayers of Plymouth, MN. It’s no wonder Money Magazine voted Plymouth the best place to live in 2008. What more could anyone want from their tax dollars than to provide me with a place to run all winter long?

Yesterday I ran the last 20 mile run on my schedule. It wasn’t the greatest. I’m definitely a cold weather runner, and it was pretty warm yesterday. It had to be in the 60’s when I was done and it was windy. I know that doesn’t sound hot, but after training in very cold conditions, it takes a little while for my body to acclimate to the heat. I also had drank a caffeinated soda before the run, which I have never done before. I had a panicky feeling for the first couple hours and had a hard time settling into a groove. Anyway, between the heat and the caffeine my heart rate was up. I had to walk a few hills and my pace was slow, but I got it done.

Since the 20 miler is done and the marathon is 3 weeks away, that can only mean one thing: It’s Taper Time!! The first day after the last 20 miler is the best. I still have the lingering sense of pride over finishing the long run (even though it wasn’t the confidence booster I had hoped for) and the marathon is still too far away to worry about. Even though there are still plenty of training runs left, I certainly feel like I can take a little bit of a breather. I’m hoping to get outside on the bike and in the pool on a more regular basis.

Good luck to Velma who is running the St. Louis Go! Marathon this weekend!

The kids are on Spring Break this week, so we packed up the car and headed out for a quick road trip. We moved to Minnesota almost 5 years ago, and much to our surprise, no one in either of our extended families has decided to make the move to the North Country to join us. Can you believe that? For some reason, below zero temperatures and big snowfalls don’t sound enticing to them. Mike, who loves winter, is convinced that they must all be crazy. I’m guessing they feel the same way about our love for Minneapolis.

There are several lakes in the park. Here are some people fishing in Jefferson Lake:

I had to run 19 miles today, and the thought that kept popping into my mind the whole way was: Why does the marathon have to be so long? I don’t mean the actual reason Why. I know about the history with Pheidippides and the Olympics in Britain and all that. What I mean is Why! Why! Why! It’s just so bleeping long!

My quad muscle, which is the only muscle in my leg that has never hurt before, hurt from mile 8 on. My lower back was so tight the last 12 miles. Geez! It was so hard. I can’t believe that I’ve actually run two marathons before and this is still so hard.

So I’m running and suffering and closing in on mile 17, and the song that comes up on my iPod is “Gonna Fly Now.” Yes, I mean the Rocky theme song. My kids and I were dorking around and, long story short, I ended up with it on my playlist as kind of a joke. Since the iPod doesn’t know it was a joke, the song comes on. I am embarrassed to say that I cranked it up. I need this song. It’s making me feel better… I’m grooving and moving. Did you know there are lyrics in that song? Well, the words, “It’s so hard,now… Trying hard, now…” play in my ears and… I almost started crying!! I mean actually crying! My throat seized up and I thought tears might start flowing. The words “Trying hard, now” just summed up everything that I’ve been feeling. I just can’t try any harder. I’m slow, I stink at this, but I am trying as hard as I can and that is going to have to do.

Did you know that it’s really hard to run and cry at the same time? I was able to take a couple deep breaths and keep it together. I don’t think anyone saw me. Whew!

So that is my embarrassing story for today. I was terrible. I suffered. I almost cried. Don’t tell anyone, okay?