The 4 month Countdown

I was mentally ready to begin my training when January came around. I started the last week of the month and haven’t looked back. While I never got out of running shape from my half-marathon, it certainly was tougher increasing my weekly mileage. I was still up to the task. What I wasn’t ready for was the cold Buffalo winter weather and trying to run through it. What you need to know about me is that anything under 50 degrees feels very cold to me. Call me a wimp, but I hate the cold. I was always the person driving along and thinking people were crazy for running outside in the cold or snow. I have now become that crazy person! I do most of my weekday running on the treadmill I have at home. My Sunday long runs are another story. After my first long run of this training program I was freezing, soaked and felt like it took two weeks to thaw out. So we went out and got REAL cold weather running clothes. What a difference! After that, we joined a local running group that trains for a spring and fall marathon. Our first run with the group was a 12 mile loop around Chestnut Ridge Park. It was in the ball park of 25 degrees and sleeting for half of the run. Did I mention the hills?? At this point I was wondering what I had got myself into, but I felt it could only help me when May rolls around. I did get through it, and several more runs like that one. I never thought I would run outside when it was below 32 degrees, but 2 weeks ago we did our long run through the streets of Buffalo on a sunny and 17 degree day. I can’t believe I am saying it: But it wasn’t bad!