STL Go! Half Marathon

I had trained to run the full marathon, but a week-long problem with my back and a Sunday morning problems with my stomach made me pull out at the half:

After 14 miles in Forest Park

After two and a half laps and 14 miles I walked the last three to the
Element.

Almost Like Buffal0

Today when I began my long run twice around Forest Park it was snowing. Not very hard. But in flurries. Enough snow to soften the asphalt trail around the park and enough snow to quiet the impact of my shoes and thick enough to absorb some of the shock. I had almost forgotten how nice it is two run in the snow. Buffalo is years ago. The last few years I've not run much. And this is the first real snow, it seems, of the winter this year. I did get cold. During the last two of the twelve miles, my shirts were wet and my cotton gloves (Stupid!) were soaked and frozen. My hands were in bad shape by the time I got back to the car, and nothing hurts more than a hand thawing out. Two is worse!

I sit in the warm Element before getting out to run.

After 12 miles I can barely hold camera and push shoot.

Deciding on a Schedule

When classes start tomorrow,  I'll no longer be able to run whenever the mood strikes during the day. So I've made a schedule. Mondays and Fridays are rest-days, it's just for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday that I need a set time. On Tuesday and Thursday, when I have a morning and an early afternoon class, I'll run later in the afternoon. On Wednesday, when I don't have a class until 2, I'll run early in the morning after coffee at Starbucks.

After Seven Mile Run

I've been training sporadically over the last four weeks for the Go! St. Louis Marathon. I've been hampered by refinishing the basement-- destroyed in the September floor--by the holidays, and by poor spirit. Surprisingly, however, I'm able to complete my shorter runs. Today was 7 miles--time was 78 minutes--and tomorrow (Sunday) is supposedly 14 miles, but that's according to a crazy schedule. I'll run 10, instead. Some interesting weight statistics from today: morning weight was 196; pre-run weight was 197.5; post-run weight was 195. Supposedly, a man my height and age who weighs more than 195 is overweight. Just another thing to add to the winter blahs.

Fat, I stand in front of my house, ready to go measure distance and to take Alexa her blanket.