And I have a marathon in three weeks... clearly meaning that I have a mandatory 20-miler during Christmas weekend. Christmas time means go out and run. But not any run. It shall be a long run, a very long run, and with the cold, the wind, and the rain, it shall be a very long, tough run. And because my training for Arizona has been so pathetic, it shall be a very long, tough, painful run.
In the last four weeks I have only run 50 miles, for a 12.5 miles per week. Three of the weeks were plagued with asthma sending me to the doctor to get controlled with cortisone. After a quick improvement I started having less suffering during my runs and races and starting logging more miles. The compulsory 20-miler needed to be logged, whatever the conditions were. And I mentioned how dreadful the weather was going to be.
Then, my daughter offered a Christmas gift (another one; her presence this Christmas was the best gift). Her magnificent gift today was: Mom, I'll go with you, I'll ride the bike. All of a sudden, the cold just felt like 37F, the wind was only 15 mph, and the rain was welcomed to refresh my face. So here we go, all full of hope that everything was going to be just fantastic. It's Christmas time. Light will be in and shade will be banished.
Mile 1 & 2 - I warm up
Mile 3 & 4 - Daughter paces me
Mile 5 - I feel my legs
Mile 6 to 9 - I am getting behind
Mile 10 - We turn around
Mile 12 - I am exhausted. I start the whining.
Mile 14 - I want to quit. Daughter says: Mom, only a 10K left
Mile 16 - I am dragging my feet, I want to lay down on the mud. I can't go any further. Daughter says: Mom, think of one mile only
Mile 17 - I am chilly, and whining continues. Daughter says: Mom, I am going to kick your butt
Mile 18 - I didn't complain. Daughter says: Only 2 miles
Mile 19 - Is it true? Only one mile left? Daughter says: Yes, only one
Mile 20 - Job done. Daughter and I take a picture with choppy Lake Washington in the background.
Christmas Time Three Weeks Before A Marathon Means A 20-Miler.
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Races done since November 28:
Dec 12 - Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA. I had very bad asthma for the first 4 miles. I used the inhaler more than 30 times during the hour. Then decided to get a pulmonologist appointment.
Dec 18 - Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA - Good run, considering asthma is improving, and that only rained from mile 8 to 13!!!
Dec 19 - 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA - Fun, fun run. I had a blast. My beautiful daughter ran the 5K. I got a nice outfit: My Christmas tree skirt, the stocking of my childhood (since I am ~8ish), a nice pair of Christmas socks and Santa's hat that daughter got me.
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| Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA |
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| Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA |
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| Christmas Rush, 10K, Kent, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| Santa Classic Half Marathon, Rochester, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA |
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| 12Ks of Christmas, Kirkland, WA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And the 20-miler in Burke Gilman Trail with one of the best companies I can have: My adorable daughter!!!       20-miler pride |
