February 7, 2009 - 3 miles

I have always kind of wondered what it would be like to run in a steeple chase. During today's run (outside!), as I was leaping over the annoying snow piles covering the sidewalks because the businesses near my house only plow their drive and cover the sidewalks but don't bother with shoveling their sidewalks, I thought about steeple chases. As I landed in 4 inches of ice-cold melted slush puddles, I though about them more. I've decided that I don't want to run in a steeple chase.
Today's run was pretty good. It's my first run outside since October. I've lost my ability to know my pace. Everything hurt in the first mile. I was straining my muscles, my lungs were straining, and I had to contend with puddles (so cold!) and slush. When I finished my first mile in 10:15 I realized part of my problem was my pace. I slowed down because there was no way I would be able to keep that up for another two miles. (The wind was so strong and gusty too. I can only imagine what it would have been like on the lake front path.) That seemed to help but I was still struggling from taking it out to fast. My other struggle was the puddles. I ended up giving up and just running through most of them, but sometimes I would run on the grass instead. I think the grass ended up being the more treacherous choice than the puddles. It was difficult to predict whether the ground would be hard or soft. I slipped on mud a few times. Then, as I was nearing home (and running along a busy street), I completely wiped out! Seriously, legs went sideways, body flipped up then crashed on the ground. There was no saving this. I was down for the count. Fortunately the ground was soft, although this was why I wiped out. Naturally, there was a line of cars waiting for a red light so I will forever be known as "Wipe out Girl". I sat a moment to gather my senses and stop my clock. Then I got up and started on my way home. By that point a van with two guys actually had stopped to make sure I was okay. "I'm okay," I said. Just my pride was hurt, I thought.
Over all my run went okay. I finished 3 miles in 33:20 but was hurting because of taking the pace too fast (for me) to begin with then with the whole falling bit. I was muddy but still glad I went for a run.
Now I just need to retrain my legs to know the pace and I'll be all set. (I'll also survey my routes first to make sure they're runnable...)