The curse has been lifted

Since I cut my last two long runs short, I was a little scared that those evil running gods were preventing me from doing the full distance (maybe as punishment for running too slow during tempo runs?).

I got up this morning at 6:30 and checked weather.com, only to discover that the temperature was 16, and felt like 8. And that was it. According to the hourly forecast, it wasn't warming up until long after the run would be over. But, of course, as I always say, you're not cold while you run!

Apparently that doesn't apply to times when the number of miles you run exceeds the number of degrees in the temperature. This is my second time doing that now. The first was a 12 degree run in Chicago in January along the water where the HIGH was 10.

I wish I had brought my camera, but my fingers were too frozen to even get a cup for water much less operate tiny buttons so it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Instead, I'll just share some facts.

1. My friend Mike has a handlebar mustache. Icicles were danging from it from at least mile 3 on.
2. My camelbak froze around mile 3.75 so then I got in some strength training by carrying around a giant ice cube on my back. I'm totally getting a strapless bridesmaid dress now.
3. I had to hold my Gus in my gloves or they would be too frozen to even attempt to eat.
4. We threw a party when our fingers regained feeling and couldn't stop talking about how great it was. For the rest of the day, I'm going to enjoy the fact that I can feel my fingers. It's the little things in life, people.

So, despite all this, and despite the fact that all my running buddies stopped at mile 16, I finished the whole 17! I left them behind at the finish while I did an out and back with my buddies Elphaba and Glynda. If you don't know who they are email me immediately. I forgot to turn back on my Garmin after pausing it twice, but was too OCD not to run until it got to 17 anyway. So I think I actually ran more like 17.5.

We stopped back at the running store that coaches our training group (our starting point) after 10 miles to take a quick bathroom/Gu break, and all the Half Marathoners were done with their run. They were all laughing and stretching and eating bagels. The biggest challenge this run presented me with was not punching one of them in face.  But, the cold was rough too.

My average pace was 9:57 which was exactly what I was going for (under 10:00) so I think I can officially toot my own horn.

Have a great Saturday!