Winter Blues

Is anyone else wondering what month we're in? I wore shorts and a sleeveless shirt for my run yesterday and was sweating like I did back in June. But I love it. I'll take this over the cold, though I would like things to cool off just a wee bit for Christmas.

In spite of the balmy weather, I've had a case of the winter blues. It's been a pretty tumultuous year, and I think I'm just ready to take a break, relax and enjoy some quiet time.

Thankfully, running is one of the few things I'm energized about, so yesterday, I tried my first non-track speed workout. I mapped out a 400 meter route on Defoors Avenue, which is relatively flat. It was strange to run full out on curvy sidewalks (all while dodging trash cans, low-hanging limbs and the occasional car), but it was fun, and a good way to get out all the pent-up aggression I had from my sketchy internet service yesterday.

I was supposed to run each split between 2:15 and 2:30 minutes, but it was hard to stay in that range, even when I pulled back. My splits were 2:07, 2:08, 2:12, 2:22, 2:18 and 2:08. Those times give me hope that I can achieve my goal of running a sub 55 minute 10K in the early months of 2009.

I needed a challenge, plus I'd love to have a chip for the Peachtree this year. I've always been a slow and steady runner, but I've learned over the past eighteen months that I can do many things I thought I was incapable of before. It's also easier to set time goals for 10K's than half or full marathons, simply because TNT is so team-oriented, and I don't see myself leaving my friends in the dust just to run a few minutes faster (though I do hope to finish the ING under 2:15).

I've set my sights on the Chatthoochee Challenge on February 7. Tim's planning on running it with me, and I find that as with all things in life, I'm better and faster with him by my side.