February Goal: Endurance

After much consideration (and a handful of fantastic suggestions and bits of advice), I've decided on my February goal: 12 runs of five miles or more.

While I won't be swearing off any of my favorite things, I will find a reward to lay at the finish line (i.e., fruit napolean, super-chocolate truffle, sweet potato tart with white-chocolate ganache, casata cake, a weekend trip to New York... sorry, daydreaming) since I chomp at motivators so well.

Setting my goal makes me want to head outside and start chipping away, but it's so blustery outside right now I can't tell there is, in fact, an outside (wind-driven white-out). I might consider getting out my old ski goggles for a day like today!

But it's not a fear of running in the cold that has me down. I've warmed to the idea and am getting better at hitting the cold, lonely pavement. For a while I was worried about whether running in the cold and snow was bad for me. Most of it was gossip based: non-runners constantly warned that I should cover my mouth to avoid breathing "that cold air" and some others said I would just plain die. What do they know?

I've had some pretty good conversations about running in the cold with other runners/triathletes via the BeginnerTriathlete.com discussion board. Check out the interesting perspectives on winter-running, mouth covering and cold weather attire I received in this Running in the Cold thread. I'd love to know what others think and experience as well.

February is a short month and I've already lost 2.5 days! I hope that by the end of the month five miles won't be the daunting task it is right now. Endurance here I come!

And When You Think It's All Over... 18 Miles to Go!

Don't you love that feeling when work finally gives you your life back?

Granted, it's nothing permanent (it never is) and the stress will come back eventually (it always does), but I like the relief that comes with finishing a major project and moving on. It's like the last day of school!

And once I finished my major project, I headed straight for the pool! While I've been a little drained (part because of bad sleep, some parts stress and part because of guilt over not running yesterday), I managed to get in 2,200 yards:

500 yards free
500 yards free

Modified 1,100 yard IM in reverse {

350 yards free
250 yards breastroke
250 yards backstroke
250 yards fly

}

100 yards free

If you're looking for endurance building (a.k.a. pain) and shoulder strengthening in the pool, try swimming 100-200 yards butterfly AT THE END of your workout. I'm a little biased (as a butterflier) but try it: your shoulders will vouch for me. Plus, the next time you swim freestyle, it will be cake!

Tomorrow is another early-morning run day, and I'm hoping for greater success and motivation than last week. At least it's inside. But I still have 18 miles to go and only seven or eight days to do it (I hate waiting until the last minute to finish things)!