I am officially in week 28 of the Goofy's Challenge training program! 28 weeks! Where in the world did all that time go?! But seriously, I can't believe the first leg of the race is only 5 days away and 6 days from now we'll be celebrating. I'm nervous, but I know I can do this. I have trained faithfully and am feeling good. My injury has healed and I am ready.
I have to admit that somehow all those interesting (at least to me) random thoughts I usually have while running have magically disappeared as the runs have gotten longer and harder. In all honesty, it's hard to think about much of anything when you're running 12 miles in a blizzard at 4am and know you have 24 miles to run the next day. Somehow all of those observations on life, nature and everything around you are lost in the never-ending shuffle just to complete your run that day. I had forgotten (so quickly) what it is like to run in the winter. I had forgotten how the brain's ability to dump everything out in that soothing way gets caught up in the ever-present thoughts of "don't fall on the ice", "where's the safest place to step", "umm . . . that car isn't giving me much room so think, think, think how can I get out of his way", "please don't snowblow your snow on me" and "wow, my ears (hands/face/feet) are really cold today!".
Certainly not the same effect as running on that beautiful spring, summer or fall day and letting your mind drift. But, then I remembered that I don't run in the winter to gain speed or find the tranquility. I run in the winter to maintain fitness so that I can get out and enjoy those beautiful spring, summer and fall days. And honestly, the change of pace (on so many levels) is quite okay.
