No Longer Dreaming of a White Anything

Over the past weeks, I have been able to get some sort of consistency with my mileage and slowly increasing it to the 50 miles per week I like to have. One of the problems that I am having as I increase my mileage is that my times (avg. pace) are at paces that I would normally be upset with but with all the snow we have got this year it is very difficult to find a path that does not have ice or packed snow on it. I normally do not have many issues with this but this record amount of snow really does change how a person runs. On one of my first attempts at a longer run (12+) my hips hurt that evening and even into the next day from all the side to side leg action to keep my self upright. The city finally cleared the snow on the “walking, bike” path and I was able to get a good healthy stride length and did not have to worry about footing.


Then the cold temperature set in. I have become accustomed to the couple of times a winter were for a stretch of days the temperature is borderline safe to go out and run. Even on those days, I go out and run because every runner needs to get what I call his or her idiot badge. Your idiot badge is received any time after your run you make the statement “I should have not done that.” The idiot badge can be received in all kinds of weather.

In the midst of all the cold and snow, I signed up to run the second Mankato Marathon, held on October 22, 2011. I have had the count down for that race going for some time. The registration has been open since January first, and again the field size is limited but is more than the previous year (I think). Some might not agree with limiting the field size on a smaller marathon but to me it makes sense. Last years inaugural race was great the crowds are what one would expect for the size of the town. However, the service received from the volunteers and staff was great they were defiantly not overwhelmed and that will keep people coming back to run this race.

So training starts now. Got to go and get yet another idiot badge.