Lessons learned on the long run

Running in the wind is hard.

Sure when it's just a light breeze, it's nice. Especially if it's a warm day since the breeze makes it feel a bit cooler.

But when the winds are a sustained 25 miles per hour coming from out of the north and gusting up to 30 miles per hour? It gets little bit rough. Add in the monster hills that have to be run up. And did I mention all those hills, and the last 4 miles of your planned 9-mile run, are run straight into that nasty headwind?

Yeah. Makes for a tough morning.

But my 9.2 miles are done for today. And yes it was hard, especially when I was battling the wind. But I put my head down, put one foot in front of the other and showed that hill - and the wind - who was boss. And I know that all the miles I'm logging in the less than ideal weather and all the hills are only making me a better runner. I can feel it. Come race day, I'm going to be ready. Besides, I know I've got to work hard if I want to accomplish those big dreams I've got.

And the weather? Well we all know Mother Nature's a bit fickle. I just have to know that someday we'll get that ideal running weather in Wisconsin. Maybe. All I know is that since I started running with the training group in late January we've run in sub-zero temperatures, sub-zero windchills, ice, snow and now the nasty wind. Needless to say we're all crossing our fingers race day is going to be in the lower 50s, with some sun and no wind. And if it isn't? Well I think we've got the other weather conditions covered.

Now time to be lazy for the rest of the afternoon. I think I've earned it.