FAIL.

GRRRR!

I hope that you understand that I am not doing this blog because I have limitless sage running advice to offer you. I am doing this blog because I am pretty much starting at the bottom and hoping to claw my way to 13.1 miles. I am struggling to meet this goal just like the vast majority of people would. People say "I'm not a runner". I get that. I am here to show you that actually yes, if I can run a half marathon, ANYONE can.

I started my "official" half marathon training today. After lots of searching, we found THIS training guide and Tim thought it was a pretty good one.  I was supposed to start it yesterday but something came up at home so I couldn't. So I figured I would do 3 miles today and tomorrow to make up for missing Tuesday. No biggie, I can do 3 miles fairly easily. I thought I would run at a trail that is by my work because with so little daylight, I could save the time that it takes me to drive home, get changed, and then go run in the 'hood. 

BAD idea.

The trail was covered in ice and snow. I don't know why I didn't think that this would be the case beforehand. The whole width of the trail was snow covered, with pockets of ice. There were large divets worked into the snow from all of the previous runners/walkers/cyclists. I had to slow down so much going over ice that at some points I went from an 11:00 pace (my usual cruising speed) to flat out walking (15:30). From dodging dog poop, ice divets, and snow mounds, my ankles were KILLING me. I told myself to just keep going, no excuses. But I did the "unthinkable" -- at 1 mile, I turned around when I should have turned around at 1.5 miles. At 1.5 miles, I stopped to walk. I couldn't take it anymore. 

I'm sharing this with you because I want you all to know that I am not some gifted athlete. I will fight for every tenth of a mile the whole way, because running does not come easy to me. It doesn't really come easy for anyone.

I tried researching some tips on how to run better in the snow to share with you guys in case you have encountered this. Nothing was helpful. So, now I sit here in one of my infamous "runner's lows" (just ask my husband....). Maybe after I calm down from my awful run I will share with you just WHY am I doing a half marathon.