I'm not saying that it wasn't cold outside this morning, but somehow the knowledge that this is probably the coldest morning I'll see and that it's just going to start getting warmer from here on out...that made it all bearable. I bundled up the most I have so far this year, neck gaiter and hat and layers on layers and fleece upon lycra and wind pants over tights. No gloves though, because I'm obstinate and don't like wearing them. Honestly, with all that on it wasn't that bad, though it must have been because I think I could have counted all the runners I saw over six miles and still had a couple of chilly, ungloved fingers left over.
I was glad I did it though. Yesterday I wimped out and stayed indoors, putting on a heart rate monitor and riding the bike trainer for an hour instead. I still feel pretty good about that though since I came home after work and put in another hour, both of them at about 145 bpm. I read both the latest Running Times and Runner's World while I rode, so my brain is back to thinking a little more like a runner. Plus someone recently told me that the odds of me being able to survive the training I'd need to run a 2:47 were slim and nothing bucks me up faster than being told that I can't do something. I don't think my odd of success in that department are stellar by any means, but I'm still not ready to give up on that dream just quite yet.
As for racing, I'm still not really sure that I feel like it. It's funny. I usually so prefer racing to training, but maybe it's because I've set the bar so high for myself after all of last year's PRs, I just don't want to go out before I'm ready to run something really poopy and disappointing. So unless one of my friends wil run it with me, I'll probably pass on this Sunday's half like I did the one a few weeks ago. Plus, my guy's been out of town so much lately that I feel like I've hardly seen him in the last two weeks, so given the choice I'd rather spend Saturday night East Village bar hopping with my man, listening to bluegrass and buying each other cheap tequila shots than carboloading and going to bed early.