I hope everyone had a good Christmas!  We had a good day here in California even though Christmas finally brought in the cold.  We’ve hit freezing the last few nights and had colder days.   Yes, it has been nothing like anyone who gets actual snow but it’s cold for someone like me.  I think the perfect running temp is around 73 and I almost like running in 95-100º.   Crazy, I know.

Christmas was good this year and I can finally share a few things I purchased for my family.   I was super excited about these gifts this year, there were others but I had fun with these-

Road ID-  Ok this one is mine but I ordered a similar one for my mom and I ordered a FIXX ID for my dad for when he hikes.   

My mother has been saying that she wanted something with a logo on.  This is the back and the front says photographer.

My family proved just well they knew me as well-

I’ve come to realize that part of the reason I may have only run 34 miles in December 2013 was that there are so many things to be done.   My mileage so far this month is not where I had hoped it would be.  I had two tiny weeks in a row that put a dent in my goal.   But that’s ok- people first right?  I have one more commitment on Monday evening and then I think I am done!     Christmas is typically a lazy day with my family and I have always looked forward to it.  Last year, I ran a few miles to break in the Garmin I had received but this was a return to the norm.  It was so nice.  We hung out and watched Love Actually and then multiple episodes of Supernatural.  While enjoying yummy food of course.  🙂

Friday was back to work and I was confused all day.  It was a Friday but felt more like a Monday.    Even with that, I was able to restrain myself from eating cookies (Cookie Friday) which is kind of huge for me.  Saturday consisted of the usual errands and waiting around for it get a little warmer before running.   I admit to having little desire to run but I knew I was short on miles and also needed to get in a longish run.  10 was on the schedule but that didn’t seem like a smart idea after 2 short weeks.  So I headed out around 3, figuring I would aim for 8 but would settle for 4.5 if I still wasn’t feeling it.   For my longer runs, I have decided to aim for a pace around 11:15-11:30.   I really want them to feel easier and be more of a focus on time than pace.   Up until Saturday, it was going well.

The run felt hard from the start and my legs felt weirdly achy.  I figured the cold was aggravating my asthma because I didn’t feel like I was pushing hard.  I had a route in mind but going up a hill in mile 2, I changed it up and ran that hill 3 times.   That section is kind of triangular so it was run up, walk a block over and run down to repeat.  From there it just a series of loops around neighborhoods but I did hit that hill again around mile 6.   I paused for a moment at an elementary school to check my shoes- they felt uncomfortable and just off- and use my inhaler again.   It was there I noticed my pace, aside from my first mile, every other mile was in the 10’s.  Slow down fool!  My legs had a mind of their own and the last 4 miles were faster than the first 4.  I was literally talking out loud to myself saying “slow down” but I just couldn’t seem to make it happen.  I took walk breaks in every mile just to slow down.   On one hand this is kind of awesome because it’s closer to what I used to be able to do but I need more self-control.   I should have been able to rein it in when I need to.    So yay but ugh?  🙂

Sunday called for an easy 6 and it was the perfect time to break in some new, shiny shoes.    I attribute the aches from my long run to my shoes.  I had noticed my neon Wave Rider’s had gone from good to not good overnight recently but I was hoping for another 50 miles or so.  All of my treadmill miles have been run in my Sayonara’s and have been relatively ache free.   Granted the condition of our streets doesn’t help but I had a feeling my Wave Rider’s were just done.   I bought another pair in October and just stashed them until needed.    What a world of difference!  Putting them on today made me realize just how bad the previous pair had been, I had arch support again!   Today’s 6 miles felt good, no aches other than a little soreness from yesterday.  Woo hoo!

How was your Christmas?

Ever have a pair of shoes go bad seemingly overnight?

Ready for 2015?  I’m getting there- next post will be goals.  🙂