Trying to Get a Streak Going

Mother Nature tried to conspire against me yesterday*. Just as I headed out the door for my afternoon run, the skies opened up. Again. Seems like we are caught in a series of winter storms that is more typical of February. The temperatures are in the low/mid 50’s. There’s even snow falling in the local mountains.

So – what did I do? Go out and brave the cold and rain? Heck no! I went home and considered the rowing machine. Then I watched some NCIS reruns (does anyone else remember a young David McCallum on the Man from UNCLE?). Then I cooked dinner. You get the idea here.

Imagine my shock and surprise when I looked outside a little after 6 o’clock and noticed this yellowish disc in the sky**. And no clouds. So I laced up my shoes and headed out the door for my scheduled interval workout – one mile warm up, 3 X 1600 w/ 250 active rest, one mile warm down for a total of 5.75 miles (not the 6.75 that I had on the original plan - my math skills seem to be questionable these days).

Shocking. Absolutely shocking:

• Interval 1: 8:20
• Interval 2: 8:19
• Interval 3: 8:30

No. Not the times. The fact that I could string three miles together without (a) having to crawl the last 400 of each interval, and (b) collapsing in a heap somewhere in the first interval. To say I was sucking some serious wind would have been an understatement – heck – even *I* could hear myself coming.

I’m paying for it this morning though. I’m in some serious pain. Quads, lower abs. You know – the good stuff that tells you that you had a killer workout. I’m also paying for it on the scale too. I drank at least a gallon of water last night, and I’m still sucking down the liquids this morning. 223.4. That’s plus 3.2 pounds from last week. And I know I’m running about 400 calorie deficit per day, so I’m taking it all in stride (although I am preparing the noose for next week though).

* I was actually crossing my fingers. Have I told you my motivation is at an all time low?

** Damn you Mother Nature!!!!!