6 miles - 4 miles hill intervals

Originally planned to get up early and do my hill work plus a 2 mile tempo run, total of 8 miles. I got up at 6 AM to eat a little something, just a 230 calorie scone, and then went back to bed, intending to get up 2 hours later and head out.

Too frickin' cold. 33° F, and nevermind the wind-chill. Also, I had a lunch date with the family at noon, and I had a present to pick up. So I decided I'd do my run in the afternoon when it was (at least theoretically) warmer.

Yeah. At 3:00 PM it was 43° F; with wind-chill factor it was still 34° F. But I had to run.

I suited up in at least three layers; runderwear, tights, and baggy basketball shorts, and a short-sleeved, long-sleeved, and jacked on top. Brooks, of course, on the feet. Stocking cap and gloves.

Sunset was supposed to be at 4:28 today, so by heading out at 3:30 I only had about an hour of sunlight. My running clothes were all black; I didn't know if I'd want to go running in the twilight in all-black. Didn't want to get hit by a car. I worried that this would cut my run short. And it did.

I did my warmup to get to my starting point. I brought a bottle of water and stashed it at my starting line for the hill work; pain in the ass to run carrying it, and it turned out that the water fountain at the Oaks Pioneer Church was still turned on, so I didn't need to bring the water. Still, better safe than sorry and I didn't have to carry it during the hard part of the workout.

I aimed for less than 2:00 up the ~400 meter hill section, and I hit that goal on the first four runs. The last two were tougher because my digestive system was ready for the elimination round, but I still managed a 2:05 and 2:07 on the last two.

I found an open public restroom, and when I was done, it was steadily getting darker. I cut short my 2 mile tempo run and just jogged back home.

I've got a total of 18 miles this week, and next week I plan on doing better. I've got some ideas for doing longer runs but not having to carry water - like running out-and-back from my house for 2 miles, several times, to get an 8 mile run in, with me stopping at my apartment at the midpoint for water and Bloks.