Here we go!

As I’ve stated, I’m out of shape and I need to start pounding out the miles. I have also become a little weak mentally. All my buddies have been on my case about me becoming a “fair weather” runner – and I have to admit – there is a little bit of truth in their accusations. I can justify it – why bundle up to head out in 20 degree weather early on a Saturday morning to go to my club’s weekly "Snow Storm Classic" when I can only jog 3 miles? Why put myself through that when I can have another cup of coffee, read the paper and then head down to the basement and use the “dreadmill” while watching TV or listening to tunes?

But the clock is ticking for Boston and in addition to getting my legs and lungs in shape, I need to toughen up mentally.

I really don’t like running on cold winter nights – besides being cold, you can’t see anything and we all know Massachusetts drivers are nuts!! But we don’t have much choice around here if you want to run Boston.

In the past I have gotten into a decent routine where my buddies and I would get up to 3 good weekday runs in:

1. We have a nice hilly 6 mile course in a state park where we don’t have to worry about any traffic and we use that until it ices over,

2. We have an access road to a church on a hill that with a pretty steep grade for about 0.2 miles where we do repeats and

3. If I can get out of work a little early on Fridays, the Beast and I have been able to pound out some good runs before dark. (the Beast - one of my running buddies – nickname is attributed to his training and racing approach – self-explainable)

So it’s time to get training - but option #1 was out due to the roads being iced over and it wasn’t Friday so I couldn’t sneak out of work putting option #3 out. That left option #2 - the hills! But I was in no shape to do a hill workout so……but wait, I need to stop with the excuses! Sure jumping into the hills is probably not the most recommended way to physically start. But, my greater concern wasn’t being out of physical shape – I was, and I could deal with that. The greater concern was what my buddies were on my case about – was I becoming a “fair weather” runner?

So when Boy Wonder agreed to meet me for hills I had to take his offer. (Boy Wonder - the youngest of my running buddies (younger than half my kids) who ran a great initial marathon and thus the nickname). Trust me, it was cold and it was dark and I really didn’t want to be out there. But I had to do it. I had to prove them wrong – not that I cared what they thought – but because I was getting scared of my own thoughts.

So off we went – Boy Wonder cruised up as I huffed and puffed behind him. One rep, two reps, three reps……I pounded out 8. They weren’t great but they were steady. I didn’t take my splits – I didn’t care what they were – I just wanted the repeats. I finished my workout – on a cold winter night!

Next stop – Saturday morning club run – and it was around 20 degrees!

I got up and had my 2 cups of coffee, played my daily game of solitaire and had my pop-tarts.

Then it was time to get ready.

I looked at the thermostat. 18 degrees!!

I looked at the coffee pot with a 3rd cup waiting there for me.

I looked back at the thermostat and then back at the coffee.

No, man, don’t do it – it’s time to go – Boston’s not for “fair weather” runners!