Big Girl Panties

All day long I debated to do my long run today or not because of the rain.  I reasoned I could do it on Monday but I knew that I would be thinking about it all weekend long and then that would throw off my next weeks mileage and runs too.  The rain would let up a little but the forecast showed it was going to continue.  Around 2pm there were road closures, flash flood warnings and even tornado warnings.  What to do?


I want to thank everyone who commented from my post yesterday. I got great feedback regarding my shoes and  running in the rain.  Tina  said "Running in the rain is good practice in case it rains on race day"  and Kathy said " I have done a 20-miler after working all day; it's not fun, but when that is your only option you just put on your big girl panties and go for it.  As for the rain, it is a staple here in Oregon; I learned a long time ago that you can't let the rain keep you from doing anything - otherwise you would never do anything. You have to have the right gear though, it makes all the difference in the world. "  I loved the "big girl panties" and interpreted it as quit your whining and get out there and do it.  That was exactly what I needed to hear.  So I pulled on my big girl panties and headed out the door at 3:45 for my 20 miler.


Stepping outside the door I was hit by the wind.  Did I really want to do this?  At this point I was dressed like a Cyndi Lauper reject and there was no turning back.  

I started off too fast in an effort to get away from the office before anyone saw me dressed so tackily.  In my defense I had to dress this tacky.  I had to wear my SKINS, needed to wear the running skirt for the pocket to put my phone in and the neon night vest to be seen in traffic and the cap (that I had to hunt for in the office because I forgot one).  Later, I topped out the outfit with a headlamp too.


There was a lot of traffic running up 44th street and I had to wait at a number of lights and watch for people trying to make turns.  4 miles into the run I turned onto the canal.  I had the entire canal to myself.  There were no other crazy people out there.  I did end up setting 4 walkers and 3 kids on bikes.  A far cry from the busy runner/biker highway it often is.  


The rain wasn't too bad.  You can see in my splits where I slowed when running into the wind or through the mud.  The rain puddles were the best as I splashed through them.  Running through the puddles and mud I have solved the issue of when to retire my shoes.  They are now retired! The wind did have me wigged out some when I heard the wires above hitting together.  During a big wind storm a couple years ago one of my friends had a transformer come down into his backyard so I didn't want to run along the power lines and crossed over to the other side of the canal.  At mile 17 the lightening started and that helped me run faster (or so I thought...my splits were progressively getting slower.  Shortly after that I saw John.  He was running to meet up to me to run with me the final couple miles.


I am so very happy that I did the run and didn't talk myself out of it.  The weather was never that awful, it went well and my overall pace was pretty good.  I know that if it does rain on race day I can do it.  I don't have to be afraid of the weather.


Splits
8:21
8:30
8:33
8:47
8:59 (turned onto canal)
9:37
8:55
8:57
8:52
8:41
9:07
8:52 
8:46(talked to John.  He asked if he should come pick me up. No way!)
8:59
9:12
9:20
9:05
8:40 (John showed up and I started running quicker)
8:38
9:20 (heading to corner store to get gatorade)
8:40 (.47 mile)