Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Couldn't think of a better title for this weekend because it was such a hodgepodge of activity. Jordan Snyder will appreciate my use of hodgepodge when he reads this.

Went on a rare morning run with Jordan, Scott and The Red Fox. It had just snowed mere hours earlier, so the snow was light and fluffy, which was cool, except for the fact that it covered sheets of thick, unforgiving ice on the trails we were to run on. We ran parts of Beach Drive, through Kensington, previously unknown (to me) neighborhoods and back to Jordan's place. I had my first officially recorded fall, when I was going through a turn on the path and announced "oh no you guys, a turn," and fell right on my backside, nearly achieving another first... the splits. Ouch, close call. Finished with 9 miles. Need to do more morning runs.

Saturday had a moderately tough swim, possibly the last "easy" workout in a while as I start my speed/power work this week. Descending 100s, nothing terrible. Bike trainer spinups in the evening.

And then along came Sunday. Met up with the GRC guys, got to finally reunite with former MAC-conference rival and now GRC celebrity Towpath. Thought I would go around 10 miles at a 7:30 clip. Ended up running the longest I have run in the past 6-7 months, 14.5 miles at 6:45 (give and take) clip. And, well, it didn't feel so bad. Aside from achy hips and ankles and blistery toes (all of which are to be expected), I felt pretty good that I was able to keep that pace the entire time... through a not-totally-flat route. It helps having a bunch of really fast people in the group. I felt motivated the entire time. I feel more confident about doing these longer runs. Should help my mileage totals improve this year.

The Chicken Tender Runner eagerly anticipates Thursday's and Friday's 40+ degree highs.