Today I ran 10 miles for the third time.

Each time, it seems harder!  WHY??

Jan 11 – 1:49
Feb 9 – 1:55
Feb 16 – 1:59

I am not hurt.  I always have a rest day the day before.  I fuel before and during.  What gives??

Anyway, it was cold today but very sunny.  It looked like a great day to do my long run.

I was tired of running on the Corning Bike Path so I decided to go to the Nisky Bike Path for a change.

As I said, it was cold in the teens but lately that seems ok & I know exactly what to wear.

The plan was to run 2 miles west (toward Schenectady) and turn around and then go 3 in the other direction and turn around.

Well, though for the most part the path was clear, I wasn’t prepared for how WINDY it was.  At least the way back I would have the wind at my back.

Right from the beginning my legs felt heavy.  I didn’t want to walk but I did when I felt I could no longer pick them up. (With no running partner, there was no one to shame me into not stopping to walk.)

Then there were spots on the path that were completely snow-covered which made it hard to maintain any running pace. But I continued on until the end which was the lock.

That was where 2 large dogs (one being a pit bull) came running toward me UNLEASHED.  It was pretty scary.  I just froze and let the dogs jump on me.  The pit bull bit my hand but I thankfully was wearing heavy gloves. The couple who owned the dogs eventually got them under control and apologized profusely.

I then continued some more on a road near the lock before I turned around I headed back.

Now the sun was pretty warm and the wind at my back but my legs wanted to quit.

I was at 5.5 miles when I was ready to head in the other direction.

No….  they did not clear the path!!!  I remember that this happened last winter too. I guess it is for snowshoers and skiiers.

I was ready to call it a day.  Repeating the same path was not appealing nor was heading into that wind.

But I knew that I would be disappointed in myself if I quit.

So I kept going.  The wind seemed even stronger and my legs even more tired. I walked more and more but I finished.

And yes, I was glad to have done it.

Next week I plan on 11 miles.

Will it be easier?

To reward myself, I stopped at Target on the way home.  I had a Starbucks Latte and bought groceries & jeans.  I saved lots on the sale items & the discounts on my Cartwell app.

I may have even forgotten about my “bad” run.

Happy Running! Do you have bad runs?