I was so psyched to pull out my favorite running skirt today. Alabama weather is like Jekyll and Hyde. Three days ago I ran in 30 something degree temperatures and was layered for warmth. I finished the run wind burned and I made a bee line for the Vaseline for my chapped face when I got back inside my toasty warm house. I was frozen to the core. Running in freezing weather hurts.
Today, the weather was perfect for running....beautiful blue skies with 60 plus degree temperatures. I am certainly a hot weather lovin' gal, so I was thrilled to exercise in the warm weather.
I rushed home after school and was so happy that it was finally warm enough to run in my running skirt. I love running skirts because they add such a girlie flair to a sport that was once dominated by men. I am always admiring the cute skirts of other gal runners when I am running in a crowd. Mine, however, is several years old and just plain black.
Sorry, I realize that the skirt is barely visible in this photo, but that's what happens when you try to take a photo of yourself with your cell phone while running. Not quality photography here.
So anyway.....
The boys went next door to help my Dad work outside after school, so I took the opportunity to turn a short running day into a long one.
I decided today to just go run for about an hour, and not worry about the number of miles I ran.
I have never, ever done that before in all my years of running.
I always head out with a mileage goal, but I liked the idea of just running however far I made it.
After only a couple of miles, I realized that my skirt was not cooperating like it always had in the past.
The undershorts were rubbing my legs and it started getting uncomfortable quickly.
I kept readjusting and pulling and tugging trying to fix the skirt, but it was getting worse by the minute.
I am not sure if the problem was that the skirt has gotten older and stretched out over the years and the undershorts were no longer holding tight to my skin, or if my thighs have gotten ....ummm...thicker....since the last time I wore the skirt.
I would like to believe that it was the skirt's fault.
After about 3 miles, the chaffing of my legs had gotten almost unbearable.
I had two viable options.
A.) Walk like a cowboy for a half mile home and call it quits.
B.) Trudge it home and make a speedy quick change out of the skirt and into some running pants.
I went with choice B.
I ran home, up the driveway, up the steps, changed in about 30 seconds, and ran out again....trying to break stride as little as possible......and kept running.
While I was running, I was thinking about how many little bitty things can negatively effect runs.
clothes rubbing
ill fitting jog bra
fatigue
shin splints
runner's diarrhea
blisters
wind burn
chapped lips
side stitches
runner's knee
dog tagging along
(Aww.....C'mon, Davy! Gross!
Do you really have to stop and do that every single mile?)
I have dealt with all of the above over the years, but each malady that I have dealt with is overshadowed by the joy I feel when the run is complete.
I ended up running 8.25 miles today, hardly ever checking the mileage.
I just kept running until I ran out of time and had to get home to go pick up the boys.
I ran for an hour and 20 minutes and it was all for me.
The whole hour. Just for me.
It was nice....
Despite the dog poo and the wardrobe malfunction.
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