102.7

One of my New Year's goals was to run a 90 and 100 mile week. I can officially check those off of the list. As I have did them in consecutive weeks.

I really didn't plan to have both of those weeks completed yet. I thought I would wait until March or April at least. I don't remember what made me run them already. I figured if I already ran high 80s weeks, what's a couple more miles? It really wasn't hard for me to reach my goals. Instead of running 10 or 11 miles a day, I just kicked it up to 12-16 miles. All it took was 20-30 minutes more to finish them.

On Saturday and Sunday, I joined the local running group outside to run. Going from the nice, flat treadmill to snow covered surfaces is a little difficult when you're not used to it. Sure, the snow slowed me down. But I didn't let it get me down. I did the only thing I know how to do: I kept going. I'm not the kind of person just to give up. I really wanted to break 100 miles.

Saturday's 11 mile run in the snow was difficult. Not just because of the snow. I ran routes that had long, inclining hills. I just kept thinking while running the hills, that it will help me get better. Sunday's trail run was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The snow was fluffy. Which made it really hard to run on. The snow covered everything up and I really had to watch out for objects sticking out of the snow. But I really didn't do so hot in that department. I did trip and fall over a root or branch in the ground. It was only then that I was glad for the fluffy snow. My landing was very soft. Besides the snow, the trail has monster hills. We are always running up a hill or down one. With less then a mile to go, the hills were getting to me. My legs were very tired and I really just wanted to stop and walk. I gave myself the opportunity to do it and I didn't. I continued to run. I told myself that I was almost done and I could finish what I started.

I ran 5.6 miles on the trails and my time was much slower then the run from the week before. I know my trail times will always be slower and that is OK. I am working hard and giving it everything I got. I will always continue to do that no matter where I'm running.

Now that I have run over 100 miles in a week, I will go back to running 80/90 mile weeks again. I think I will run 100 miles a week at least once a month. It will help me prepare for all of my upcoming races this year.