Slowing down

Hi all,

The last couple of weeks have been really difficult for me, running-wise, both because of the weather and because of my really uncooperative body. Last weekend I skipped our 7-mile practice because of my laryngitis, chest cough, and the frigid weather (it was really pretty brutal!). It was frustrating because I've been feeling really out of shape, and so I've been wanting to push my body a little harder. I ran a 5k race on Sunday (the Jingle Bell!), and I took a couple of hours out of my workday on Monday (it's been REALLY quiet at NU!) to go for a run around the river, because it had warmed up a bit, but the wind really slowed me down. I still haven't given up my Healthworks membership, which turned out to be great because I was able to go 4 miles on the treadmill on Thursday and crosstrain on Friday (before the storm). Practice was canceled on Saturday due to the crazy snow here, so Katie and I did an 8 mile run on the treadmill, which I don't recommend to ANYONE. It's a little easier physically to run on a machine, but it's really, really boring, even with a friend. Cooper totally showed me up when he went outside for a 7-miler that day--I would have liked to, but am pretty freaked out about getting injured. As it is, my hamstrings are still as tight as Michael Jackson's leather pants, and are causing me a fair bit of pain today, despite my best foam-rolling efforts.
As you might be able to tell, I'm starting to get a little freaked out about this whole marathon thing. Running has never been easy for me, and now with this crappy weather and my annoying aches and pains, I'm starting to get discouraged. I did just send a long inspirational letter to the team running the Phoenix Rock&Roll marathon (for which I'm the honored hero), but somehow I still haven't internalized it.

Everyone send happy thoughts to my right hamstring!!!