COLD 10 miles in the snow!

RUN 7.2 miles in 1:15
RUN 3 miles in about 30

Yep, another day like yesterday, the goal being to get the training plan's midweek 20 miles done. Mission accomplished.

Yesterday I started craving oatmeal. This little seed planted in my head, and I decided to change my running routes for two reasons -- something different, and to pick up some oats at Fields on the way to work. Plans quickly changed once I got going.

My body (or maybe it's my mind) isn't responding well to the cold lately. Sometimes just stepping outside turns my stomach. So I wasn't looking forward to today's 11F morning run, or the 9F evening run! Especially once I got a tasted of the strong winds from the west. My planned route would put me running into that wind for a majority of the inbound run, and my thoughts soured on that FAST.

So I changed and decided to head to TGP, following the same route as yesterday. The winds were really souring the mood even more, and I dived into the neighborhood south of the park to be protected from the wind. The entire time, I'm thinking on oatmeal. Became obsessive. Thought I could stop at Schnucks and pick up a mile getting there and back...but then I'd have to buy a box or tub which wouldn't fit in the Camelbak. I could stop at Walgreen's, it's right on the route but again a box or tub. Then I realize I'm running by the Local Harvest market and I think they have bulk bins. But by now I'm starting to wonder about this obsession. Why was I craving them so bad...what did I REALLY want? Ooooh and once that seed planted I really got crazy. I was thinking and planning oatmeal most of the first 3-4 miles...WTF?? First I'd want it, then I'd tell myself I don't, then I do, then I don't...ARG!!!

See oats were cut from the foods list when I read they can irritate the gut. But I need foods! But was this a specific craving, a comfort food craving, a great idea to replace rice (I'm getting soured on rice, btw)?? What was the real source of this, because oatmeal qualifies as one of my "little bowl" "food without brakes" problem foods. I'll eat a little bowl to start, then it degrades into a meal of oatmeal. And oatmeal is associated with buttery salty sugary creamy additives, is that what I'm craving? Salt, sugar, and fat?

Whatever the reason, I wanted oats. But LH was closed until 8. I was secretly happy about that, has I hadn't come to the conclusion of f-it just eat some yet. I passed Walgreen's and Schnucks soon after, again secretly happy. I wanted answers before I bought a big tub!! But as I ran north along the park, I came to a BRILLIANT solution -- buy some at the hospital cafe!! I can buy a small bowl, satisfy the craving, limit the amount, test the stomach, and see how and if that limited serving fares in the mind too.

And once I came to this conclusion, my mind settled and I enjoyed the run more. Only then did I realize just how tense, stressed, and distracted I was over this problem. Wow, mental issues indeed.

And snow issues, note that even though I gave up on running sidewalks and hit the streets instead for a snow-less run I was still slowed by slick conditions. I wasn't terribly cold, I'm happy to say. I was properly dressed this morning. And if it weren't so damned cold I would have taken pictures of the neat footprints along the MoBot trail: runners and walkers left prints and when Mr Snow blower came along to knock off the fresh dusting that fell overnight it left crisp white tread marks on the black trail. Like white paint! I liked what might have been Newton prints: a circle at the heal and tarsal bone-like mid foot.

Once at work, had some water, some coffee, changed clothes, re-evaluated the craving (still there!), and took off for oatmeal! YAY! And it was a 12oz bowl for $1.35, and I could add cinnamon and raisins!!!!! HUGE WIN because this was enough oats for today and Friday's run, it was super cheap, and I now know that oats sit OK in the tummy. Very filling too :)

The run home was COLD, and I was really worn out. It was a struggle and I lacked energy the rest of the evening, but it's done. The cold is really taking a lot out of me.