Anatomy of an 18 mile run

Scene: alarm goes off at 5:15 on Saturday (as it does every Saturday) and I hit snooze (as I do every Saturday). Lie in bed for 3 minutes before getting up. Look outside to make sure it has stopped snowing. It has. Check the weather via the Blackberry. 25 right now with a high of 34 today. Not going to warm up while I'm running. Get dressed, go outside to do a temperature check. I'm always one of the runners who gets accused of being overdressed, but, I very rarely get too hot in the fall and winter. So, I go in to change--overdressed? Maybe. I don't care! (was so not overdressed)

Off I go!

0-0.5 Mile: OK, not too bad. It's cold, but, I'm warming up. Good thing I changed. La, la, la lovely running. Thank goodness the trail is open, la, la, la. Step in giant mud sink hole. Awesome, freezing feet. Run in grass to avoid frozen mud on trail. I'm officially hardcore.
0.5-1.0 Mile: Headband slips off, reach for headband and lose an earbud. Yikes--what's that sound? I'd know that sound anywhere. Coyotes. Awesome. I see them all the time at night, but, I'm the only person on this trail at 5:30 AM. Run faster.
1.0-2.0 Mile: Have outrun the coyotes (side note: full moon) only to hear barking dogs. This part of the trail skirts kind of a rough neighborhood. I'm picturing being attacked by packs of rabid dogs that control most major cities. (yes, stupid movie reference, I'm 5) Run faster.
2.0-6.0 Mile: Safely escaped death via dogs and have made it to the lake. It's not too cold and I take my hood off several times to cool down. Arrive at the clubhouse and meet up with the rest of the crazies.
6.0-8.00 Mile: Holy mother of all things I will die here. The temperature has dropped and now it's windy. My hands are so cold that they're hot and I can't move them. And yes I'm wearing gloves. And yes, I'm wiggling my fingers trying to warm them up. It hurts so bad I think I might die. Hate running, hate, hate, hate running.
8.00-10.00 Mile: Try to talk with the running friends to keep my mind off the mind numbing cold. Everyone agrees although it's not the coldest day temperature wise, the wind is killer. My face is numb.
10.00 Mile: Stop for water and fuel. Water fountains are all frozen (I had water with me). My shot blocks are frozen. My face is so numb that when I try to talk, I sound like a drunk slurring her words.
10.00-15.00 Mile: Running buddies force conversation so we don't all end up like me. Rounding another corner of the lake we're out of the wind and things are not as miserable. Did I mention there was a half marathon going on that day? Crazies.
15:00-18.00 Mile: Have said adios to running buddies and must venture out into the cold world alone to meet my husband. Run a mile into the wind to get to the turnaround point. Want to die. Hands are just giant ice pops at this point. Finally get turned around--only 2 miles! I can do this! No, I really can't. I'm hungry, I'm cold, my legs are shutting down. This involved lots of stopping. The racers inspire me to keep going and I run my little heart out to the parking lot where I'm to meet my husband. Who, by the way isn't there.

Post 18.00 miles: Wait a few minutes for the husband who's stuck in race day traffic. Thaw out in the car and inhale a bowl of oatmeal when I get home--usually not my post run meal but by goly I was cold! Hottest shower ever + slippers + sweats = semi warm.

I wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I'd be and although it literally was one of the hardest runs of my life, I felt great afterwards and really, really proud of myself. (because I'm not used to running in this weather and all)

Sidenote, I'm having dreams about marathons, so, I think I'm signing up for The Cowtown Marathon today (it's only 26 days away--holy hell!).