Run fast to avoid the wind

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	0:51:29	8:22 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	0:51:29	8:22 pace
Distance (mi )	6.15
Moving Speed (mph)	7.2 avg.	14.1 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+150 / -150
Avg. Heart Rate	158 bpm	Zone 4.5
Temperature (°F)	19.4°F avg.	21.2°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	WSW 26.1 avg.	WSW 29.9 max.

Start Time: 05:01:12 PM (CST)

The books and magazines all suggest that with Winter running you should run into the wind outbound so that you do not work up a sweat with a tailwind and then turn into the wind and freeze. I have done enough of those runs already where you are stripping off layers only to turn around and put them all back on, now cold and sweaty. So I try to take it seriously and since the wind is usually North or South in Chicago, this works out pretty well, if you run along the lake---except when the wind is pushing 30 mph from the West. Ok, I agree it was WSW--so heading South first was a good deal, insofar as there was one, but coming back North on a slick icy path and then turning to face hard and freezing wind from the West was just cruel.

Actually, it was really just the last 1/2 mile that was cruel (very cruel), the rest was one of the best training runs I have had in awhile. Six miles of just laying it down---the worst split was in the second mile (8:38), and probably just because I was still trying to be cautious about the slick surface conditions. The rest of the splits were very respectable and even the last mile into a 25-30 MPH headwind, was right on the average for the day. Ran fueled by pent up energy from working to meet a 4pm and 4:30pm deadline today on a 375 page grant application---and it still needs work, but it is off of institutional endorsement. I probably still have three days of work to do to get it perfect, but we hit today's deadlines exactly on the the money (well, the 4pm got there at 4:05 for those keeping score at home). Anyway, it's funny how being under pressure actually energizes me and makes me play at the top of my game--rather than wears me down.

I did cut the distance from 7 to 6. Since we are supposed to drop another 15 degrees by Saturday, I may need to rethink my long run---'cause there is no way that I am doing 14M on the treadmill and I am not sure that I could do 14 against a wind like the one at the end. Of course my impermeable jacket and windstopper balaclava can probably carry me through just about anything.