And a Happy New Year!

Happy, Happy, Happy 2014!   This morning started out with all kinds of running awesomeness--a new PR and new weather!

First, the weather.  As I have raved for days, I now possess running tights.  This means that I was ITCHING to get out the door this morning, and actually glad that it was cold enough that I would be able to give a new pair of bad boys a test run. (terrible pun, I know, couldn't resist) New Adidas running tights are pretty awesome.  The fit is fantastic and they met my one big requirement for gear--I didn't notice them while I was running.

 It was flurry-ing when I walked out, but I wasn't going to let a little precipitation get me down on the first day of the new year...and it was a good run.  Okay, actually I kind of felt like 1 part "real runner" and 1 part "bad ass" for running outside today. I know that I am neither and lots of people do things far more epic all the time, but the important part was that, for a little while,  this Midwestern, sedentary girl felt like a brownie sundae smothered with piping hot fudge flavored awesomesauce.

It started to snow a bit more during my run, but that was okay, because it made me feel more awesome.  Also, I apparently had my own cheering squad this morning.  The usually busy bike path was pretty empty.  I only saw 2 commuter bicyclists and 1 other runner.  The gentlemen who usually hand out on the grassy sections above the bike path were under the bridges today to stay warm and dry.  They were kind enough to share some enthusiasm with shouts of "Happy New Year" and "You Can Do It!".  Good weather does not inspire such enthusiasm from random strangers.

The new PR was totally unexpected as well.  I beat the pants off of my old 5 K record--I think it was 40 seconds! I intentionally ran a fast route this morning, it's pretty flat with a slight incline on the way out and a decline on the way back...still I wasn't expecting anything that awesome! 

Oh, yeah, and I'm pretty enthused about the running shoes I got for Christmas.  I think there is magic in them!