With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams...

chilly willy- 37 degrees out, but my moon was out and throwing around some awesome shadows that made the morning great.  I ended up running a pace faster that I thought & was happy about it.  Do I tend to run faster in the cold to try and stay warm? 

Plans for a pm run with Wyatt.  Yippie!!- Turns out it was better than I even imagined and we got to celebrate a super run with sweet frog frozen yogurt topped with mango balls and wet nuts.  Honestly.

Got to take in an afternoon run with MR on the trails on base.  Our old trail has been replaced by a beltway so we're looking for new ones.  Today's trail was full of hills and lots of sand.  And fun.  We ran out and found an old cement building used for NBC training- pretty cool find in the woods. (sorry it's sideways- I don't know how to fix it).

After running for 4 miles and thinking we knew where we going, we came to an intersection and had no idea which way we should go (turning around could have been the best option). Here's the choices we had- starting with the path we'd just come down and going in a clock wise direction....

We ended up taking what was behind door number two, then came to another intersection, and finally ended up back at our car a mile later.  The terrain really made the five miles a tough workout for me, but it felt so good to be out in nature with my favorite guy.

Did yardwork before my run today- we have three black walnut trees and one oak tree in our back yard (along with 8 pines and three dogwoods).  The leaves and pine needles aren't the problem- it's all those stupid nuts!!  The black walnuts are so big they damage the mower blade, so we have to rake them up.   I hate black walnuts- they're nasty and not even worth eating.

Got out for a run around noon and tried a different route but I wasn't sure how long it would be, so after mile 8.65 I had to back track a mile so I'd have 13 miles.  On our way home, MR found our treasure for the day.  He said, "Pull this bush back so we can get a good look at this beaver!"   I love that guy :-)

My legs are worn out and sore.  Lots of miles this week, and I'm in desperate need of new shoes.  I need to get to the store and try out some new styles.  Online shopping for new shoes isn't helpful.  I will be selling beaver fur ear muffs on my online store for a limited time only.  One size fits all.

5.63 miles in the morning and then 5.01 in the afternoon.  It was chilly in the morning, but so nice to have the sun coming up while I was running.  I saw the moon out, and the sky change from night to day.  Beautiful fog on the fields.  In the afternoon, someone had told me it was cold outside.  I forget cold is a relative term.  I had to take the sleeves off my jacket  after mile one because it was too warm.  I wasn't happy that the sun was setting before I got home.  I realize daylight savings time is over, but I want it back!  I'd rather have the moon to myself in the mornings and more sun in the afternoon.

The mizunos are still hurting the top of my foot.  It feels like the tongue is rubbing and bruising the top of my arch.  I've tried adjusting it and nothing seems to work.  Frustrating!

The top of my foot felt great this morning after taking a naprosyn in the middle of the night.  So I put the mizunos back on and went out for a few miles this morning.  It was cloudy and overcast- making the 38 degree weather even more delightful---NOT!  I didn't even get to see the moon, or the sun....just gray :-(

After mile 2.4, the soreness on the top of my foot came back.  I think I'll quit complaining about it now.

Ran 5 miles home in the old Brooks.  It's a little chilly, but so beautiful outside :-)

My legs were sore this morning. I guess from all the running, so I got up and went for a beautiful morning walk.  MR went with me and we walked quickly to try and stay warm.

Afternoon, I ran home from work.  Every day this week, I've run past a big huge bag of fluffy pink stuff.  I always imagine it's cotton candy.  I'm pretty sure it's not- and since I have a new rule about not eating food I find on the side of the road, I haven't tried it yet.  Foot felt fine.

morning run was 5.6 miles.  I kept thinking I wanted to finish the road and do my 6.2 route, but I knew I'd be cutting time too close in the morning due to my lengthy beauty regimen. (read: wanted to eat breakfast).

after school I ran to a church activity.  My cars were both being used by others in my family, and this activity involved a free dinner, so I found a way to get myself there!  It was a perfect day for a run- high 50s and a beautiful sunset.  It did get dark, but I'd come prepared and had my headlamp with me so I whipped it out and voila! I got to keep running :-)  I'd dropped off some clothes in the morning so I didn't have to eat in my stinky clothes.  It was delicious and I had 2 scoops of ice cream......perfect!

They've been cutting down trees and burning the huge piles of tree rubbish.  The piles smolder for days.  It's like running through a smog pit.  In one day, there were 8 new houses framed in one of the areas.  This is what progress looks like:

Early morning warm up 2.23 with MR.  Balmy 38 degrees, but what a beautiful sunrise! 

Afternoon run is pending. Did a quick run after work around the hood with MR on the bike.  We got  3.58 and called it good.  First run this week without a jacket.  Hooray!

It's supposed to be 70 degrees tomorrow (finally warm again) and I have to be indoors in a class all day.  Bummer.

Beautiful run with MR on the bike.  Sunshine and short sleeves! 4 dead opossum and 1 dead kitten....poor kitten :-(

Happy Veterans Day to all our Veterans and  Thank You!!

Let's start today with a photo of what I wore today.  Sometimes the shirt/bottoms vary, but the light, jacket/vest, and leg bands are always the same.  

Photo in the light:

Since it's always dark in the morning when I go running, this is what I'd look like if you approached me with a low powered flash light:

So I am totally clueless as to how a person driving a F150 pickup truck with both headlights on and no other lights (or approaching cars) in the area FAILS to see me running on the 3.5 inches of shoulder on the road. 

That being said, I realize I am terribly blessed/lucky that it was only her side view mirror that hit my ribcage and not the whole front end of the truck.  My ribcage is bruised, and where the ribs attach at the sternum and vertebra I am sore, but nothing is broken. 

EMS asked, "Could you be any MORE reflective?"  and that was before she saw the leg reflectors.  I really don't know what else I can do to keep myself safe and seen.  Maybe a flashing blue light like a police car?  (Who by the way, after 35 minutes, never even showed up to the scene of the accident.... 3 fire trucks, ems, and no law enforcement).

Suggestions are welcome as long as they don't include telling me not to run in the dark.  And whatever you do, don't tell my Mother!

I'm just bummed I didn't get to finish my run.  It's taper week anyway.... I'm cleared to run the 1/2 on Saturday and I'll be a monkey's pirate if I'm going to let dumb people keep my afraid and in my house.

30 minute elliptical (using one arm most of the time) and then did some stretching, which actually made me feel 100% better

Trial run to see how things would go with my ribs/lungs. I ran easy and had no problems.  So glad!  Saturday should be fine.

Another easy run to wake myself up and check out the breathing.  Good all around.  Excited to see Terri tonight :-)

Super awesome run with Terri.  It was cold, it was hilly, there wasn't enough water, and it was still awesome.

I was glad the run started at 9:00 so we didn't have to wake up crazy early.  We got there at 8 and picked up our packets, then went back to sit in the car and stay warm until the race started.  Saw friends from work and church there- nice to know others who are running.

There was a new starting point for the race this year, and rumor had it the course was changed and flatter than previous years. Thing about rumors are they aren't usually true, and that was certainly the case here.  Except for the first and last half mile, the course was exactly the same with same as every other year.  I felt like yelling in my best Frau voice, "LIES!  ALL LIES!"

So the course was all hills, all the way.  My legs were tired after mile 1.5 and I'm not 100% sure why since I'd cut back my weekday miles by 30 miles for the week.    But boy were they tired and felt as if I were at mile 21 in a marathon.  I'd been waking up all week with my leg muscles contracted and cramping so maybe it was due to that, I guess I'll never know for sure.

We talked and talked and talked some more.  Then we finished the run and went to Panera for hot soup.  I wished I was small enough to crawl in the soup bowl and swim in the warm soup while I was eating it.

Perfect Day!

3 mile run in the morning.  Legs felt great- no soreness from the run left in them.  

Afternoon went to run with Wyatt.  We were looking to run 5 or 6, but it got dark too early and we cut it short.  It's so sad when it's dark at 5:30 in the evening.  We had a wonderful short run though.  Can't wait for another chance to run together....maybe over the turkey break.

Ran with MR in the morning around the hood.  I thought our first mile was super fast and then we slowed down.  I was wrong- that first mile was slow, and we sped up a little bit by bit.  

Mini me had her wisdom teeth taken out today and looks like a chipmunk pirate.  Sweet thing.  

Went with MR on base and ran there since daylight was coming to an end.  He rode his bike along with me and we did an out and back.  A hilly route for the first and last 2 miles, which is something I could use more of.  

Had to take a quick stop after mile 2 to catch my breath and quiet a pain in my chest.  It sneaks up on me now and again.  I'm sure it's just my chest recovering, so I slowed down and it was fine.  

Made good time even with the hills.  Finished just as the sun set.  I'm enjoying my Thanksgiving break :-)

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

Slow and easy run with MR on the bike.  Went down to see if I could find the mirror part of the truck's side view mirror.  I thought it would be a fantastic addition to my collection.  I guess someone beat me to it.

Running by the lady's house, I noticed her side mirror housing is re-attached to her truck, but the reflective mirror is still missing.  But further down the road where she hit me, the mirror was no where to be found.  Maybe someone beat me to it.  I guess that's what happens when you leave treasures lying around for 9 days.

We did find a quarter, a dead kitty, and a very smashed up ring.  The treasure hunt wasn't a complete loss :-)

On my way with Wyatt for a long run and we had to turn around for a family emergency call she got.  So I went home and after pouting a little and feeling bad for myself I got MR on his bike and had him take me for a run.  It wasn't very long, but it was nice to get out for a little bit and burn a few of those thanksgiving calories.

Got my Wyatt fix for the day!  We dropped our husbands off at the gun range to play with their weapons while we ran on base.  We ran long street, which happens to be very hilly and well...long.  It was nice to have wide shoulders, sidewalks, and sunshine.

After a great run, we had a great lunch a Jason's deli where I scored 2 ice cream cones :-P

Win for the Pirate!

Raking up those black walnuts again....... curse you black walnut trees.  MR cut down one that wanted to grow up to a mighty tree.  It was probably 30 feet + tall, but it won't be raining down walnuts from that tree again.  Now I only have one more to cut down and then just the big one to live with (in the back yard).

My first run out of the neighborhood by myself in the dark since the day that shall not be named.

I was happy with the pace, just wished my breathing and heartrate were on board for longer than 4.5 miles.  I got out of breath the last little bit.  In my defense, it was 32 degrees outside.  I am SO looking forward to a run this afternoon... it'll be mid-sixties :-)

Here's a MR pirate photo for your viewing pleasure! He's wearing his Edward Teach smile :-)

Beautiful afternoon run.  No jacket needed.  Love those runs :-)  A little slower than the morning run, but still a nice pace.

I set my alarm to get up early and get at least 6 miles in, but I woke up with a headache and went back to sleep for 20 minutes.  So 4 it was.  Another good pace morning for me.  I was stretching out on the mailbox post and saw the prettiest dawn.  The sun was just starting to light up the sky, and it was painting the bottom of the clouds pink. 

It's a grainy photo, because it was still dark.  Shopping today after school, so no pm run.  I think I'll get over it- but I may need more headache medicine!

Ran down my "favorite" road this morning.  I got to try out my new flashing red led light that clips on my hat.  I feel llike it worked well.  Everyone gave me space!

Pace wasn't as great as Mon & Tues morning, but it can't be totally awesome every day.

Afternoon run with Wyatt.  We ran around the school so we'd get more time to run and wouldn't be on the busy country roads when it was dark.  I talked her head off, but I was grateful she was there to listen and went out with me even though she was sore from p90x plyo.