Work will win when wishy washy wishing won't

I'm not in Kansas, er..Utah anymore....This morning I enjoyed a nice little run here in Redlands, CA.  I went up past the Redlands LDS Temple and was able to watch the sun come up over the mountains.  It was so fun to run past orange groves, palm trees, lemon trees, flowers and blossoms of every color and green grass. I even had to dodge a few sprinklers!  The people here are all so friendly!  I think the altitute here is a little more enjoyable for running than in Utah.  There was a long stretch of uphill that would have done me in back at home, but it went very nicely here!  It could also be that last week was a lower mileage week and my legs were ready for a good run.  My garmin was not charged so I'm not sure the mileage for today.  I will do it again tomorrow and add the miles in then. 

Day 2 of running here in sunny southern California.  One more day and then back to running in Utah.  My lungs are liking the lower altitude, but my knees are complaining a bit that the gravity is still the same.  So when I feel like I can run faster because of the altitude the knees remind me of the gravity.  Down hill was great!  I was enjoying an 8:30 pace then.  But uphill had to be more like 10:30.   I was wondering why I feel like I have never seen this place with all it's beauty before.  It is because I am usually here later when everything is more dry.  Things right now are just so pretty and vibrant.  One thing could make it even better...that would be having my favorite running buddy here with me!  Miss you Tom!

The last run in Redlands.  Tomorrow I catch a flight back home.  I took my camera with me this morning.  Maybe when I'm home I can add a few to my entry.  I didn't bring the connectors to add them here.  My nice crossgaurd, Larry, chatted with me.  He told me I should have been here last week and I would have seen some snow on the mountains.  Ha ha ha!  I don't need to come here to see snow on the mountains!  He wished me a good flight and told me to come visit again sometime. 

Today we are off to cancer doctors, (for my sister in law).  I am glad I could be here for her this week.  Yesterday was the last day of her first cycle of chemotherapy.  I wish I lived closer to her and could help her more through the next 6 months! 

So tomorrow when I fly home I really hope I don't freak out.  I do not like to fly.  This will be the first time I have ever flown alone.  Tom teases me about freaking out and then him seeing me on the news as they restrain me on the plane and have police waiting for me at the airport.  Luckily it's only an hour and a half flight.  If the weather is ok I will probably be ok too.  But if I have to come in with turbulance and bad weather I might have to do a little white knuckle on the armrests.  Tom, I promise I will do my best to stay off of the news! 

I made it back today. It was really hard to leave my sister in law! I wish I were closer and could help her more! I told her she better get use to lots of phone calls from me!

The plane was an itty bitty little thing! I have never had to walk out onto the tarmac and up the stairs into a plane! Anyone any taller than me had to duck to walk down the low, narrow aisle. If I would have known that was the plane I would be flying home on I would have stuck my thumb out for a ride instead! Anyway, I made it safely. I didn't get too anxious or cause much commotion. I had a couple people around me who offered support and even a hand to hold. (I didn't take the hand.) Kind of pathetic, I know, but I am just a bit whimpy when it comes to planes. I have a friend who was in a plane crash about 5 years ago. She was one of only two survivors. It was a plane that held about 20 people.

After Tom picked me up we were able to go to my brother's house and see him and his wife and their brand new baby girl that was born while I was away! What a sweet little thing she is!

I am happy to be home. I will miss the sis in law and the sunshine to run in, but grateful to be back with the house still standing and in mostly good order. But best of all I'm back with Tom and the kids. Home is a great place! :)

Jeremy, Heidi and little baby Brielle!

Redlands LDS temple.  This was part of my morning route in sunny California.

The lemon tree I passed each morning.  Tempted slightly to take one home, but didn't.

Watching the sun rise each morning was such an amazing experience! 

It took a lot of coaxing myself to get out the door today, but I finally did it.  I didn't pass a single lemon tree or orange grove.  It was kind of sad.  I did pass some stinky horses and had some lovely wind to try to bog me down.  I have ran solo this whole week.  Looking forward to a run with my running buddy, Tom, tomorrow.  Now, back to more laundry that piled up while I was away.....
 

It was nice to gently wake up and not have to worry about an alarm clock.  Tom and I decided we would just sleep until we wanted to get up.  We ended up getting out the door about 7:15. I'm working up the long runs again so I can be ready for Striders in a few weeks.  For Painters I only worked up to an 11 miler before.  This time I would like to get a 14 miler in before the half.  My knees are my problem.  I think I baby one and then the other one gets jealous or something.  The last mile and a half was more of a walk/run for precautionary reasons with my left knee.  Hopefully I can keep both of my knees happy and still be able to run a good half.