Patience; the new endurance sport.

Today was glorious weather. Why couldn't Saturday have been like this? Today was clear and mild (about 54 degrees), the mountains were a crisp white border against bright blue skies, and the lake was a glacial green. I've complained about the cold rainy, snowy weather, but today there was a glint of green on everything. So I guess what they say about April showers is true. There were tiny leaflet buds on trees, tender grass, and reeds starting to bud. Life, again made fresh. P.S. Since when do we have pelicans? I saw 4 floating on the lake. Not Osprey or Egret; Pelicans. White feathers and orange beaks (not grey like the ones I see in Baja). I really need a field guide/Audubon Society Guide to our region. I see so many birds and plants I'd like to know the names of. It was really something to see those huge white birds floating on the blue-green water. The run was so-so. My legs felt a little heavy (after Saturday) but not bad. I'm still so glad I had a great distraction to carry me those 17 miles this weekend--snow and all. I would have never done that on my own. I'm getting really inconsistant and undiciplined in both my speed and distances. It was a great check up.

My shoes are still wet from Saturday. Thankfully, today was another gorgeous, mild spring day. I've got so much on my mind this week all I could think about is getting the run over with. So on the plus side, I'm running 9's again, and because I'm in a hurry I can't stop either.

It's becoming more frequent (headaches and insomnia), awesome!  Cause I'm not crazy enough already.  I never slept at all last night and didn't get out until 7:00.  So I could only get in these 4 miles this morning before a 7:30 meeting.  It's cloudy now, but the sunrise was all mine.  First time I've seen Matt K on the trail (or it's finally light enough to see who is on the trail now).  Also, the FRB A.M. team also on the move.  This morning's run was hard work. I was tired.  Maybe I'll put in a few more miles in the afternoon while kids are at piano, see if I can whip up some total exhaustion black-out.  Ahh, elusive sleep.

Yesterday I woke up to pouring rain, a headache, sore throat.  I guess that's why I'd been so tired the day before.  I actually had to call Josse to cancel our run.  It's such a charity run for her, but I missed it.  I went to work to get a few things done in the morning, but came home and laid in bed. Later in the day I felt a little better. This morning I slept in (got 11 hours of sleep) and woke up better, but still tired.  It's Good Friday and I am filled with thoughts of many Semana Santas past.  Easter has always been a special time for me.  I'm overwhelmed with feelings this weekend. Being tired and sick makes me more sensitive.  I ran late in the afternoon, not feeling my best, but was glad to be outside  There was a warm wind and the trees are budded with green nobs.  There's a little section close to the house I've always think looks like a party in Spring.  It's about 50 feet of wild choke cherry and crab apple trees that line the trail and form a flowered canopy overhead.  Today, the budded branches looked like they were about to explode like tiny popcorn kernals.  On this Good Friday, I was dreaming of the many Easter's I've spent in Baja looking for and later in life hiding Easter Eggs in the sand dunes.  I was contimplating the last Easter I was there 3 years ago for the last time. It seems like a million years ago.

I found the best new home remedy for a cold! Start by getting up at 6:30 a.m. to run 12 miles in the cold rain, then stand in your wet running clothes for two soccer games in a row (don't forget to get rained on!), then take your kids to where they have volunteered to help set up the kiddie Easter Egg hunt at  the park (again, keep your wet, salty clothes on WHILE it rains or it won't work), and then come home and drink some hot chicken broth with lemon and fresh garlic.  It totally works.