Patience; the new endurance sport.

8:45's. My body remembers,it's my lungs still catching up. But I think the running helps speed up circulation. I listened to music today while I ran (which I NEVER do).  Yesterday I was putting together a mix for the Red-Hot-Pink-Chick's half marathon (my gift to those running it) and while I was at it, I put together a late 70's era metal mix (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, etc.).  It's half irony and half nostalgia, but it sure gets the job done you're not quite 100%. 

I can not believe the difference a day makes.  I was so great yesterday, I did not expect what happened today.  I could not pick it up.   I was giving my absolute best effort only to discover I was running 9:45's.  I was out of breath, exhausted, and felt like I weighted 500 lbs.  When I got home I actually did weigh myself and was shocked that I'd actually dropped 2 more pounds (not to worry folks, I've got plenty to survive on).  I must be dehydrated and not quite better yet.  Wow.  I am so tired.  When I finished I was sweaty and spent as if I had run a marathon.  I've been waffeling about the Freedom Run, and as sad as it is to say this, I think that for the first time in 8 years, I think I'll skip it or go just to cheer for Catherine and anyone else whose running it. 

At least with the cloud cover it makes running in the later morning not totally unbearable.  I won't even blog about how slow and terrible the run was.  But I always say how grateful I am to go outside and be outside at least once a day.  So I'll stay focused on that fact.  The last few years I've taken sequence pictures while running down the trail and back (in every season of the year) so that I could click through them during times I can't actually be outside.  I haven't had the ocassion to use them (which is good).  So today, the good news is, I was able to be with my river & trees, and enjoy the feeling the sultry summertime air on my skin.  That has to be enough for today.

I got out earlier today which was nice to give it my day's first effort.  My kids have been doing Tennis lessons at 8:00 a.m. and I get really bent out of shape when their summer activities take a bite out of my beloved 6:00-8:30 zone. I look forward all school year to getting that time back for myself.  I need those two hours, or trust me, you don't want to be around me the rest of the day--or after 9:30 p.m. because that's when I turn into psycho-drama-exhausted-I-may-kill-you-if-I-don't-SLEEP-now-Mommy.  So really, there's just no good time to be around me, which explains a lot, now that I think about it.  Today, I felt  better, but who knows really, I ditched the Garmin two days ago in an effort to erase mental expectations.  I realized today how much muscle I've lost in the past two weeks.  Not just water, and weight, but muscle.  I am a pretty muscular person underneath all the layers, and being sick ate my muscular strength. I need to build that back up, it's just weird to go from running a happy-healthy Marathon to square one.  Happy July everyone!!  P.S. Crenshaw Melon is totally better than Cantelope in case you were wondering.

Beautiful place, running with dear old pals.  Happy, Happy, Happy July 3rd!!!

In my hometown, there are only about 2,000 people (it's on a hill top in East San Diego).  So on July 4th, they have their own parade.  About 200 people walk about a mile in a circle around the community.  It is the kind of parade where everyone dresses in crazy red-white-and-blue ensembles and ride their horses (with manes braided in patriotic ribbons) or motorcycles (decked with tiny flags waving)  i.e. Hickville Southern California.  While I was thinking about the 4th of July, and running the old Parade route, I remembered July 4, 1976-- the year of the bi-centennial.  I was 8 years old, my mother had died less than a month before, and I was walking my dog in the parade looking for her face along the crowd even though I knew she wouldn't be there.  I can not believe that was 33 years ago.   Thankfully much  better memories this year for me and my children on this 4th of July.  Parades, home-made snow cones, fireworks, grilled foods, all the regular stuff.  It's nice to be reminded of where I came from, but am so grateful to call Utah home.  I forgot how unforgiving tank tops are for the general population of Southern California.