Thought Full Thursday ~ What's on the inside?

Like many of you, we have had a few storms lately.

The previous storm toppled a huge tree where I work.

It was a big surprise!

That tree was full of thick branches loaded with green leaves.

It's outward appearance gave no indication of what it was hiding within.

People are sometime like that too.

We put on a veneer of maybe what we think we are, or what we'd like to be and we present that as who we are.

My children in their often brutal honesty remind me that I am no stranger to attempting to portray what I want to be more than what I am.

Me to a friend in a lengthy conversation about kids and standards:  "Oh, people who lie just drive me crazy!  Why is it so hard for people to allow others to see them make a mistake or something.  Why lie about it?  I just tell the truth and if they don't like it...  Why can't we just be honest with eachother...."

Later....

S'ghetti girl:  "Mom.  Why did you say you don't lie?"

Me:  "What do you mean?"

S'ghetti girl:  "When you were talking with (friend)?

Me:  "Well, I don't think it was your conversation but I didn't say I don't lie.  I probably said I try not to lie."

S'ghetti girl:  "Nope.  You said you don't.  And you do."

Me:  "How do I lie?"

S'ghetti girl:  "Like when you tell (LBM) that the remote disappeared because you don't want him to have it. Or when you..."

Me:  "Ok.  Ok.  You're right.  But I meant to tell (friend) that I TRY not to lie."

Day# 144

That conversation just got me thinking about what else I might think I say or do and fall short or misrepresent.  Here in bloggy world you have only my words to come to know me.

Of course we all attempt to relay the best possible version of ourselves.

I wonder sometimes, how much we'd all like each other if for one day we were all as honest as children?

Do your children ever help you notice short comings in your own personal journey?

Tell me about it.

Proverbs 12:17A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. 

Wondering on Wednesday

I don't know how special you are but I am all kinds of special.

How do I know that I am special?  Well, take last night for example.  After being complete angels while I ran 8 miles on the treadmill, I was treated to private show via the singing and dancing talents of my two year old as he headlined from the coffee table.

Don't worry.  I'll smuggle in my phone and video it for you next time so you won't feel left out.

I am all kinds of special. Who nows what they'll surprise me with tonight!

What makes you think you're all kinds of special?

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

It sure wasn't ole yeller

Day # 142 ~ 3.5ish miles

I need more sleep!

I have two dogs.  Medium sized canines. 

Both will bark at you as you apporach my house with their tails wagging like a leaf in the breeze. 

That was the biggest difference in my dogs and my doggie encounter this morning.

A wagging tail.

The wonderfully larger dirty yellow lab-ish looking creature that I saw about a quarter mile past my first mile marker was NOT into wagging his tail.

Raising the hair on  the back of his neck.  Check.

Baring his teeth.  Check.

Pacing back and front on the front to keep me from passing.  Check.

Growling loudly.  Check.

Tail wagging.  Not so much.

Once I realized all these things were going on and I did not know this dog at all I attempted to back away from it.  It simply got closer.

And closer.

Until it had changed positions on the road with me.

Now I was closer to the nearest house and farther away from my return route.

I figured I would try to slowly back away towards the house.

The dog, growling loudly, closely followed.

Luckily a small truck came.  Yeah!  I knew the driver. 

Although I would not have given the driver the opportunity to get past us.

I asked him if he knew the dog.  (He is a local farmer)

Nope.

Into the truck we piled and he drove us back up the road a safe distance to finish our run.

And I thought it was going to be another run of the mill morning run.

How do you handle canine encounters?

Our first relay - in photos

Hubbs choose our green shirt

Hubbs ran the first (3.2) and third legs (2) of our 20k

He did great!

We came home with a surprising third place trophy!

It was wonderful to have everyone together,

sharing in a wonderfully active morning!

This could be the start of some great weekends together.

Something we all take for granted

....Fresh air.

The only time we notice air is when its not so fresh.

Or causing us to have a little extra resistance in our daily run.

But it really isn't about Fresh Air; it's about a fresh perspective.

And fresh view on how life can be for some children who otherwise wouldn't know the experience of getting out of their urban surroundings and being part of nature, making friends and see the world in a fresh new way.

I'm sure many of you can remember when you took those first steps to your fresh start.

Those first few times you stepped out into the fresh air to change your life and begin your fresh start to a healthier lifestyle.

How better to help others than by running.

How can you help?

By running with the Fresh Air Fund Racers 

at the ING NYC Marathon this November 7th.

Yes that is the ING NYC sold out Marathon!

You can still get in by running with the Fresh Air Fund Racers!

Already signed up for the ING NYC Marathon?  You can still join to run with Fresh Air Fund Racers by following the link.  FAF Runners commit to raising $2500 for the Fresh Air Fund.

What could be better? 

A great city.  A great run.  A giving heart.

You'll simply never step outside again without thinking about that Fresh Air!

Full Moon

Thursday p.m. run ~ Day # 137

Haven't the evenings just been amazing?

(except for the bugs)

The moon as been so bright it is hard to stay inside and sleep.

Okay you see the photo.

Yes.

I did run last evening

BUT

I took things slower

AND

I shortened my run on Wednesday evening

AND

eased my pace.

Today hip is back to his usual silent self. 

I do plan to adjust my runs since his chatter.

The relay this weekend is about running with Hubbs so

I will be running it at a strong pace but will not be all out racing. 

Next week I will fall back on my mileage and intensity.

We have more racing the next several weekends

and then the main event at the end of October

the Fire on the Mountain Trail 50K.

Thanks for the comments on the last few posts. 

I appreciate everyone who was willing to chime in with their opinions

on world issues and my personal OCD issues.

Steady feet and strong legs to all those lucky runners racing this weekend.

And a special shoot out to all the bloggy meet ups happening, too.

Enjoy the wonderful fall weekend everyone!

I'm not in his clique

Right now as I sit here at work, I am feeling my hip. 

Okay.  I am not actually rubbing my hands all over my hip. 

That would be weird.

But I am noticing my hip.

Usually my hip is just there doing it's own hip thing.

We don't talk much.

I guess I'm just not in my hip's social clique.

Whatever.

But today hip seems to be saying something.

Quietly but saying something.

I know my form has been off since I took my big fall.

I really tweaked my leg from my ankle to my knee and I bounced around on my right hip.

But my hip was just bruised.

I am thinking about taking my evening run off.

Okay there I said it.

I have already run my morning miles so I am good for the day.

My mileage is good as long as I stick to my miles the rest of the week and even if I have a lighter week now I'd be okay with that since I have a great base and a month until the Ultra.

Gee am I trying to convince you or me?

Hummm.  I better go.  That's hip talking again.

I'm going to send hip some drugs and see if that shuts him up.

And maybe an evening's rest.

Wondering on Wednesday

My life continues it's daily routine.  The damage from my fall is steadily healing.

The kids are up to their normal antics.

Hubbs and I are preparing for our 20k Relay on Saturday.

Life is good...but...

Day # 136 ~ 3.5 / 27:25

opps actually this is a shot from last night's 6.5 ~ 56 flat

This is from this morning's run ~ Juvenile Red spotted newt

...I may have some of you believing that I am only about running but I am in fact a person with slightly deeper thoughts (occasionally).

I saw this article:

CLICK HERE

and it got me wondering.

It is about an impending execution.  Yeah.  Got your attention on that one.

It will be the first time since 1912 that the state of Virginia has executed a woman. 

I am wondering.

 

What you do think about this?

Whether you live in Virginia or not.  Whether you think it matters that it is a woman or not.  Whether you think you can change anything or not. 

Simply because we are all people with opinions beyond our running/fitness interests,

How do you feel about this issue?

Things that made my day

A customer at work said to me, "You look like a little kid."

Day # 135 ~ 3.5 / 27:53

Seeing things like this along my running way.

Having biking sherpa suggest that we "just add 3.5 miles to get a little ahead" in my miles.
(the brain washing is working!)

Day # 134 ~ p.m. run ~ 10 miles / 1:22

Finding things like these around our yard.

Only having two subjects for homework
AND having S'ghetti girl already have one of them done!

LBM telling me "YEP" everytime I ask him if he loves me.

What makes your day?

Staying present

Day # 134 ~ 3.5 miles

This morning I hit over 1000 miles without a day off.
This morning I felt I have ran 1000 miles without a day off.
Let me explain.

This weekend Hubbs took the kids and I to Walnut Creek Park.  He told me I had 2 hours to run. 
Oh Goody!  I was excited.  I really need time on technical trails again before the Ultra at the end of October.  So even though I was completely unprepared for serious trail running I grabbed a trail map, kissed the family and started running.
I wanted to work on my trail navigation, tracking and downhill speed. 
 (that, my friends, is what is called forshadowing!)
Since I did not know the trails my pace was painfully slow but I reminded myself to work on the aspects of trail running that I had planned to work on.  There is nothing worse than changing your running plan mid-run.  It makes for moments of mental "absenses."  You know what I mean, when you are lost in your thougths or lost in your planning your next move and not staying present. 
Well, while you are on unfamilar technical trails there is no time for that!
(more of that foreshadowing)
I stopped at intersections to plan which trail I would take but I felt comfortable while on the trails and never felt like I had missed a marker.  During the run even on the rockiest sections I felt confident about my tracking and finding my path.  However on the steepest downhills I was still slowing more than I wanted to.
(...foreshadowing...wait for it...)
I was out of the harder sections and had decided that I was just going to put in a few more miles and call it a day.  I did not have enough water and I was covered in salt already.  These choices put me on a moderate trail of about 2 miles to loop me back to the playground.  That is when I started to mentally recap what I had done "right" and what I had done "not so right."
...And then I was flying!  What???!?!?
Then I was sliding rolling painfully bouncing on rocks down the side of a hill.
ouch.
At that very moment I had been thinking about the consequences of falling with a handheld and not wanting to suffer an unarressted fall.  The fall lasted long enough for me to strike almost every surface of my body. 
Okay, slight overstatement.
I was able to not hit my face.
The side of my head; shoulder; upper back; right forearm; major knee, calf, right hand and ankle damage.
o.u.c.h.
The funny thing is that after we got home and I used a skewer to picked the rocks and dirt out of the hole in my knee I was still eager to go back to the trails.  I know I am very lucky that I did not suffer a serious injury.  I was alone on the trail and a long way from assistance.  But I can't help but wish someone had seen me oh, video would be even better just so I could know why I fell so hard on that stretch of trail. 
It was a painful lesson in staying present mentally.  It's a mistake I hope I don't make again!
I just hope this run isn't foreshadowing for the October Ultra!

What is your best "fall" story? 
Did it make you trail/run shy afterward?

What I can do in 11 minutes

Remember yesterday's post?  The one about the world being full of rainbows and sunshine?

Yeah, about that.



11:35 p.m.  The house phone rings.  It's Hubbs worried because I didn't hear my cell phone ring when he called.  So he started to worry.  I was asleep.  Asleep at 11:35 p.m. is an awesome night for me!

2 - 3:30 a.m. Up with LBM.  My baby boy does not tolerate cow's milk very well.  Why do I keep trying to get him to be "okay" with it.  Why do I allow he to have "just a little" when he wants to drink what sissy is drinking??

5:33 a.m.  My cell phone rings.  Battery is dying.  Instead of just getting up and staying up, maybe hit the treadmill for a longer run, I get my charger and lay down to "just rest me eyes."  Haven't we all done that?

7:12 a.m.  S'ghetti girl is standing in my bedroom door way asking if I am awake.

The bus comes at 7:23 a.m...

...and we were ready!

My husband calls me Super Girl from the years he was in Afghanistan and I had to deal with everything. 
Today I am Super Girl. 

Because I somehow got it all done and back on schedule in 11 minutes.

Day # 131 ~ 3.5 / 29/08

Yeah my hair is down.  Sorry Mel.

What is your amazing "11 minute" success story?

Three Things Thursday ~ Choices Edition

It's going to be a great day!

Day # 130 ~ 3.5 / 27:08

1)  I have ran 40 miles in the last five days.  I averaged a 7:44 pace on this morning's run!
It's raining outside which means I might ditch my p.m. miles or have to run on the treadmill.  Yuckish.

2)  I got to spend the morning's drive with LBM and my mommy! 
 Mom was with us to bring Hubb's car home from the garage.  I just dished out over $300 in car repairs

3)  I remembered to bring my thermos of coffee from home today.  Yummy and savings!
LBM wouldn't go to bed until after midnight and then was up three times through the night.


It's all about how you look at things.  It's about choosing a positive attitude. 

What happened in your day that you can choose to look at differently?


"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
~ Philippians 4:8




"A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things."... St. John of the Cross


Heather @ Run faster mommy  is hosting a Brooks Giveaway.
I just know I'm gonna win!
It's all about attitude.

Feel like a Ninja Warrior

S'ghetti girl doing her lunges.  She said she felt like a Ninja warrior.

LBM did pushups on the road.  I kid not.  Photos to prove it.  Oy vey

You remember my Legs Love Lunges Post  thanks to the lovely Amanda at 5 Miles Past Empty, right?

That was the brain storm from one very nice west coastie soon-to-be east coastie runner who loves to stick out her tongue in photos.  I can't wait to get her on my side of the country!

She challenged us to do lunges for 30 days at least 3 times a week.  Well, you know I love me a good challenge so I did those lunges!  At first my legs screamed!  Hello back of my thighs.  Not in shape much?

But after about the first three days they seemed to get used to it.

I must admit that I never got past 20 lunges per leg.  Lazy much?  Yes I am.  But I did lunges after my runs 3 - 5 times a week. 

Here are the photos:

Before

After

You may not see a big difference but my muscles do feel firmer and the back of my legs does seem a bit smoother.  This is a habit I will be keeping up!

 

On the running front, it's Day # 129 and the third of four 10 mile days.  I am looking forward to the weekend and having some sitter support to get in some runs without the jogger.  I enjoy having LBM with me, we share some interesting conversations along the way.  I know the neighbors are staring!

BUT a girl needs to put in some solo trail miles in order to race on trails and have any idea of an expected pace on race day. 

I only need to know what paces I will be hitting to allow my family to be able to be at the finish line to cheer me in.  I am still not at a place where I am trying to be competitive in a ultra distance and probably never will be.  So for the upcoming races I will be 1) Running a relay with Hubbs ~ his pace 2) Pacing Hubbs in the half or using the Marathon as training run for the Ultra 3) Racing local 10k ~ Hubbs running 5k? 4) Running the Ultra ~ hopes to improve my distance PR.

If I can make all that happen along with day-to-day life is yet to be seen but one thing I know for sure is my legs will look good trying and maybe I'll feel like a Ninja Warrior too thanks to Amanda and her Legs Love Lunges Challenge!

Thanks Amanda!

Happy Wednesday!

Awesome Brooks Giveaway  hosted by a busy mom of three, entrepreneur and running coach;  Racing with Babes.  She's up to so much she has to write about it all or no one would believe one person can do all that! Go check it out!

It Makes Me Wanna Shout!

Some days I worry that I am not getting enough cross training done but I tell myself I just can't fit anything else into my days.  However this morning I realized I have hit on the next big cross training craze!

It's Running Shake Weights!

Come on.  You'd do it!

It only takes a couple steps.

1.  Place one very active, fighting-nap-time, 2 year old in a jogging stroller.

2.  Add music.  For an extra tough workout, I recommend Veggie Tales Backyard Party, Shout!

3.  After lacing up your favorite running shoes, place both hands firmly on the jogging stroller and run.

Within mintues your arms will begin to feel the burn as your lively 2 year old wiggles and does whole body motions to the music.  After only a few session not only will you see new definition in your arms and core, you will also be able to sing along to those wonderfully repetitive songs that stay in your head ALL day long!

That is a Free added bonus!

Join the craze today.

Day # 128 ~ 3.5 wiggly miles with LBM

I think I drank too much coffee yesterday!

...You know it makes me wanna SHOUT!

Taking Notice

Arigiope Aurantia ~ Garden spider

I love fall.  The cooler temperatures.  The foggy mornings. 

The increased chance of seeing critters of all kinds along my journey.

You don't have to be a very faithful follower to have picked up on the fact that I love all things nature.

I love trees.  I love creeks.  I love rocks.  I love wildlife.

That includes spiders.

Day 127 ~ a.m. run 3.5 miles / 28:08

I have been watching for them for a few weeks but it wasn't until this morning that their webs were filled with dew and I could more easily spot them.

The lovely garden spider.

She (and her many many friends) have been here all summer long however they we just too small for me to really see them until now. 

I just love how running provides me with the opportunity and perspective to see my little piece of the world in a different way.  Running give me the chance to see just how closely I share my world with so many other living things. 

There were about 20 spiders just along the road in front of my house. 

They all eat the many bugs that are so abundant this time of year.

So I will tread lightly as I run this fall.

And I'll say a few thank yous along the way.

Tread lightly please.

Tall Mom is hosting a Five Cherries Giveaway.

No!  You won't win fruit.

Five Cherries is the name of an Esty shop

run by a mom of Five, yes that is f.i.v.e. children.

Can we all say a prayer for her together?!
Stop by Tall Mom and see what it is all about.

Racing with Babes is hosting a Race Day Memories giveaway.
What is Race Day Memories?
It is exactly that.  A wonderful way to keep your race day memories from becoming unvisited files on your computer or dusty prints filed in a shoe box.
Tell TBM that I sent  you by.


Trish at Endurance isnt only physical is hosting (my favorite) CEP Compression socks giveaway!
We all know that my current pair are being put to some extereme use.
I am cheap so I need to win a new pair.
and I bet you could use some help recovering too! 
Stop by and let her know I sent you.

Remembering for many reasons

Today we will all stop and appreciate our families a little more.  Today we will all think about that day in the past.
Today I am remembering, thanks to a friend, that I wasn't yet at work that day.  I was late.  September 11th @ 8:45 I was still running.
Today I will run the same morning loop that made me late to know that evil was trying to win that day.
Today I will remember.  And I will pray that we've learned.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Three Things Thursday

Because this is my "the world is mostly rosey" place but the world and life sometimes are not, I want to share some troubling news only to once again ask for your support.  And isn't that at least one reason why we are all here sharing with one another? 

There wasn't much sleeping last night at my house.  After my evening run with LBM I got some worrisome news about an extended family member, Shirley.  She is my sister's mother-in-law.  Now you might think that means she is really nothing to me however, I have know Shirley since I was in the middle school, had a crush on her son (yeah the one my big sister married, eeewwww) and shared nearly every holiday and picnic with Shirley's family.  We are a very close extended family unit.  I think it a rural folk's thing.

The details are not important just know she is in grave condition in the ICU in the hospital and could use all the prayers and positive thoughts you could have time to send her way.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.

 ~ Isaiah 43:2

Because this is my "the world is mostly rosey" place and I live with the confidence that faith affords me, let's return to the regular living running banter.

 

Day # 123 ~ 3.5 miles / 28:10

It's Day #123 but who is still really counting?  me 

I have my miles in for today.  3.5 miles  It's a "rest" day.  I will be putting in two "rest" days of lower miles so that I can put in at least one longer run this weekend. 

I am hopeful to put in about 12 miles on Saturday morning.  I will be in VA so anyone interested drop me a line.  I am eager to see if giving my legs a "break" helps me feel more rest while still giving me the mileage I know I need with long races quickly coming.

What better to end with than a giveaway? 

Beth @ Shut Up and Run (which would have been Trap It and Run in my house growing up.  We were not allowed to say Shut Up.  Really!)  is hosting an $80 CSN Stores giveaway.

I have been trying to win this for EVER!  I really want a fancy backpack.  I think it will encourage the fam to get out and hike more. 

Hubbs is ALL about the gadgets!

Head over to CSN and see all the great stuff they have and then visit Shut Up and Run.

You know her?  She is that famous blogger who recently ran with Dean Karnazes! Not.kidding.

Tell her I sent you!

 

The Honesty of Children

During our long holiday weekend our family went hiking.  As we sometimes do we attempted to squeeze a little too much into a little to little time.  Which had us on the trail a bit later in the day than I had hoped.  I didn't want to get caught on the trails after sunset with the kids so I encouraged everyone to push a bit on the return trip. 

I must say they all did great!  It was a challenging trail for younger legs.

The following day I didn't get up early to get my miles in before we had to leave for PA.  As the day went on and the traffic and time in the car grew longer I wondered if I would be able to make myself put any miles in the books.

As I was grumbling about not really wanting to head out for a run, S'ghetti girl reminded me of my own words.

"Push yourself mom!", she said.

"Just like you pushed me on the trail.  Push yourself to do it.  You know you'll be happy you did."

You know what?

She was right.

Day # 121 ~ p.m. run 6.5 / a.m. 3.5

Advice heard and taken

Day # 118 ~ 8.36 miles

Advice heard and taken.

In a post this weekend when I finally made my racing dreams actual plans, I asked for your input.  

Thanks for all the supportive "Yes you can do it" type comments.

I did receive a piece of experienced advice.  Experienced in that fact that the advice was from a lady who has been running a long time.

I will listen to advice from anyone who believes they have some information that will help me.  However, I usually reserve taking that advice and using it to situations where the advice givers have more (or similar) experience than myself or more education.  
Sometimes I take the advice because I KNOW that I just needed others to tell me what I already knew I should be doing. 
Why do we need that sometimes?

Day # 119 ~ 10.60 miles

 Cynthia O'H said that with the 50k coming up I might need to get in some longer consecutive runs.  Even though I have already done this distance twice, I think maybe that might be a good piece of advice.  So this weekend while I had some sitter support aka Hubbs, I hit the road and trails for some longer run.  

I have to tell you that I just love the distance.  There is something great about running for a long time.

Day # 120 ~ back in PA ~ 6.5 miles after driving 180

Is it just me? 

or do you feel it too?  

After you get past that warming up first mile and the finding your pace and stride miles you enter into that this-is-something-I could-do-all-day zone!

I found it this weekend after 8 miles.

Where did you find it? 

Left or Right

Ginny at Happy Feet 26.2 commented on my new header photo.

You can see it up there.  Take a look.

Do you notice anything?

Well, Ginny did.  She busted me on running on the right hand side of the road.

I am a believer in running against traffic or on the left hand side.  I like to be responsible for seeing the traffic and getting out of their way.  I don't leave my body out there for others to avoid hitting.

Now I live in an extermely rural area.  The fact that there is a line on the road is a relatively recent event.  Yeah, event.  Not a whole lot happens in my area.  Not a neighborhood an area, a cove, a hollow.

So if you notice in other photos that I stand in the middle of the road or run there, don't be suprised.  However, it is not done as an example to other runners.  My running behavior is the result of running in the kind of area I live in for my entire life.

Hope your enjoying your Holiday Weekend
no matter what side of the road you run on!