A look behind to see ahead

 

As a trail runner one thing you quickly learn is to not look back.  Looking behind almost always causes you to stumble and fall.  Then you lose momentum and, at times, have trouble starting back up again.  But there are times when it's safe and even beneficial to look back and take in the path you have already traveled.

 

 

 

As I was running this morning I was in a nostalgic frame of mind because today is my firstborns  birthday.  It was difficult to reduce to a few words what I wanted to say to him.  Those words were something like the first words he and I shared together, private.  Because I'm old fashioned like that.  But the walk down memory lane got me thinking about where I've been in different aspects of my life.  Of course, running was one of them.   

 

With that it's time for a numbers update: 2095.4 miles for the year. Day 1195 of the streak. 10,497.6 streak miles.

 

Now that I've looked back it's time to look forward.  Often I remind the biggest of my littles that he needs to remember where he has been but have a plan for the direction he wants to move forward in.  The same is true for me.  Let's see where I'm going in the days ahead.

 

In 15 days I will be running The Ring.  This is 71 miles on the Massanutten trail.  The reason I am running it three fold.  1.  I need to get past a mileage barrier I feel I have created for myself.  2. It will be the first on many runs to prepare myself for another MMT 100.  3.  The Massanutten trails are calling me back.

 

In 42 days I will be running the Mega.  The Mega is about a 27ish mile climb in PA.  It is a course like no other I've ever been on.  It offers an element - boulder climbing - that I don't get anywhere else. 
 

 

In 71 days I'll be back again for FOTM.  That's the 50k in MD that has an unexpectedly challenging course.  It's low key, real ultra trail running feel always makes me feel like a bada## when I finish it.  Plus this race was one of the first races I really found trail running peace during.  I go back year after year to find it again.

 

 

In 91 days I'll be back again for the Stone Mill 50 miler.  This could be the year that Lesley at Racing It Off joins me for some very supported fun.  Although with those long legs of hers and her killer racing lately she may been at the finish before me.  If she is she'd better get some great finish line photos of me. 

 

Sprinkled in between these dates are a hand full of training runs for different races and of course my daily running streak continues.  So it's a trail without end.  It's a race without a victory.  There will be no finisher's medal or golden buckle for reaching an end point.  I have not ultimate destination.  The trails just continues and as long as I keep feeling that pull to see what is around the next bend or over that hill, I will continue to run forward.  No matter the pace I will continue to see what draws me to those place that are just beyond where my eyes can see.

Routes, Partying and YMX

 

I finally broke in the VHTRC shirt.  I ran about 50 miles last week and most of them in my bright blue tech shirt.  Even though I am still feeling a little like a Popsicle trying to acclimate to life on the sidewalk, I have been running outside in the heat everyday.  I'm not sure I can say that my VHTRC shirt did anything exceptional considering it was soaked halfway through every run but it did seem to make cars beep at me more frequently than usual while I was on "the front road." 

 

 

Unlike in PA, when I am in VA I don't know that I have a "favorite" route.  Maybe my 8 something route is fairly enjoyable.  Or when I drive to the trails, that is always enjoyable except for the having to drive to the trails part.  I'm spoiled with my PA ability to run for hours and see 3 cars.  While running in VA this hour long run included easily 50 times that many cars since I ran my "front road" route.  But I did find wild raspberries that helped make the run a little more exciting and I am still in search of a couple front door friendly routes that will become my VA favorites.

 

 

 
 
 

 

Speaking of favorites, S'ghetti Girl turned 12 this month and we were again partying.  This time we were partying with her besties in VA. 

 

The weather cooperated and the kids spent their time swimming and splashing to their hearts content.  Even LBM was welcomed into the battle.  S'ghetti Girl is blessed with a wonderful group of friends both in PA and in VA. 

 

Surprisingly S'ghetti Girl's favorite "gift" was her cake.  She had requested cupcakes, even though the cup cakes from her PA party had gotten smashed she still wanted to try them again.  But after searching everywhere for anything Rise of the Guardians themed and finding nothing, I opted to have a caked printed with a ROTG photo. 

 

 

 

She loved it.  And of course ate Jack Frost's face because that's what tween girls do when they think a guy is cute.  I guess.  I'm still completely okay with her crushing on a fictional character, the alternative frightens me. 

 

I ended my weekend with a longish run in one of my YMX tops that I hadn't gotten to test yet.  It looked great and dried quickly even after it became wring-out-wet thanks to the humidity.  This shirt may actually be too pretty to run in.  When I put it on the super secret spy thought it was too nice to go get all sweaty.  I was concerned that the "lace" neckline would become itchy and bother me during my run but I never noticed it during the run.  With this VA heat this top will definitely be getting it's share of workouts.

 

3TT ~ I'm seeing 3s Edition

This morning was day #3 of 5th grade. 

Our family is still struggling a bit with the new routine.  S'ghetti girl is still hard to get moving in the morning.  LBM still wants to be awake through the middle of the night and then sleep when it's time to be getting ready for his day.  I am still an epic fail on my morning runs and workouts.  BUT it is only day #3 and I know that what is important to each of us will get done.  It may take a few weeks to have the school schedule become habit but it will happen and then we will wonder why it ever was a challenge.

Today God willing will be my third day of double runs. 

Okay, Monday I did a mini-double too but a mile with LBM didn't really count.

I have been enjoying my outside hilly route each evening and then hitting my new-to-me treadmill to finish my miles.  After my mysterious sore thigh episode I am treading lightly on getting what I feel is some lost leg strength back.  I notice the issue most on my hilly 6.5 mile route when I hit the uphills.  My left leg just doesn't have the "push."  I can keep going but the strength to keep my pace up simply isn't there when I hit those hills.  So I have been easing back into my hills.  And if last night's run is any indication, it is working.  I didn't do a warm up typical I simply started running and felt blah.  I thought this run might be another effort but once I hit my first short steep hill something clicked.  It was practically audible!  It was like that place you might be lucky enough to have visited during a run that just goes your way.  It might happen some where in a long run or on a beautiful trail when your mind seems to forget your running.  Your body seems to almost effortlessly move forward and your mind is lost along the way in daydreamy thoughts or familiar scenery that is transformed into something now magically captivating.

Last night my neighbors might have seen me running my "normal" hilly loop but inside I was running some place extraordinary.  And I hope to find my way there again tonight!

Three years ago today it was Labor Day. 

Three years ago today was my labor day and I welcome LBM into the world for the first time.  It was the first time I could hear his voice, smell his LBM smell and hold his little body.  That morning was the first time I could feel him "love me back" after having loved him for over seven months already LBM was early. 

This morning I woke up with LBM in my arms again.  He slept with me sleep being optional at points through the night last night.  I woke up to that same sweet face, those same sweet smells and feeling that love he sends to me.  But today as he turns 3 years old he can tell me he loves me.  One of my favorite ways is when he says,

"Mommy,  You are my favorite!"

Happy Big Third Birthday LBM!

A Few Happenings

We celebrated Hubb's 40th birthday.

We attempted to roller skate...

...finally figured it out...

...and then totally rocked it!

I move up to 15th on the wait list

looks like I am actually going to be doing this! EEEK

We played in the woods

We climbed to new heights

We enjoyed a few runs just for the fun of it!

Day # 323.

Sometimes non-racing weekends are the best!

More Weekend in Rewind

Sunday afternoon we celebrated LBM's second birthday.  The kids were having so much fun I couldn't even get them to stop for cake!  So I had to take it to them.  Of course when it came time to open presents EVERYTHING stopped and paper flew!

  

 

Sadly Saturday came and went without a single photo being taken.  Can you believe it?

I know!  And I went on TWO runs.  One of them with Hubbs and NO photo. 

I am slipping.

The runs were great.  I got one 3.5 loop in solo (pause as the chorus of angels sings) while Hubbs took the kiddos on an four-wheeler ride.  The second 3.5 loop was with Hubbs and LBM.  It was Hubb's first run over 20 minutes that he didn't walk since his surgeries.  (you may remember he ran in the Race From Your Cubicle 5k, well he walked some of that).

I was so happy that he 1) allowed me to encourage him and 2) he didn't give up when he got tired.

 

Friday I had to take an day off of work due to some sitter complications so I was able to greet S'ghetti girl off the school bus.  She was so excited.  Can't you tell?

She had a "bad day."  She told me a new friend had stolen her favorite pencil and then lied about it.

Can you remember when the BIG dramas in life revolved around what pencil you used? 

Or what your did or didn't "borrow" from you?

We chatted on the porch to leave that "bad day" outside and not bring it home with her.  She came to a plan of how to handle this new "friend" and the situation on Monday. 

I was so productive with my day "off" that I got in my two runs long before I had to be ready for the after school bus.  Although I had forgotten how hot it gets running in the middle of the day.

LBM used the "long" run as his nap time in the jogger.  Score!

I started my Friday with my wake up 3.5 loop and then did my lunges around the cemetary.  It was a beautiful start to the day.

Thursday evening started the "weekend" for me this week since I would be off on Friday.  Biking Sherpa, LBM and I finished our run at the church with lunges.  Yeah, I was the only one DOING the lunges but we had a visitor doing CIRCLES!

It is NOT a good sign when a groundhog is:

1.  Out in a public place during the day.

2.  Unafraid of you.

3.  Walking drunken circles.

Of course NONE of those obvious signs kept me back from the animal.  Biking Sherpa and LBM stayed a safe distance as I got closer to see if he might have been "rolled" by a car.  Not the case.  He was a definate rabies candidate.  I will spare you the details.  But with the close proximity of the church to my house the necessary precautions were taken.  (sorry)

To start my weekend off right, I gathered up Biking Sherpa and LBM to head out for what would turn out to be an eventful evening run. 

You just gotta love the weekend!

There you go.  I'm all caught up to where I fell behind.  Whew!

Remember you still have time to enter the Three Giveaways but only until

7 a.m. September 1st!  Jump back and enter now. 

You have a great chance at winning.

Thanks for checking in with me!