A Runner's Sin

 

The radar map this morning told that story.  It was going to be a day in the house.  While I already know thanks to FB that there are those that did not welcome our current weather, I am thrilled by it. 

I miss my treadmill. 

I realize I probably just committed a runner's sin but I really do miss it.  Those regular long runs without the worry of carrying water or where I might need to duck if I have a corn field emergency.  I'm thrill at the thought of watching something I want to watch while I run in one place.  Thanks to my mom I now have a treadmill here in VA to use until I decide what I want to do about a permanent one that can handle my abuse.  Thanks to the weather and the inability to get up and run before the super secret spy goes to work today I will be running on my dad's old treadmill.  Even if the miles gets hard and awkward I will enjoy knowing that my dad used that same machine. 

 

So today while LBM rides his hot wheel around the basement, builds imaginary worlds from cardboard boxes and scatters a million toy cars around the floor, I will be happily running in one place and thankful I get to do it every single day.

 

How do you get your sweat on when the weather doesn't cooperate?

Are you happy for the change or use it as a rest day?

 

My scariest run ever

Back hom in PA they had hail

There are days when life and family come first and your run gets pushed farther and farther down the priority list.  That was the way my Friday played out and set the stage for one of the most frightening runs I have ever taken.  

I was sandblasted with dirt that had been blowing in the air

It started out routinely enough; I left the family in the pool.  They were cajoling me to stay and play while I knew that an hour alone would bring me back a much happier mom and wife.  So I laced the shoes, clicked on the headlight and off I went.

Back in PA luckily the only structural damage

 was to the dog enclosure.  Doggie was fine.

I planned to run 30 minutes out and then double back.  I was hoping that I could push my pace and get in about 7 miles and then jump into the pool.  I ran the first 2 miles uneventfully.  But it quickly became clear that I probably didn't have an hour before the storm that was pushing my direction would overtake me.  I've quickly learned that seeing a thunderstorm on the adjacent mountains is nothing unusual.  Quite often it will play it's self out long before getting to my house. 

24 hours after the storm there were trees still down

Friday evening was different.  The storm simply spread and kept growing with prolific lightning strikes.  I decided to turn around and head back but I was still thinking I could easily and safely make it back to the house.  Even though I did push my pace, I continued with the thought that I was completely safe until I turned onto "our" road.  Once I turned I was running in parallel to the storm instead of away from it and the wind that I hadn't even noticed before caught me. Instantly I could not stand straight up anymore, I had to almost squat to the ground to keep the wind from pushing me over. There was so much debris that I was being hit with a constant grit and leaves and branches were flying in the air. I started to run (as best I could double over) towards the nearest house when I heard the wind begin to sound like a train. All I could think was there must be a tornado and I HAD to get home. 

Tree hanging on electircal lines and into one lane of traffic

I cut across yards and fields to get closer to the house and as I did a giant flying object nearly knocked me over.  That object turned out to be our giant pool raft.  With debris hitting me and the blinding grit in the air, I chased down the raft and wedged it against me and the wind hoping I could use it to keep anything else from hitting me while I tried to call or text hubbs to come get me.  Yes, I had my phone the whole time.  As I was trying to text (I didn't think he would hear me over the wind), his truck drove by.  I tried to flash my headlamp at him but he did see.  I quickly sent a text that he ha just passed me and thankfully he got it, turned around and chuckled as I cling to that raft and wouldn't let it go until we had put it in the back of the truck. 

Back at the house the power was out which meant my only shower was with the water left in my handheld until the storm calmed and I jumped in the pool.  This will definitely go down as the scariest run I've ever!

Have a scary run story?  Think you've been though worse?

Please share.

Racing the storm

I watched out the window all day at work.  I saw the sun shining.  I saw the birds busy at the nests.  I saw the breeze blowing the blossoming trees.  It was wonderful to think that spring was finally here to stay.

Until 4:50.

That is when I remember that spring equals thunder storms because it began to down pour.  I thought all hopes of getting outside for a run where lost.

But just as quickly as it had begun the rain stopped.  The skies brightened.  I knew there was a window of opportunity.  I quickly picked up the kiddos and headed home.  We briefly paused to move a gorgeous orange box turtle off the road. 

Army Son was thankfully home and willing to help. 

I quickly changed my clothes and headed out the door. 

After a mile and a half I saw the second turtle of the season was one of the two giant snapping turtle who I have seen each year at the bend in the creek.  He was swimming in the water that had ponded in the field.  I'll look forward to more encounters as the days pass.

(photo rights)

I cruised along enjoying the breeze and didn't notice the dark clouds filling the cove from the south until I was nearly half way around my egg shaped looped course.  I watched over my shoulder as the dark clouds hugged the far ridge line and quickly over took me.  Luckily my route took me back across the cove and back along the opposite ridge line.  I made it home in time to watch the dark clouds begin to spill across the cove and tumble over the mountains near my house.  S'ghetti girl and I stood on the porch and watched as the lightening lit the darkening skies knowing I had raced and beaten the storm.

This time.



Day # 352 ~ 6.5 evening run