Things I See Along My Way

Running my regular routes each day I am able to appreciate the subtle changes to my scenery.  I enjoy watching the sun rise move along the ridge line as winter turns to spring and then to summer.

I enjoy how I get to watch as the farmer's labors are rewarded with crops that fill the fields each year.

I look forward to all the smells each season brings to my rural neighborhood.  My mock pear tree is in bloom and greets me each morning with an invigoratingly sweet perfume.

The way every place is made more beautiful as the plants turn green and bloom.  Even the cemetery near my home becomes a beautiful scene.

The wildlife I get to see by getting outside each day punctuates my normal daily routine with my own version of excitement. 

I love getting to how each animals I might encounter at different points along my runs.  I know where I will see the most turtle, baby snakes, muskrats, kingfishers, heron, raccoon...

You might think my runs would become boring or too routine but then I am provided with a view of this...

...and I am reminded to appreciate the amazing beauty in all the simple things around me.

I've seen all kinds of things and been provided with so many opportunities simply because I was out running around my "neighborhood," getting to talk with a neighbor who is facing a medical struggle, throwing a ball that had bounced onto the road back to a yard full of kids, helping an older neighbor take in they groceries, meeting new neighbors, reconnecting with nature, and becoming more aware of how closely we share our little patch of the planet.

Just when you think you are 'just going for a run' remember it's not just a run, it is an amazing opportunity to open your eyes and see.

What have you seen along your way?

When nature speaks

I'm not alone in the fact that I often run the same routes.  Most weeks will find me running 2 regular routes, one of which is a looped route that I will run in different directions to switch up the amount of inclines/declines.
So with a limited number of daily routes I get pretty good at knowing my pace based on my effort or how I'm feeling.
This morning's run I just wasn't sure how it would go.  I didn't really need another speed session but wanted a solid effort due to what will probably turn out to be a holiday weekend of over indulgence.
I got up early while everyone else was asleep and hit the road. My effort level felt pretty high but the humidity was taking a toll too.
As the sweat poured off of me, I soon realized that I was being TOLD how my run was going to go this morning.  In 6.5 miles, I saw 6 of these. 

 

Some days just finishing is what it is all about.

 
Speaking of moving slowly, my blog could use your help moving a little faster too.  Between the grilled burgers, veggie pizza and three different pasta salads if you find your hands free CLICK HERE to help my blog move up to the Top 25 Health and Fitness Mom Blogs on Circle of Moms.

 

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

A Turtle-topia

Any one who was crazy enough to run last night knows that the pictures of that run just weren't pretty.  So I won't bore you with another photo of my sweaty pig-tailed face.
But LBM and I got out to finish another 10 mile day. 
(6.5 miles 53:45)
I just realized last night that if I run 10 miles each day for 4 more days I will have ran 20 10 mile runs in one month. 
20-10  I thought that was interesting. 
And of course now I am trying to figure out how I can make that happen since the weekend is a holiday and we will be traveling.

This morning's run was another nice 3.5 (28:54).

You won't believe what we saw. 

Another turtle! 

I like that we see snakes and frogs and turtles along the creek. 

That is typically an indication that the creek is healthy and clean.  Which it is rated a clean water stream.

Unlike yesterday's one-eyed turtle, this little fellow had a huge chuck out of his shell. 

Probably a run in with a haybine.

Luckily he seems to be healed and surviving. 

LBM wanted to of course keep the turtle and share his crackers with him.

Go figure, he won't share his crackers with his sister but a turtle on the road is his new best friend.

We've all established that I am a mileage junkie right now.  Another 200+ mile month is nearly complete, a crazy run for 30 days idea and ice the cake with a 20 10 mile runs in one month goal. 
All just to see if I can.  Silly, I know.  But also fun to have little goals to keep me running when the heat would encourage me to quit.  I mean last evening's run was so sweaty the only way I knew I wasn't swimming was the fact that I had running shoes on!

What things do you use to keep going when the conditions are less than comfy?

Candice, you know the running Barbie is hosting a Gone For a RUN giveaway.
They have a creative product, among many other cool things, a bib porfolio. 
Finally a way to store all those bibs that I just can't throw away!
Go check it out and tell Candice I sent you.

Last night I just could not sleep. 

The excitement over the Biggest Loser finale may have been part of it. 

But mostly, the moon was so full and bright it kept calling me out to the porch tempting me to run.  But with no Hubbs home, I was forced to evantually go in and try to get some sleep.

Which I got from 1 a.m. until 2:12 a.m.  At 2:12 LBM decided he had slept long enough.

Talk about an early morning!

So even though I am beginning to feel like another mom who some may think should stop,

The Duggars before they reached 19 and Counting

I went for a run (3.5 miles / 28:07) with LBM early this morning. 

The run felt so much better than yesterday's run. 

The pace was a little fast for the "run slow to go fast" but I am getting closer.

At least it wasn't quite a hot and humid this morning and we saw this awesome snapping turtle.

Poor guy didn't see us at first.  He was missing an eye! 

So I made sure I got his good side too.