It's not the Fourth without fireworks

This morning it was back to the ole' routine. 

Not easy to do after a long weekend and hours in the car with 2 kiddos.

But thinking back to our adventure filled weekend helped get me going and will carry me throughout the day.

LBM enjoying his new swing

S'ghetti girl cooling off

Finding a little relief from the heat

Almost brave enough

It's not the Fourth without fireworks

You can't quite call it the Fourth without fireworks and our family sure had more than it's share over the extended weekend.

As hard as it is to head back to work it's nice too.  It's nice to have that familar schedule and routine.

Plus remember it's already Tuesday!  The weekend will be back again before you know it.

How do you get over that "back to work" dead-ness after a long weekend?

Rain and Glasses Do not mix

It was raining again after work.  The clouds were low and threatening but I didn't let that stop me.  Little Bug-man and I hit the road for finish our miles for the day.  It was so hot but like a crazy person I over-dressed and not only got soaked from the rain but from all the sweat.  In my rushing to beat the thunderstorms, I left on my glasses.  Not fun to run in the rain with glasses on!

Can you see the road behind me?  That is a hill.  It's the flatter of the two big hills on my 6.5 mile loop.  A 4 - 5% grade.  The first hill where I should have remembered to take the picture! is a 6+% grade.  Ouch!  My legs were not very speedy on this run.  Although I enjoyed getting to run in the rain, my legs didn't have much "push" in them.

6.5 miles (54:08) the slowest I have run this loop in a while.  The upside 10 miles in for the week, a 10 mile trail race on Saturday so 30 miles to squeeze in between now and then if I'm going to hit 50 this week.

Till I got out to take an after the run picture it was already pitch dark and storming.  I ditched the glasses since they were water speckled anyway. 

It's a big week.  Soccer practice and pictures on Tuesday, we close on the VA house this Thursday, Trail 10 miler early Saturday a.m., race back for a 12:00 soccer game Saturday and then off to the VA house to clean and get hubbs settled while some work is done on the house.  Looks like a challenge to fit it all in.  Maybe I should scale back the mileage goals to 40 this week?  What do you think? 

Do you change your running goals when life gets busier or do you just see it as an opportunity to challenge yourself?

3 Changes Challenge




April 26th  - Monday


1. h2o/non-caffeinated - 78oz- Success

2. Destress - Prayed this morning, got to run solo in the rain, spending time visualizing a successful week (due the hectic schedule) - Success


3. Xtrain - Zero cross training.  No going to lie.  I should do my situps and pushups before bed but I probably won't so there is full disclosure for you - Needs Improvement.

Barefoot Angie Bee is hosting a Whooha Giveaway.  What's a Whooha?  A great company started by two women, Amy and Julie both into fitness just like most of us.  They came together to create a company  for Women Having Optimistic Objectives and Healthy Attitudes.  Cool, huh?

So now you are curious.  Go click the link and tell Angie I sent you!

Five for Friday

1.  The trees are filled with blossoms that scent the air near them. 

It is heavenly.  I hope the blossoms linger.  I enjoy all the green but the added color is so nice.  I enter a local photography contest each year maybe this year I will get some new macros of the different blossoms to submit and win the category!

2.  Little Bug-man and I went for our evening run tonight.  6.5 miles (52:55)  I had planned to do a split 10 miles tonight since the weather is to get unfavorable but my legs said the first loop was enough and I didn't argue since I already have 40 miles this week.

The Skyline Challenge

Trail 50k Ultra-Marathon

"Your Pain Is Our Pleasure!"

Saturday July 10, 2010

3.  I have finally settled on setting my next "big" race goal.  The Skyline Challenge.  This race is in Virginia, any local-yokels who might be up to experincing it with me, drop me a line.  Or anyone with experince on this course please let me know!

I am excited to have something to look forward to.  Now if hubbs can just work out being able to support me during this race.  His big-boy job has a crazy schedule.

4.  Hubbs finally went back to the doctor because a year after knee surgery he is still having serious pain.  His doctor took an X-ray and did an MRI.  The doctor is fairly certain additional surgery is required to further clean up the medial meniscus that was torn and to remove a screw that is now unnecessary and may be causing some of the discomfort.  I have been praying that hubbs is able to return to running and biking.  Although, hubbs is not a lover of big distance, I have missed sharing training runs with him since his injury.  Hopefully whatever is required will be easily recoved from and end his pain.

5.  I have a 5k on tap April 24th for my April race.  Since this goal is very "if-y" due to various life issue right now, I haven't offically mentioned it here but I am hopeful to run a race (of any distance) at least once a month this year.  So I was very excited when I found out that Woodman of the World is hosting a Relay for Life running event locally!  Score! 

A race for April, maybe a 5k PR and a good cause. 

That's my 5 for Friday.  What's yours?

3 Changes Challenge

April 15th - Thursday

1. h2o/non-caffeinated - 70oz - Success

2. Destress - Post run I spent some time while the kiddos played in the bubble tub doing yoga and I prayed this morning before getting out of bed and will spend time in prayer again tonight before I drift off to sleep, which will be soon!! - Success

3. Xtrain - I did walking lunges and squats after my run while walking to see the baby goats with little bug-man, s'getti, my niece and nephew. Still not what I want out of this goal so I will HAVE to get it in this weekend to make my 2 days goal! - needs improvement