Three Things Thursday

Day # 171 p.m. run ~ treadmill ~ Movie:  Daybreakers

1.  A few days ago as I was getting my morning coffee at the McD's drive through, the nice lady who waits on me when I am too lazy to make coffee (in which I use Splenda and not sugar) looked at me and said, "Did you hear about Splenda and short term memory loss."

She said it in such a serious-concerned-for-me way I was a bit surprised and didn't really get a chance to respond before she continued briefing me on the reported effect of Splenda on my already failing memory cells.

This explains  A LOT.

1.  I stop for coffee waaay too often.

2.  There are really nice people that I interact with each day.

3.  It is not my fault that I forget things!  It's the Splenda! 

Another baby newt! I love these guys!

2.  Probably because of the aforementioned short term memory loss, I forgot to tell you that I saw Morton the Muskrat!  You remember him, right?  We even had a giveaway to name him back this spring.

Well, with the thick growth along the river and his shy behavior I haven't really seen much of him all summer.

Due to my love all of all things nature, it was great to see he is thriving and storing up for the winter.

It doesn't take much to brighten my day, does it?

Day # 172 ~ a.m. run ~ 3.5

3.  See it doesn't take much to distract my mind for the quickly approaching race.  Okay, it actually takes a lot to get my brain to stop thinking about the race.  Humm, not the actual race but the getting there! 

Again that is my BIG worry.

What if I don't make it to the bus in time?

What if I am late and they leave without me?

I have 33+ mountainious miles to run and I'm worried about simply getting to the start!

I guess that is one way to keep my mind distracted from getting to the finish.

Monday RunDay

So who was there with me watching Survivor last night?
Great show!  Always makes me want to go do an adventure race and get muddy!
The reason I bring Survivor up is not to increase the hits my blog will get from people googling the word Survivor althought it actually will bring loads of people who think they are going to read something cool about Survivor only to find my sometimes interesting often routine daily musing about running through my life but to ask if anyone else noticed something in the preview of next season?
It looked like one of the female contestants was wearing a running skirt!
no super cute knee high socks though
How cool is that? 

Feeling all Survivor-ish I didn't let a little or a lot of rain stop me this morning.  So with weather shield in place LBM and I hit the road to a pre-rinse while we ran.

3.5 miles/29:11

I was suprised to see Morton the Muskrat while running along the creek.  So suprised that I missed getting s picture of him.  In fact he is probably right behind my head in this shot.  When I turned around to look at the creek there he was swimming along.  Darn new Palm!  I wasn't able to get the picture fast enough.  Under the water he went.  Maybe tonight he'll make a repeat visit.

I am off to the big girl job and sending my official registration for the XTERRA Xduro in VA June 19th.

It's going to be a GREAT day!  Enjoy yours.

Jamie @ Running Diva Mom is hosting a giveaway. 

Some very creative custom pendants!  You have got to check it out.

(so you'll know what I'll be wearing after I win.  ;-)

Wondering Wednesday

I know you are Wondering what I just got....

My awesome new Baby Mama Bondi Band!

Littlest and I totally rocked it this morning on a snowy run.

He was wearing his snowman hat to keep warm...but he looked great!

I also know you are wondering how close you can get to a flock of ducks....

just about this close!

The only thing I am wondering is will this snow ever stop!?!

It was a nice morning run. 

I even saw Morton the Muskrat but was too slow with the camera to catch him. 

03.03 and today is 3 more days to 32 miles.

The LYS Winner is and a Name for my Muskrat

Teamarcia at Running off at the mouth

(send me an email for details about how to claim your winnings!)

10 things running has done for me:

1. Brought down my cholestrol

2. Made my metabolic syndrome vanish

3. Been a very cost effective therapist

4. Been an avenue for meeting countless awesome friends!

5. Is my 'me' time

6. Caused me to become intimate with my weather station

7. Made me a great role model to my kids

8. Destresses me

9. Keeps my tummy flat(ter)

10. makes me accountable to myself

Thanks to everyone who entered this great giveaway sponsored by Jill at Lift Your Sole. 

You may remember there was a little bonus entry for suggesting a name for my muskrat friend I see on my morning run.  After reading the names to my middle one without allowing her to know who suggested each name the winner is...

Mel at Tall Mom on the Run 

There is what Mel had to say

"... Hmm Morton the Muskrat.. I am going to have to be creative here.... "

There will be a little something sweet headed your way.

Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun.  Come back often and watch for those hidden giveaways that I love to sneak in.

Timewarp Treadmill

We had a busy weekend here in PA.  Loads of cross training shoveling. 

To be honest, I enjoyed all the playing in the snow.  I love being outside.  I love working hard.  I love pushing myself even when my body is screaming for me to stop.  Love it!

So today should not have suprised me. 

I got up early even though we had a 2 hour delay for schools.  Instead of sleeping that extra little bit I got up and ran 6.5 miles.  It was great!  I had to watch since the majority of the roads are still snow/ice covered.  But after not getting to run until Sunday evening when the rest of the free world was watching the Super Bowl and even then it was on the treadmill for 15 miles playing catch up on the 30 I had scheduled to run, I was eager to be outside running.  I wish I had taken my camera to get a better photo of the great frosty morning instead I have to settle for a picture taken with the camera on my cell phone.

It does not do the scene justice however, I like seeing the muskrat colony area as it changes over time. 

Yeah, muskrat. 

In case you missed it HERE I am looking for a great name for a new muskrat acquaintance that I am cultivating a friendship with.  Give the best name suggestion (as judged by my middle one) and you could get something sweet.  Also don't forget the Lift Your Sole Giveaway ends at midnight on 02.12.2010. 

(Boy there must be something about Ones, Twos and Zeros.)

To finish my Monday recap, I got in a great morning run.  It really refreshed me.  My legs felt happy and slightly aware that I had ran the fast 15 the night prior.  Since I am a big fan of double days and I have to get my miles in when life allows, I was planning on another 3.5 to finish my running day.  HOWEVER, the road are still bad and the temps are really low to have the littlest one out so I finally decided to attempt a treadmill run with just the middle one and littlest.  No other grown up assistance!

I got them all set up with the 'big' projector, a couple Veggie Tale movies and snacks.  I started my treadmill movie, The Perfect Getaway.

And.Guess.What?

They did so well I ran 13 more miles. 

It was like I was on a timewarp treadmill!

I feel bad that our evening together was so short but I have to admit that the lack of long runs with a 50k looming has been stressing me.  My middle one was so proud of her self for being such a big helper.  (Of course delaying her homwork didn't seem to bother her either!)

My training week runs Sunday through Saturday.  With 34.5 miles in for my week already I am feeling much more confident about things even with more snow forecast and loads of family responsibilites to deal with this week.  Just like getting your run completed early in the morning, getting your runs in early in the week just takes the pressure off incase life happens and running doesn't.

Muskrat Love

For this morning's run the world greeted me looking like this.  It was beautiful.  There was a light snow falling and it was completely still.  As some of you might know or be experincing there is a major snow storm to hit my area Friday through Saturday.  We should get 12 - 18 inches.  Should make for an intersting 20 mile trail run, huh?  I am taking a wait and see attitude since I could not get anyone to cover work for me so I could be off before the snow flies.  There is always a way to get it done.  I just have to be creative.

Returning to the topic of the morning run, I got to sleep in a bit since schools were delayed for 2 hours due to the snow/ice we had last night.  Sleeping in always sounds good in theory but I usually wish I had used that time instead of sleeping it away.  This morning was no exception.  I only got 3.5 of my 10 miles completed when I could have easily gotten at least 7 if not all 10 done before the middle one even had to go to school.  However, I chose to snooze.  The upside was getting to run with a bit more daylight so I got to see my new friend, the muskrat. 

We have been getting to know eachother for a week or two now.  He resides in the banks along Cove Creek near my morning out-and-back turn around.  Typically each season a muskrat colony can be seen along this area.  I was excited when I first saw him last week.  Now I look forward to getting out in the morning to see if I can be quiet enough to catch him on the creek bank.  So far I have only been able to have the camera at the ready for an action swimming shot so I will use the below photo to represent my muskrat friend.  Hum?  I suppose if my friend the muskrat is going to have repeat visits to my postings he should have a name.  Any suggestions?

This evening I religiously went through my 59 step program for getting me, littlest and middle one set for the evening run (only 59 because I didn't have to pee right before I left this time!).  I was kicking myself to not getting my miles done this morning since the weather was not nearly as nice tonight.  The temperature had dropped and the winds were picking up. 

Did you know it can snow horizontally?  It can.

I got another 6.5 completed with the littlest and made it back before either one of us got blown away.

I have a photography committee meeting tomorrow evening so I will be out early in the morning hoping for 7 but knowing some is better than none on busy days.

If you missed the Lift Your Sole Giveaway Details Click Here!

Make a suggestion of a name for my muskrat friend and get a bonus entry!

Be the best name (as voted by my middle one) and you could get something sweet.

Also don't miss

Tall Mom's "Shelly really wants to win these great recovery socks" Giveaway!

Oh, that isn't what she called it?  It should be!!

and Lauren Bondi Band Giveaway

And don't miss Racing with Babes' "this blog is about Me. Me and my running. Me and my family. Me and all of my little quirks. Giveaway"