The Runaway Snowman

Yesterday I took the day off of my Big Girl job to spend the day supporting S'ghetti Girl at the three performances of her 5th grade play, The Runaway Snowman.  It was a cute story about a snowman come to life who teaches the kids about friendship.

I hoped to finish up Christmas shopping, wrap everything and get a long run in before the evening show at 7 o'clock.

The show was wonderful.  I love that her school does these kind of things and it really allows the kids to experience a board array of activities.  S'ghetti girl felt like a Super Star!

Between the morning and the after noon show, I shopped and ran errands like a mad woman.  I didn't even take time to eat.  Opps.  I kinda forgot to do that most of the day.  Not great on pile o'miles weeks.

Between the afternoon and evening show I went home to run but was really pressed for time so I only squeezed in 7 miles thinking that I would finish after the kids were in bed with a drizzly run to see the Christmas lights.

I picked up the kids after a quick shower and let S'ghetti girl celebrate at her choice of dining establishments.

Yeah, she is high society at the Golden Arches.

BUT the kids both liked it.  So again I didn't eat. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  I did eat a few french fries.  Which were not hot enough to be good.

After the kids finished it was back to the school for the last showing.

I only took about 70 photos and a 45 minute video so count yourself lucky to only endure these few.  I was very proud of how S'ghetti did and I loved that she was enjoying herself so much!

We mingled with a few friends after the show but everyone was eager to get home.  Once home I of course had to deal with the 70+ photos and the 45 minute video.  That couldn't wait until later!  I wanted the super secret spy, who had been on the west coast and couldn't attend, to see them right away.  

All that lead to me feeling a little like this:

I didn't make it out the door before I feel asleep trying to get LBM to sleep.  I didn't get to run in the drizzle.  I didn't get to see the lights or finish my miles. 

It seemed like the only one how did much running yesterday was the Snowman.

Does your children's school have plays or drama clubs?

Did you ever perform in a play in school?

Do you "skip it" on days when kid activities are heavy?

Can We Keep it G Rated?

Sunday evening I went for a night run.  Something that I will be doing a few times this week with yet another crazy busy week on tap. 

I am often a bit nervous when I start the practice of running in the dark.  As the seasons change I will have more and more p.m. runs that start in the day light and finish in the dark.  Those runs don't really bother me at all.  It seems like the gradually loss of light over the run allows me to still feel "safe" out there even with the jogging stroller.  However when I have to leave the light and safety of my house and head out into the dark the first few times are a bit nerve racking. 

That was until I remembered just how humorous running in the dark in the late summer early fall can be.

It's during this time of year that many in my rural community leave their doors and windows open.

Let's just say on a double out and back you can really get to know your neighbors!

Sound travels people!  Let's keep it G rated.

Dusting off a few Dreams

I am often finding inspiration and encouragement in unexpected places throughout my days.

Yesterday I received an email from a running friend.  He and his wife are people I admire a lot.  Don't take that last sentence lightly because I do not admire many people.

I find inspiration in others.  I see examples of how to do certain things in others.  I received motivation from people around me but rarely do I admire someone else.

I typically feel that I am capable of similar accomplishments if I were given the same opportunities.

Let's be clear, I do not feel that I would win the Nobel Peace Prize if given the opportunity.  I am talking about people of a certain character who share the same interests that I do.

This friend sent me an email unknowingly at just the right time.

It was filled with positivity and encouragement.

I'll share the final sentence with you.

"So how about your dreams? Dust a few of them off and bring them out in 2011!! This is the year!!!"

As regular readers you will know that I am hopeful to make the leap from 50ks to a 50 miler this year.  I have registered for two trail 50ks in March.  My plan had been to use those two relatively close races as a gauge of my ability to make that leap perhaps in the fall.

This email has created a fire in me that I had lost over the past few months of entrapment.

I have allow other people and their opinions and judgments to direct how I have handled my winter running.

Sometimes it's hard not to do that.

Allow others to influence my behavior.

But after this email I am reminded that not all influences are negative ones.

I have already thanked my friend for the much needed "you got this girl" email.

So I do not type this to thank him again, I don't think he reads anyway.

I do type this so that you, faithful readers will be reminded that you never know what kind of impact you might have on someone by doing just the smallest of kind gestures.

So send that email, make that call, write that thank you, go for that visit, or invite someone to run because you never know just what an impact you might have.

What it's like

The sun hung over the ridge line to the west casting enlonged shadows across the once fruitfull corn fields.  Pinks and reds were painted across the sky as if they had been put there by a thoughtful artist.  The wind reduced to a mere breeze offered me little resistance as I walked out into the closing day.  I breathed in a mixture of pine and damp earth from the last melting remants of snow.

The scene was inviting me out, back to the road, back to the familiar route that I have traveled countless times through endless seasons.  A feeling of excitement rose within me as I jogged down the gravel driveway, the sound of my shoes pressing the stones together only quickened my pulse.  As I turned right onto the road running into that setting sun I couldn't help but be filled with the feeling that this was exactly where I was supposed to be, doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

God has blessed me with the gift of running

and I am forever grateful.

This is the run I missed

This is the run I missed this morning.

It almost smelled like spring.

Missing my morning run means it will be running in the

darko'basement

tonight on the treadmill because of the wonderful rain that is in the forecast.

But I had good reason to not run this morning.

LBM slept through the night

in his own bed!

He deserved the morning to play instead.

Rewind the Weekend

How can the days be getting shorter already?

It takes some getting used to this time of year.

Remembering that if we don't get out the door by a certain time we will need a headlamp and lantern or flashlight long before we get home.

Sunday was a very busy day.  In fact I wasn't sure there would be a run at all but I thought about what day it was Day # 113 for those who are counting and I knew I just couldn't end on that number so late as it was LBM and I hit the road.  S'ghetti girl had just gotten back from spending the day at a friend's house and she was getting her hair done for school the next day.

Just enough time for a quick trip around the 6.5 loop.

The setting sun didn't even cross my mind.

It was sunny and H.O.T when we left but as we ran the sun quickly fell behind the mountain tops.

Luckily when I approached this little fella there was still enough light that I could see him before stepping on him.  He was not happy when I approached him to pull him off the road.  So I backed off to see if he would leave on his own.  I held my breath as two cars passed safely over him.  As I approached him a second time a third car came and...

they were busy looking at me.

I felt terrible! 

The driver realizing that he had hit the snake stopped, checked the snake (which was only a large black snake) and apologized for hitting it.  As if it were my snake!  It was nice of them to stop.

As we ran on, LBM in his limited language asks about the snake.

LBM, "Ssssssssssss?"

Me, "Yeah, honey the snake went with his daddy and mommy."

LBM, "No!"

Me, "Yeah.  He's with his family."

LBM, "No. thump (insert LMB-isum for the sound of the car hitting the snake!)"

Even in the semi-dark, I couldn't pull one over on him.

This is only the beginning of the animal tales from the weekend in rewind.  Stay tuned for the next installment.

Congratulaton to those who took up the 10 Day Streak Challenge!

Here is a list of those I believe were going to attempt it.

Drop by their blogs and congratulate them.

If I missed you, let me know.

Send me an update on how you did, how do you feel, what are your thoughts towards streaking and what was your 10 day mileage total?  Give me all the details!

Thanks for streaking with me.  I am so proud of everyone who used me as a little motivation to get out there on those days when motivation is a little lacking.

marathonmaiden

http://racingwithbabes.blogspot.com/

http://running2sanity.blogspot.com/

MCM Mama

http://www.tallmomontherun.com/

If you create a habit...

If you create a habit in 21 days,

you create an obsession in 106 days.

I simply could not make myself get out the door Sunday morning.  I knew my body was needing a rest.  I busied myself with other chores all while trying to convince myself that I could take a rest day.

The family enjoyed breakfast together, S'ghetti girl had a friend over later in the day, I worked on head bands, baked a cake, cleaned the kitchen, played with LBM, did laundry and talked with Hubbs.  Before long it was time to take S'ghetti girl's friend home and head back to PA.

The drive was uneventful, which is exactly how I like it to be.  When we arrived home the kids piled out of the car to run off some energy.  I got to work unloading and settling back into the house.  It wasn't until I was putting away my running clothes that it really start to nag at me.

On the clothes went, out the jogger came and off we went for a later than usual run. 

Habit. 

It just felt like something was missing in my day.

Or has it crossed a line somewhere along the way?

I have made some racing plans for October, a few in fact.  Hopefully one that includes Hubbs.  So I know that my body is going to be in need of some rest and recovery if I want to enjoy some of the distances I have planned to take on.  Don't go crazy mega miles are probably "off the table" for this year.

And I am still hoping to find a race I can use as a training run during September so rest has to be in the plan.

But how do you know when you've gone from Habit to Obsession?

And is that really a bad thing?

See these lovely links?  If you haven't entered click away and do so!

If you have already, add these links to your sidebar or next post

and you'll get a bonus entry into each giveaway you link!

Leave me a comment when your link is up.

Right now your odds of winning are really good!

Giveaway # One - Sof Sole

Take Two - Road ID

Third Times the Charm - CEP Compression

Big Lessons, Small Fairy

After work Monday LBM and I hit the road.  Usually LBM naps a bit while I run, last night however he was a live wire.  He chatted his way along our usual 6.5 mile loop.  He threw goldfish to the cows that we passed along the way, threathened all manner of wildlife with his no-longer-glowing glo stick, say dozens of songs as a medley, discharged three packages of gummies in an attempt to ensure the local insect population is thriving, and added half a cup of juice to the ground so the insect would have something to wash it all down with.

He is so ecologically aware!

Run # 96 (6.5 miles / 53:02)

After our run s'ghetti girl joined us for a walk to cool down.  She had been suprised by the tooth fairy.  It seems that TF came while I was running (she's sneaky) and left a little stuffed animal in exchange for s'ghetti's tooth.  TF doesn't come during the day, you say?  Well she can't fly in the rain so she had no choice but to attempt such a risky delivery during the day. 

I know at s'ghetti girl's age it is a wanting that keeps her "believing" in someone beyond what she can see.  In this case the TF.  It is hard to let those things go.  They serve such a good purpose when teaching children to believe in the absence of "proof."  It's the beginning of faith.  Believing without seeing.  It's the beginning of knowing that somethings are possible even when others think they are not.

Big lessons from such a small fairy. 

After the TF suprise!

This morning dawned with fog.  Oh how I LOVE fog!

I wish I had more time in the morning to go farther.  There is little as sweet as an early morning fog run.

A beautiful foggy morning

But I only had time for my out and back of 3.5 miles followed by a walk and stretching.

Three more runs and then I'm done....

Run # 97 (3.5 / 28:08)

...or am I?

November 30th - Monday

Kitty update. Our cat is still missing. No sightings. No kitty found along the road. Nada. I don't know if that is a good sign or a bad one. She could come back on her own or she may have fallen in love with being wild. Time will tell so we will wait.

Monday on the workout front, I unintentionally took the day off. I know I am supposed to be tapering but I just love to run. A N D the HBBC http://runtothefinish.blogspot.com/2009/11/holiday-bootie-buster-challenge.html is still going on so there are points to consider! And for Monday I got a big fat 1. Sorry team mates!

December 1st - Tuesday

Today was a great day. I got an early morning run. Okay, yes regular readers you know I did my favorite 6.5 mile loop (52:47/8:07). I did wear my new Nathan's High Visibility Vest. I didn't want the hunters to shoot me! So far so good!

After a great energizing morning run I had the normal daily routine of sitter, work and kiddos pickup.

On Tuesdays my middle one has gymnastics so I squeeze in errands before her class starts. Today one of those errands was a return trip to the eye doctor. Drum roll. I know you all have been just dieing to know which glasses I chose. So wait no longer...Number #2 !

Okay not a great picture but an 8 year old took it and she is already upset since she did not pick those glasses!

After ordering my glasses, we grabbed a bite to eat (yes more fruits and veggies for me!) and then dropped off the middle one for class. A quick drive home and hand off of the littlest to my oldest for round 2 of my favorite loop 50:31/7:46 A little fast but I didn't have a lot of time. You know I think I could run a sub 3:30 marathon - easy - if I could run it in the moon light! I just LOVE to run at night. It is amazing! Tonight I didn't even need my headlamp at all. It was so amazing. Okay I already said that.

After all the running fun, I still had homework to enjoy with my middle one and baths and diaper rash (my littlest does not tolerate dairy and the sitter still gives him ice cream from time to time...grrrrr!). Whew! It's been a full and fulfilling day. If they all could be like this.

Lastly, 5 days to the Half Marathon. I am excited. I am hopeful for good weather. But mostly, I am getting more and more convinced that I will train to do the Tussey Mountain Back 50 mile Ultra http://www.tusseymountainback.com/ on October 16, 2010.

Evening Run and Day Three

I just got done complaining about the time change and now I am pleasantly reminded of why I really don't mind the darker evening after all. I had another surreal run tonight. Only 3.5 miles but every single foot fall was perfect. There is just something great about not being able to see where it is your headed that allows you to run just a little bit faster. It's almost as if you can run without the concern of how far you have yet to go.

Tonight I didn't have the wonderful moon. Boo bad clouds, boo on you! I had my handy-dandy head lamp. It has several settings. Tonight I had it set really low to just give me a tiny bit of illumination aimed at the road just a few feet in front of me. AWESOME! Just enough light to be able to run safely. I love the feeling of being the only person outside. When I run by the few homes I pass on this out-and-back, I enjoy seeing people going about the evening within their lit windows. Tonight it reminded me of the holiday season I have to look forward to with the Christmas lights decorating the houses that allow me to go on my favorite 6.5 mile loop with or without the benefit of moon light. There are always things about each season that keep the joy in my running year round.

After my p.m. run my wonderful oldest son kept the two littles somewhat occupied so I could reap the benefits of Day Three of P90x. The joys of Shoulders, Bis & Tris and another round of 339 sit up variations. At first I thought, 'Gee, I need heavier weights.' but after about 20 minutes I was happy that I hadn't tried to be a macho-chic. Talk about burn! And my legs were great, totally into the run but as the shoulder/bi/tri workout started to use my quads in some squats while doing curls and presses, those same legs started whispering about being really really tired! Tonight it was one of those tired in a good way kind of feelings. I hope that is still how I feel in the morning. I have my favorite 6.5 loop on tap in the a.m. and then an hour and a half of yoga courtesy P90x in my p.m. Wish me luck.