Three Things Thursday

Day # 158 ~ 3.5 a.m. done ~ 8 - 10 p.m. to go

Can we say Tired?!

This morning dispite my lack of quality sleep, LBM and I practiced the lost art of puddle jumping. 

I was a drown rat when we were done with 3.5 morning miles on Day # 158 however LBM was only getting started.

After some instruction he was a master of the puddle!

Starting your day doesn't get much better than this.

S'ghetti girl was hugely successful at Fall Foliage selling heandbands. 

She had a great time and enjoyed chatting with all the potential customers. 

She even made a few new friends!

I know that you all have been missing Biking Sherpa since her attempted retirement following the big yellow dog scare. 

So I will give you a little update.

She went and go a tatoo on her foot.

It reads, "In the footsteps of angels.  SRS and FDRG"

Those are the initials of your grandfathers.

Kids take inspiration from so many places.  You never know just what or where you might provide an opportunity to impact your children or someone else's.

Sourround your kids with a variety of influences and be a part of your children's friend's lives too. 

You just don't know who might be getting a tat' about you someday!

RYSO Race Report

When I picked up my race packet and saw that I was given number 5, I knew it was a sign that it was going to be a great race.  The race director Tonia had just celebrated her daughter's 5th birthday. 

 

With the flexiblity to run the race over three days I knew I would be able to get the miles in.

Our family's Saturday packed so I ran 6.5 miles (50:57/ 7:50) of the Rock Your Socks Off Half Marathon virtual race in the early morning and hoped to pick up the remainder that evening.  My bossy hardheaded daughter wanting to make sure I was up to Races With Babes standards.  Something she reminds me daily that I fall short of.  So with her help, I decided to rock a sock skirt in honor of the stylist race director but it was so hot and humid and I ended up stripping clothes not all of them mid run. 

I wasn't able to finish my miles so I planned to squeeze them in on Sunday...somehow.

Sunday came and my thoughts were hopeful to squeeze in my half marathon loop it wouldn't quite work that way and just use it as my race time but the day would not go that way. 

I had a tight time frame to get my miles in before Hubbs had to head off to VA.  Biking Sherpa was joining me but running late so I started with a 3.5 mile (25:12/ 7:12) out and back and then picked Biking Sherpa up.

She thought I would have LBM and the stroller to put her things in but I was running solo so she left most everything at the house.  Including water.

We were enjoying the fact that I was already 'warmed up' from my 3.5 miles and we could talk more easily.  We talked about running, blogging, work, her family issues, Biking Sherpas BF.  We talked about God and Biking Sherpa's desire to learn more and help her BF strengthen his faith.  It was a great conversation!  I need take for granted the blessings I have been given to share such time with my neice.  I know I am fortunate that she allows me to be part of her life and seeks my opinion and advice.

We ran hard even with the conversations.  The heat and humidity was terrible.  We often joke about how much I sweat and how little Biking Sherpa sweats.  She doesn't.at.all.  It's weird.  So as I am dieing and hearing all of your 'voices' telling me how I need to carry water on long runs, I am wiping sweat off my arms and face.

That wouldn't be a problem for long.

Neither would the lack of water to drink.

It rained.  It poured.  It was wonderful!

It was just what we needed when we needed it!

At least Biking Sherpa finally looks like she got sweaty.

We have always loved running in the rain.  It is something that feels so freeing and joyful to both of us.  I hope she continues to allow herself to 'play' in the rain as she makes her own life.

We finished the last 6.5 miles (46:02 /7:05) and felt great as we dripped from head to toe. 

And for this runner that is now I rock my socks off!

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.  ;-)

A Case of Havetaraceitis

Second consecutive 10 mile day - check.
16 miles to reach my 50 miles for the week - check.
A case of the havetaraceitis - check.

I am pretty pleased that I have not let the less than stellar weather keep me from getting out and running.

This morning this little guy was hanging on for dear life.  I wonder if he spent the entire night hanging there upside down?  Talk about head rush!

The morning was great.  Foggy run with LBM (3.5 miles/28:34), s'ghetti was eager to head off to school and Hubbs surgery went better than expected.  No crutches after today!  Looking forward to a complete and rapid recovery!

Then off to the big girl job.

(insert 8 hours of utter yuck-ness not apporopriate for my life-is-mostly-rosey-running blog)

After big girl job and kiddos retrieval, LBM and I were off for the second half of our 10 miles today (6.5miles/52:45)  I love running in the fog and drizzle.  With LBM falling asleep quickly during our run, it made it feel like I was the only person around.  The heavy fog has a way of making everything so exteremly quiet.  I can get lost in it and forget that I am not the only person as demonstrated tonight when I got lost in my thoughts and began thinking out loud!  Yep.  There I was running down the foggy road chatting away to myself and the gentleman who happened to be out on his porch chuckling at my lively conversation with myself.  Oy vey! 

 

On tap is another 10 for tomorrow.  The challenge will be Family Fun night at s'ghetti's school after work.  I have to figure out how to fit it all in.  Then Saturday will be 6ish miles to finish my 50 for the week.

It all should be very do-able.

With all this refocus on my mileage/schedule, I am coming down with a case of the have-ta-race-itis.  So.....

I am toying with the idea of doing this Xterra Trail Series 21k trail race on June 19th near Richmond, VA.

 Anyone interested in giving it a go with me?

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!

Rainy Days and Mondays...

...don't get me down!  I was out loving a little wake up run WITH.OUT.THE.JOGGER!  You heard that right.  Hubbs and little bug-man were snuggled in bed, since LBM thought getting mom up at 5 a.m. was a great idea.  After I nursed him, I slipped him into bed with daddy for some bounding time!  I was out in the amazing rain running 3.5 miles (27:15).  It was so wonderful.  I can't wait to get back out there tonight.

3 Changes Challenge

April 24th & 25th - Saturday, so far

1. h2o/non-caffeinated - 65oz/64oz- Success

2. Destress - Sat. Had a great race, spent time with family, prayed.  Sun. Prayed, relaxed with family - Success

3. Xtrain - Sat. Great cross training with hubbs.  Sun. Stretched, situps and pushups - Success (but want more)

Good to be Back

I watched the skies all day at work today.  First it was raining then the clouds parted and the sun shone.  Then the clouds lowered again and the rain fell.  Along with my hopes of getting back out there running.  But I no sooner pulled into the driveway when the drops lessened and then stopped!

I ran for my running clothes while the kiddos played outside.  Littlest hopped into the jogger and middle one got situated for my run then off we went.

It was so great to be outside running again!  While I still feel like I am struggling with my pace and form, I hold on to the idea that all I need are a few solo pace runs to feel back on track again.

Littlest and I did our 6.5 loop "the easy way", which means instead of two steep inclines there are a dozen long steady inclines and two short steepish ones.  (54:06 this detail I'd rather leave out since I usually run this loop in 46 - 50 minutes)

The rain didn't return even after our run so we all went down the road to my sisters houses to visit for a little while before homework started calling us back.

I am already eager to see what runs tomorrow will bring. 

Isn't it great to run without the pressure of a training schedule and the stress of an upcoming race?!?

(Don't worry.  I am still trying to find that next offical finish line to cross.  I can't just quit racing cold turkey!!!)

The Clouds Rolled In

I had to hussle when I got home after work.  The clouds were getting heavier as the minutes passed.  I thought once about skipping it but I think we all know,

"You never regret the runs you take but you always regret the ones you don't."

So I got my middle situated for a hour and littlest and I took off for the 6.5 mile loop.

(will I ever get to run solo again?)

I have to say that getting any speed back since the ultra has been very hard.  With so much going on and my hubbs crazy work schedule I haven't had much any opportunity to get a solo run in.  I really need some so that I can get some speed work done. 

When I bid farewell to my last long love pair of sauconys I mentioned that I already had another 'red box' waiting for me.  Truth be told I have 3 red boxes waiting for me.  I usually buy 2 pair at a time (can anyone say SALE!) and since I hadn't changed pairs in so long I got a few extra purchased from gift cards I have gotten for Christmas and birthdays.  Sweet!

This is a pair I wore once before but they ATE my heels.  I'm talking the back half of this shoe was RED!  In this shoes defense I wore them for the first time with the wrong socks and on a LONG run.  Never do that to a new shoe.  It's just not fair.

So I was not afraid to give them another try.  (and the other 2 pair are so beautifully white that I just can't get them dirty by running in the potential thunder storm with them!  Not yet!)

Let me say they (only having one run on them) felt like little pillows under my midsoles!  They are trail shoes but not really aggressive ones.  I like a sturdier shoes sometimes.  They were wonderful and the ucky color will never look dirty.  There are nice orange accents on them but my pictures all came out fuzzy tonight.

You can see littlest and I beat the thunderstorm!  We were really slow but I am still happy for the miles and time together.  Littlest didn't nap but yelled at every bird, cat, dog, cow, horse, goat and person we saw along the way.  He seemed to be having a great time.

That was my running for today.  Yes, only one.  I know it's shocking but that's all I could squeeze in today.

Now I have everyone in bed and I am going to finally do what my Bondi band told me to do

Breathe.

They can two by two...

...the flooding is not quite that bad but it is enough to cut off some of my regular running routes.  I know you might be thinking that I just ran a 33 mile race that involved repeatedly running through water so what is a little 7 miles with wet shoes?  Right. 

Right now I am content to walk around and see the change in the scenery. 

I am content to experince the rich smells that the heavy rain and flooding brings. 

I am content to watch the raising water and dream of dry trails and sunshine.

I am content knowing that I will run even stronger tomorrow having taken this afternoon to rest.

What do you do on rainy weekend days?

Update on racing plans. 

Charlottesville Ten Miler in April 3rd

Anyone else running that race?

I am looking at the Capon Valley Trail 50k in May. 

Anyone with experince on that race?

Just beat the rain

I got out for another short run 3.5 miles with littlest in the jogger.  I am so glad I did!  Now it is raining and flooding and trying to blow the house away.  Ok only a few things that were left outside actually blew away but it feels like the whole house wants to go!

Hubbs and the kiddos went to his folks to visit so I may use the remainder of the afternoon to finally rest from my race.  (spend large amounts of time searching for my next fix trail race!) 

But what better weather to do it in than a rainy cold windy gray day?!

EricaH is hosting a Oiselle Giveaway! Don't miss out.