Familiar Things

 

This week brought the return of the Biking Sherpa.  Oh how I wish I could have her with me on all my runs.  She would make a great drill sergeant.  And I mean that in the most complimentary way.  She pulled me through some very hilly runs that I had forgotten I used to mindlessly cruise through on a daily basis.  I'm going to blame the energy dip on the Whole30 but I can't hide the fact that my hamstrings were both very sore after our first run of my favorite loop.  I can also use the excuse that she did pull us around at slightly over an 8 min pace which is fast for me these days.

 

 

It has been a week of hard runs but some of the most enjoyable I've had in quite awhile.  Everything is just so green and the flowers are everywhere. 

 

 

LBM and I have enjoyed our runs together after my run is over.  With my sore hamstrings he could actually out sprint me, a fact that made he giddy.  He told me that he was just so full of "energies" he had to run super fast.





 





We walked through the cemetery for our cool down.  LBM was interested in the old tombstones and how long people had lived and who they were to one another. 

Tonight will be another run, hopefully in the rain again, with Biking Sherpa around our favorite loop to complete another wonderful double day.  Nothing beats returning to familiar things to make everything seem to hold a kind of beauty that you overlooked before. 
 

I don't know about you but I'm off to run...
 

900, Story Time and Being a BAMR

 

 

 It would be cool if 900 days made me look half this fit!

 

Today is my 900th day of streak running, our first day at story time and the day I am being featured at Another Mother Runner in their Follow this Mother series.  So it's been a good day so far.

 

I started my day with trying to get my morning miles in but LBM (Little Bug Man) decided that today he didn't think I should get too much time this morning so I only squeaked in 2 miles before he said, "MOMMY! I want you be done."  I was able to happily stop since those early morning runs are just a bonus when LBM sleeps a bit longer and the super secret spy says he will be home on time today so I can get outside without jogging stroller.  All that made stopping before I even got warmed up pretty painless.  Plus we had story time at the library to look forward to today.

 

LBM enjoyed the three book stories and then a flannel board story.  We enjoyed craft time and completely over used the glue.

Does everyone else had ladybugs taking over their house?

 

As if anyone could have missed it today but there could be those who did, guess who is the featured mother runner on Sarah and Dimity's post today?  You know the blog by none other than the authors of Run Like a Mother and Train like a Mother. 

It's me!

Oh yeah, I told you that already.  But in case you missed it, go check it out

at Another Mother Runner.

I'll be running giddy on the thought of being featured while I get in my evening run tonight.  Those thoughts will sure beat the ones that keep trying to sneak in and cause worry about this Sunday's race.

 

A Runner's Sin

 

The radar map this morning told that story.  It was going to be a day in the house.  While I already know thanks to FB that there are those that did not welcome our current weather, I am thrilled by it. 

I miss my treadmill. 

I realize I probably just committed a runner's sin but I really do miss it.  Those regular long runs without the worry of carrying water or where I might need to duck if I have a corn field emergency.  I'm thrill at the thought of watching something I want to watch while I run in one place.  Thanks to my mom I now have a treadmill here in VA to use until I decide what I want to do about a permanent one that can handle my abuse.  Thanks to the weather and the inability to get up and run before the super secret spy goes to work today I will be running on my dad's old treadmill.  Even if the miles gets hard and awkward I will enjoy knowing that my dad used that same machine. 

 

So today while LBM rides his hot wheel around the basement, builds imaginary worlds from cardboard boxes and scatters a million toy cars around the floor, I will be happily running in one place and thankful I get to do it every single day.

 

How do you get your sweat on when the weather doesn't cooperate?

Are you happy for the change or use it as a rest day?

 

Are You Afraid of Getting Dirty?

You may remember that I told you I got a new pair of Sauconys.

They are purple and nicely still resting in their box.

This lovely sea green pair have been waiting patiently in my closet for a way long time.  With the pace crushing thigh pain, I finally decided to switch out my running shoes. 

These beauties are so light and comfy and wonderfully white that I wore them Tuesday but when we were blessed with rain on Wednesday I decided I just couldn't get them dirty!  I wore the old completely worn out pair. 

Yes my thigh noticed.

I was happy when Thursday came and I could take these lovelys out for another run.  Since my sitter is on vacation this week and I have had to make other arrangements

I couldn't get anyone to spend the day with the kids despite having all my family live so close to me

I got to enjoy a day with the kids at work with me.

Webster Update:  Definition of Enjoy

enjoy, v to survive or otherwise struggle through a period of time under extreme stress

Having the kids at work with me meant we got home a little early.  However, I should have know something was at work when I still somehow didn't get out of the door until the usual time.  Which lead to me still being on my run with my fabulous sea green bright white ultra light weight super comfy Sauconys when the

DOWNPOUR

started.

As with any down pour, it gave me little warning as I was running up a steep hill it just chose to start.  Once already drenched at the top of the hill I struggled with the half heat fused together weather shield to get LBM and the stroller covered before it soaked up 10 pounds of rain water.  FAIL

All while my fabulous sea green bright white ultra light weight super comfy Sauconys got drenched and quickly became my fabulous sea green dull white not so light weight super squishy Sauconys.

I just can't stand getting new shoes dirty. 

But by the time we got around the loop they had lost that I'm-new look and weighed a ton. 

They will dry out and I'm sure they will still be super comfy compared to my old trashed ones but the honeymoon is already over. 

Two runs and we are an old married couple no longer worried about our appearances. 

How do you get over that I don't want to dirty my beautiful new running shoes feeling?

....AP...Breaking News...

....it has been confirmed that as of June 21st, 2001 at 7:30 p.m. EST a previously held belief has been disproved.

The famous Biking Sherpa known for her works in educating the minds of the future, tormenting her siblings and encouraging runners to nearly die of heat stroke.

has actually sweat!

We have photographic evidence and an eye witness account that Biking Sherpa, though previously thought incapable, has perspired.

Testimony from the eye-witness who requested to remain anonymous; ..."she didn't at first but by the end she was actually sweating!  I saw it on her face and back.  I don't think she was used to it."

What is the cause of such a revelation?

Beach Body Insanity - Pure Cardio

 Remember you heard it here first. I'm just a country runner returning you to your normally scheduled running news.

In other running news, Biking Sherpa has been charged with attempted heat stroke induction by forcing encouraging a runner to push her pace during a severe heat wave.  At press time charges were being dropped due to counter charges being filed citing the alleged torture of Biking Sherpa via forced extreme exercise following the run.  Both parties agreed to drop charges.

That's the running news at this hour. 

I'm just a country runner and I'll see you next time on the trail.

Day # 409

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!

Temptation Tuesday

My bed was warm this morning.  My room was cold.

LBM was snuggled in his bed asleep.

S'ghetti girl was on the big yellow bus on her way to school.

The weather was drizzly, dark and cold.

Everything was in place to get back in bed for a extra 30 minutes.

BUT

I knew that it was only tempting me to continue to let myself down. 

To start the day with the burden of still wanting to go for a run....later. 

Hello Temptation.

Hi there Laziness.

Thanks but no thanks.

I'm going for a run.

Day # 149 ~ a.m. run

It sure wasn't ole yeller

Day # 142 ~ 3.5ish miles

I need more sleep!

I have two dogs.  Medium sized canines. 

Both will bark at you as you apporach my house with their tails wagging like a leaf in the breeze. 

That was the biggest difference in my dogs and my doggie encounter this morning.

A wagging tail.

The wonderfully larger dirty yellow lab-ish looking creature that I saw about a quarter mile past my first mile marker was NOT into wagging his tail.

Raising the hair on  the back of his neck.  Check.

Baring his teeth.  Check.

Pacing back and front on the front to keep me from passing.  Check.

Growling loudly.  Check.

Tail wagging.  Not so much.

Once I realized all these things were going on and I did not know this dog at all I attempted to back away from it.  It simply got closer.

And closer.

Until it had changed positions on the road with me.

Now I was closer to the nearest house and farther away from my return route.

I figured I would try to slowly back away towards the house.

The dog, growling loudly, closely followed.

Luckily a small truck came.  Yeah!  I knew the driver. 

Although I would not have given the driver the opportunity to get past us.

I asked him if he knew the dog.  (He is a local farmer)

Nope.

Into the truck we piled and he drove us back up the road a safe distance to finish our run.

And I thought it was going to be another run of the mill morning run.

How do you handle canine encounters?

Legs Love Lunges Challenge

aka I'm Brave Enough to Take Photos of My Legs Challenge

and actually post them!

Thanks Amanda!

This was to be the side view but LBM would not get out of the way.

Okay that's a little better.

I have only done ONE day of lunges.  I need 3 in the week.  Of course anyone who has been reading along for very long knows that since my attempt at P90X while running 50 miles a week resulted in the family flu bout, I have been hard pressed to do any actual cross training without the aid of a good Challenge.   So I am hoping that since a Challenge has been leveled my competetive nature will keep me on track. 

We were headed to VA for the weekend

(anyone in the area drop me a note if you want to get together for a run)

 so I only got a rainy 3.5 miles in the morning but since it was Friday the 13th an easy run close to home was probably a safe idea.

Thanks again to Amanda, I followed that up with lunges up and down the road. 

The farmers didn't know what to think.

Friday a.m. run Day # 96 ~ 3.5 / 28:37

Day 31 - 31 Days to Go

Some of you might have thought I was enjoying a rest day today.  In a way, I did.  I skipped my morning run and enjoyed a little extra rest while the rain poured outside.  Good timing.

Aye Matey.  LBM's pirate eye.

So after work LBM and I waited for a break in the rain and headed out for 6.5 miles that ended up being a wonderful dual purposed run.  I got some exercise and the jogger got washed.  It poured down rain.  It was great!  LBM snoozed through the rain hitting off the weather shield.  My legs felt amazingly rested and ready to go.

What is in those silos?

We saw a huge rainbow that seemed to end on the neighbors silos.  It was beautiful.  While I ran I got to thinking about the timing of my upcoming races and this crazy idea of doing 100 Days of Running.  I realized that I don't have enough time before my Ultra in July to go 100 days without a recovery day.  I have concerns that I will need to take a recovery day after the Ultra and I wouldn't want the pressure of a self-challenge to make me continue to run when my body really should rest.

Day 31 - Run 47.  6.5 miles 53:58

So I think I might try doing 100 consecutive runs before my Ultra.  I placed a poll to the right.  See it there? 

I know I have mention that my June race is a 21k Challenge type race.  I will be running it to see if I can do it.  I doubt that I will be able to "race" it at all.  It is in 10 days. 

And in 31 days is my next Ultra.  The Skyline Challenge.  A little trail 50k up and down a mountain.  If I do the math I could be done with 100 runs before that Ultra.  I just wonder if I will be able to get in long runs with no recovery longer than 24 hours. 

Maybe my poll should be "How many runs will Shelly get in before coming to her senses?"

We played in the rain...barefoot.

At this point I am attempting the 100 unless one of my faithful followers gives me a piece of advice that makes me shorten the goal or focus on the race more.

But as for today, I rested (my definition of resting anyway), I ran, I played in the rain. 

I moved one step closer to completing another goal whether it turns out to be 100 runs or a new PR at the Ultra.

Laken and Lila are having a June Giveaway!

S'ghetti girl loves Heather's amazing skirts.

She would live in skirts and knee high socks (thanks Tonia) if I would let her...and I do.

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!