Have you noticed?

It is cold outside. No, not now....as the sun shines brightly on this nice 40 degree afternoon. I mean at 5 a.m. when it's dark and C~O~L~D! It's been a rude awakening from my trip to Mexico where I wore shorts/capris & tshirt the whole time.

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about telling you about Mexico. I just was sidetracked by my thoughts from my run this morning. My first run in almost 3 weeks. It was weird.

Granted, I have run in colder temperatures. I'd don't usually mind it at all. I think it has been the lack of transition that I had. I mean 3 weeks ago I ran in 60 degree weather and it was "so hot" that day. Then I was lazy, snuggled in my bed every morning, enjoying it's warmth. Then went into my Mexico temps. It wasn't hot down there at all. Maybe a day or two in the mid 80's that if you stood in the sun it wore on you. Otherwise, average mid to upper 70's. The only time I was "cold" down there was the night before we left. That evening it had gotten down to *gasp* the 60's, but even more so it was windy. It was the only time I put pants on. I guess it's one of those things that it's all relative.

So this weirdness of my run. I don't know how to explain it. I almost didn't run. I wanted to stay in bed. I almost talked myself into running this afternoon, knowing full well that I likely wouldn't. Part of me is thinking "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?!?!" Someone slap me & tell me to get with it. All that spunky & drive that I usually have is hiding somewhere & not coming out very easily.

Once I did get running I was ok. Other than being cold. I was able to try out my new Muzino breath thermo jacket this morning. Very nice! Once I started out I warmed up. I knew I would. Sometimes taking that first step is just the hardest. A lot of mixed feelings & thoughts as I passed on my 4.something route.

It's not so much that I hurt or anything during my run. I just felt weird & out of place. A few times I snapped out of a foggy almost stumbling around trance. Where am I? What am I doing? Should I really be doing this? 4 miles? What was I thinking. Sure I did 30 miles few weeks ago, but I've done NOTHING since then. I passed mile 1 and thought about turning around. 2 miles is a good start. Repeated the same thought process when I figured it would be close to 3 miles. I literally started to turn, but turned back and talked myself into the full 4.  I was extremely surprised how fast & evenly paced I kept the whole time.  Guess I was on more autopilot that I had realized.

I'm working to get back at it. It's just a different kind of weird phase. As tough & determined that I am (and I have no doubt that I will stay that way) there is a part of me that is fighting the urge to just not run at all. Which is insane to think because I obsess over running. It is one of the top things that I can not go a day, even a few hours & not think about. I can't give up. Not now. Not ever. Not until I'm in my grave. And then I'll just be running up on them streets of gold. I just know it!

We'll see what tomorrow's run will bring. More coldness, I'm sure of that : )

I'm baaaaaack!

I have a boatload to tell you. Yet....SO MUCH to do. So I'll post my good bye that I recorded for y'all. Give me a few days to breath and I'll get back to you about my trip. It's good to be home!

Happy Thankgiving!

It's 1:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving. I told myself just get on, post the vlog, bid you all a good day and get off. Ha! Well, I'm gonna try. I just have so much to tell you!

When we embarked on this trip (my father & I) we had no idea what it would bring. Well, we had some of an idea. But so far, each day has been an adventure and we don't know what the next day will bring.

On this Thanksgiving day it will be like none other that I have spent. For the first time in 17 years I will be without my family. Family, as in, my husband & children. I am still with my dad thus being with family. I will likely not eat any turkey. As much as I LOOOOVE Mexican food, I am beginning to miss American food. Some of it at least. I could use me a good ole heap of mashed potaters & gravy right now and some cranberries. Ohh, someone save me some pumpkin pie!

In all seriousness I really REALLY miss Jim & the kids! I'll just leave it at that cause I WILL start crying and I don't want to wake my dad right now with a ruckus. It's a tough Thankgiving being away from home, yet it's also so neat and adventurous. On the trip side of things it has been an amazing trip. There will be none like it for SEVERAL years, possibly never. So it's a little bittersweet.

Ok.....O.K.! I'm getting all emotional and sidetracked......

For certain reasons I don't want to go into too much detail about the trip just yet. Since I was able to get a good connection I decided to treat you all to a little vlog that I had promised. I also have pictures up on facebook if you are my little friend over there. I promise to give a more detailed update after I get home. I'm hoping for another vlog opportunity. I know for sure that I won't be able to be on the internet much again until I get back home & even then please remember I have so much to do after being gone for over a week.

Enjoy the vlog!

Wildcat 50k

No, that is not a typo.  I meant to put 50 & not 5.  I case you are mathematically challenged (don't worry, I am) that comes out to 31 miles.  Yes, I ran the whole thing.  Because....ya know....I had NOTHING else to do on a Sunday afternoon.

I wasn't even sure I was going to run this race until just a few days before.  So, of course, I did little to no training for the event.  That is nothing new anyway.  I don't let that keep me from going and and having fun anyway.

Distance wise I know I can get the miles done.  The terrian was quite a challenge.  Where I live I don't have such a place to train.  I can swing over and catch the overpass by my house & call it a "hill".  Otherwise it's pretty flat where I run at on a daily basis.  The weather was unexpected.  When I had packed my clothes for this race we had been having cold 40 degree days.  When the race actually came it was mid 50's by 7 a.m. and reached 60.  Not exactly long heavy sleeve shirt & tights weather.  I was roasting by the end of my first loop.  I was able to at least ditch the shirt and put on something much lighter. (Thank goodness for my Goodwill buy the day before).  It was still warm.  And windy.  Because of where we ran though, we were sheilded from the wind.

I actually felt very good being out there running.  My knee started to bother me.  I think it's the steep hills that make it hurt.  Same thing happened at Screaming Pumpkin, another hilly race.  I have never had any problem with this area of my knee.  Only the last two big races.  So I don't think it's running itself, but the hills.  I knew there was a reason I never liked them!!!!  Not counting my stops in between each loop my total run time was 6:19.  All together with my stops and considering I didn't start until 10 minutes after the start gun my time was 7:04.

This race is very low key & laid back.  Other than a start gun & running clock there is not much else official about it.  You go out & run 5 loops to reach a 50k.  If you don't want to or can't then you do what you can.  When you are done you write your name & time down in a notebook.  There is no tshirt, no awards, etc.  Just the satisfaction of going a job well done.  I can live with that!

Here is a slideshow of pictures that I took along the way. A few are scenery I saw along the way, but for the most part you are looking at the path that I ran 5 times over. The course is so beautiful and yet so challenging at the same time. I know most people think I'm nuts for being as I am, but how can you not love it?!?!?!!?!?

Blame It On the Rain

Remember that song from the 80's by Milli Vanilli?  I don't care that those guys were lip syncing & got caught....I like that song.  I like Milli Vanilli.  That's right, you heard me.  When I married Jim I discovered he had this controversial cd.  He more than once commented on how he should get rid of it.  Uh...no you don't mister.  A) I like the music and want to be able to listen to it until all eternity.  Due to it's nature you can't just go buy it.  I don't think so.  At least not back in the mid 90's you couldn't.  Them bad boys were off the shelf and only to be found in rare places.  Anyway...and B) said cd could be worth a fortune, some day.  When the Milli Vanilli dudes die and their name goes up in history.  That's right....I will still have the cd.  Until then though, I will continue to listen to their songs on my ipod.  And every time the phrase is said I will hear that familiar tune played in my head, I might even sing it out loud for you : )

O.K.....yes, I am a dork and that has nothing to do about what I wanted to say.  It was just on my mind.

For the 3rd day in the last week my running plans have been foiled by the rain.  Honestly that hasn't been a completely bad thing.  I'm in a slight running funk.  The first time it happened was last Thursday and I ended up not running or exercising at all.  Which, I think, that is why I had such a big burst of energy and optimism on Friday when I posted last, then proceeded to go out & run 6.5 miles with enthusiasm & ease.  Part of that was also fueled by guilt for skipping a run.  This week though, I have yet to run.  I have had some cardio and pilates so I don't feel too bad/guilty.  And to give myself a lot of credit the last two days I've had my bag packed, clothes set out and I was primed and ready to go.  Only to awaken to the sound of pouring rain.  So. not. fair!!!!

Yes, I understand there are treadmills.  I even have one sitting in my own front hall way.  Amazingly even though I was once a treadmill junkie, I beg & plead with you now....DON'T MAKE ME GET ON THERE!!!!  I'm not desperate yet.  I'm sure I can pushed to that pointed where I give in and run on that contraption, but I have a long way to get there.  I'd rather cross train in the time being.  I do have my annual triathlon approaching in January.  It's time to start slipping in some pool & bike time.

It has also occurred to me to take it easy this week anyway.  I'm a seriously considering running in a 50k (30 miles) this weekend.  At this point I'm 90% sure I'm going to do it.  So if I'm going to run that then, yeah, it might be a good idea to not overdo and burn myself out during the week.  I'll keep you posted.

P.S. After typing this all out I did some internet searching.  Of course...NOW days this stuff is easily accessible.  That of course, dispels my beliefs that my cd/music is of rarity.  Still, I hang onto it for keepsake purposes.  I am a extremely sentimental person.  And I did read where one of the M.V. guys did die.  Once I read that it did ring a bell.  Sometimes you temporarily forget an event then think...."oh yeah, I do remember that happening."  I didn't want to completely re-write my post to make it look like I knew what I was talking about the whole time.  Lesson learned: do internet search first, then post.  Another lesson learned, but you knew anyway....I am still a dork.  So for you & your viewing pleasure enjoy the video:

Dilemma

It is a nice fall day.  Much better than yesterday.  I was going to blog about it & call it "Blame It on the Rain".  I might still do that.  However the dilemma remains before me.  I have a house to clean, a nap to take (have to stay up all night to chaperone a lock in) and blogging to do.  However, I want to run.  And the weather outside is awesome!  I came across the phrase the other day....if you have time to facebook...you have time to run.  Uh, yeah....ooops....how many times have I checked facebook today?!?!?  I'd answer that but then you might want to admit me to some kind of addict group.  So, I could do the above mentioned....clean, nap, facebook, but I am going to go run.  Here is why:

I'll catch up with you all later.  After my run.  I AM going to be up all night!!!!

Screaming Pumpkin Marathon

Waiting......

I made y'all a little vlog about the Screaming Pumpkin.  I'm waiting for it to load to youtube.  I have the post started.  I have the pictures loaded.  Just waiting on youtube......*drumming fingers in anticipation*  Until then I am going to log off & work on my family blog to get posted about Halloween.  There is always something to do!