With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams...

Woke up just a little earlier today and got in 7 miles. 

Progressive run starting with 10 for a warm up and mile 7 was 8:15.  The back of my knee didn't bother me at all until I was almost done with mile 7, and my speed was increasing.  I think it's related to speed and the knee strap.  The back of my knee where the strap sits just cramps up really bad.  So I slowed down and finished at a slower pace, then stretched out. 

I guess I just need to keep my pace slower (above 8:30) and I should be good.  Not a problem :-)

Loved the beautiful moon light again.  The weather was wonderful.  Skirt & long sleeved shirt were comfortable to run in...only my hands were cold. 

Average pace was 9:06

Easier pace to recover and prep for tomorrow.  I've run almost 2x as many miles this week by Friday than I have the last 2 weeks, so I'm feeling the tired legs a little. Avg pace 9:40.  But enough of that...

Happy Good FRY-day!  It's one of my favorite days of the year because we pull out the deep fat fryer and fry everything we can find.  On the menu today is: chicken wings, egg rolls, hush puppies, cocktail weiner-corn dogs, cheese cubes, pickels, oreos, and of course twinkies.  

It will be interesting to see how my run goes tomorrow after all that grease tonight :-)  Oh, and a cabbage salad too...not fried.

This turned out to be more of a food blog than a running blog today. My apologies to the running die-hards and healthy eating crew.

slept in, which was nice...but it was too warm by the time we finally got out.   First day this year of hot running...I forgot how hard it is to run in the hot, hot, heat.

We started about 10mm pace, then things went downhill for MR around mile 5.  We'd gone for an out and back, so he'd only gone 1/2 way and had to take walk breaks.  I would run ahead, then back track to see him (share some water) and then go out ahead.  So my last 5 miles were faster than my first 5. 

I think the combination of the sun, the heat, the grease from the night before & the sigh of relief that spring break had finally started was all too much for me.  I ended up needing 2 naps that day just to stay awake late enough to go to sleep at 9.  Exhausted!

Pine pollen is everywhere.  There were yellow clouds of pollen that we were running through.  Glad I've got my allergy meds!   Dogwoods in bloom!!!

went for two 2 mile walks today

felt good to walk....the weather was beautiful.  If it weren't for the pollen, we'd have opened all the windows. 

a week later, my mizunos are finally dry &  ready to run in again.

slept in, and went out at 9.  Too warm. Gonna have to get up a little earlier even though I'm on break so I can beat the heat

progressive run, but slow.  10:06- 9:00.  legs were still tired from Saturday.  that run took a lot out of me!

woke up earlier, and it was still dark.  I refuse to run in the dark when I don't have to.  So I ate breakfast and got some things done around the house until it was light outside.  By mile 1.5, I'd turned east and saw the sun coming up above the trees and housetops.  It was beautiful...the bright orange color of orange-juice!

It was cool enough too.  Started with a light jacket on, and by mile 3 took it off & enjoyed the morning run.  The wisteria is in full bloom everywhere now too.  It's eye candy for me to see all the beautiful flowers and trees.  The pear tree blossoms are almost all gone by now & replaced with leaves.  When the wind blows, the remaining blossoms blow and it looks like snow. 

Sorry to all of you out west who have real snow. 

tried running on the treadmill in the am....talk about drudgery!  2 miles was enough.

In the pm, I was inspired to see all the other runners out on the street, so I ran from our hotel along the main street to where it dead ended & back.  On the run out, I was pleased to see that the wind had finally died down and wasn't roaring like it had been all day.  Then I turned around and realized it was still roaring, it was just at my back for the last 2.8 miles.  Oh dear...the run home was a little more work than the run out.  I got to enjoy the sunset when I was finishing up my last mile and walking back to the hotel. 

Wrightsville beach is beautiful.  A small island off the NC coast near Wilmington.  It is the beach where the book Dear John takes place.  I didn't know this until I sat down to read the book while I was there. I bought it on a whim before we drove out there.  A little ironic that the book I picked to read on vacation was about a couple who were at the same beach.  Just made the book all the better to read.

On a personal note...teenagers drive me insane!

The wind was (for lack of a better word in my brain right now).....very windy.  13-20 mph, which can sting a little when it's blowing sand at you.   But all worth it for a morning run on the beach.

This am I ran into the wind first...much better plan than yesterday.  I ran south to the end of the island, and turned around when it started heading north again and turned into private piers.

It was 1.82 miles to the turn around point, so to get 4 I had to overshoot the hotel by .4 miles.  I just kept running and walked back for a cool down.  I found a couple neat seashells along the way, and despite my initial intentions to not run with my hands full of seashells, I ended up with 4 after all.  One for each mile.

Beautiful run...looking forward to going home & sleeping in my own bed.

And teen-agers still drive me insane!!!  How could I have ever been one of them???

wasn't really sure where I was going or how far when I started out.  I just knew I needed to run.. I wasn't feeling like a winner this morning.

So I started out the way i usually do, but figured I go out of the hood on the main road since it was daylight and not too much traffic.  Thought I'd go 6 miles, then decided I might as well just do 8, and felt so good I went for 10.  My body was getting tired by mile 10, but I think it was just my brain tricking me because I knew I was almost done.  Average pace 8:55.

It was cooler today (thank goodness) and there was a nice wind at times so I decided to keep my jacket on the entire run.  Clouds overhead sprinkled on me now and then, and just as I finished the run, the last of the clouds passed by the sun, and it was clear blue skies for my 1/4 mile walk home. 

Here's some things I learned on my run: 

• I love to see new crops growing in the fields, and the farmers out on their tractors, but the smell of a field freshly fertilized is noxious.
• I love chicken.  Fried, baked, grilled, anyway you do it....I love chicken.  But seeing all the chickens on the truck smashed together in the cages and smelling them drive by made me wonder if I'd be okay with eating mushroom burgers the rest of my life.
• Spring is beautiful.  Running down the road surrounded by new green leaves on everything, and seeing the flowers all in bloom, it really is amazing.  Just a month ago, everything looked so dismal.  I wish it could always be spring, and that I would always keep my sense of wonder and amazement at the beauty surrounding me.
• wherever you go, there you are

Happy running everyone!

No run today.   Helped with Special Olympics Swim Meet in Chapel Hill. 

Instead of our morning walk, we did a morning jog.  It was really beautiful outside, and we just enjoyed the run.

Back to the darkness.  Wasn't really too bad.  5-6 am.  Avg pace 8:58.  Last mile I was going a little faster, and had a few times I was running at/over 8mm, and was pleased that I didn't have any problems with the back of my leg hurting.

Caught a little bitty glimpse of the sliver of a moon we had this morning.  It was just coming up and I saw it through the trees a couple of times.  Noticeable darker out this morning than it was 2 weeks ago when  I was running in the full moon light.

Spring break was nice.  Looking forward to summer vacation.

Woke up a little earlier to get a few more miles in.  Hoping to chase some stress away, but at my speed today, I wasn't chasing anything.  More of just a continuous pounding of the pavement.

Avg pace was around 9:40.  I was so slow getting up to speed today.  I don't think I hit a 9:30 until mile 6.  But I was enjoying the time outside and the crisp cool air.  I'm wondering if the good stuff I'm smelling is the holly trees.  I'll have to go back out when it's light outside and scope out the good smelling places on my route to figure out what it is.

Showered, ate & took a quick nap before getting ready for work.  Woke up with a headache...what's up with that?  Glad I didn't have it when I got up at 4, or I might not have run.  I'm such a sucker for excuses :-)

The sky was beginning to lighten up as I was heading home.  No sun to be seen, but a beautiful shade of blue in the eastern sky.  No moon either.  I think today is the new moon anyway.  Reminds me of a good book I read.....

Speaking of good things: only 9 weeks of school left!!!!

slept in..it was nice

did something like a tempo run.  avg pace 8:39

ran & did bleachers  after work.  Tried sprinting on the run sections.  Didn't have very much energy.  Didn't stretch well afterwards.....got a rotten pain in one of my "weak spots" that I often have trouble with.  Stretched before bed.  Hoping for relief tomorrow.

pain from bleachers still hanging on, so I just slept today and did my strengthening/stretching exercises. 

I thought it was better to just let it rest and hopefully heal this morning.  Going to try bleachers again today, but I'll be doing them really easy.  Maybe walking them if I have to, because I'm determined to have my sore spot (under my butt/top of my leg) heal quickly.

 PM- did a good warm up and slow, slow, slow bleachers.  My mile paces were 3 minutes over the paces I did Wednesday.  2.1 miles total. Warming up and going easy were good...the pain didn't really bother me.  Stretched after.

Went home and ran another 3.1 miles while the meatloaf baked in the oven.  Went really slow.  All miles were over 10mm pace, but it was nice to go slow and enjoy the sunshine outside.  Mr. rode the bike while I ran so we got to visit and laugh about our day.  It was nice.  I should make meatloaf more often. 

Did warm ups this morning and headed out early for a longer run.  I'm not sure I'll have time tomorrow for any kind of run at all, so I wanted to get some miles in today.

Started slow: 10:40, but picked up the pace because I wanted to get 9 miles in, and if I went slow all morning, I would have run out of time.  Avg pace 9:10. 

I had a scary dream last nigh about people trying to abduct me while I was running.  In my dream I didn't have any pepper spray or a phone with me. So this morning....I was all stocked up on emergency supplies, just in case.  Luckily, all was fine, and the scariest thing I ran into was a rabbit...and it was afraid of me!

Had a long day, but finally got out around 4 for my run.  Ran for a while, then just ran some more to get rid of a few demons, then just ran because I wanted to get home.

A little too warm when I started, but it was nice day and I had a good run.  Mr rode the bike & carried my water.  He's a good water-boy!

nice 2 mile morning walk.  birds chirping, the world is green, just a great day.

back to life ... back to reality......weekend ended too soon. 

ran a comfortable pace, picked up a bit the last couple miles.  Avg pace 9:16.

Went to run bleachers after school, but there was a soccer game so I just ran the hood around school.  3.24 miles at a 9:24 avg pace.

My bed's tractor beam had a hold on me this morning.  I tried getting out, but it wouldn't release me.   I finally found my jedi force and used it to get out of bed, I got dressed (except for my shoes) and bent over to kiss my husband good-bye, and the stupid bed pulled me in again.  I cried out, "no, no!  Let me go...I have to run."  But my cries were muffled by the pillow my face was laying on. 

It took a lot of effort just to get back out of bed.  There isn't a spot on my blog for "effort exerted to get out of bed & out the door."  I may need to add one.   Got my water bottle out of the kitchen, and was doing my leg/hip warm ups (in the dark) when squish, I stepped in a pile of cat hairball/vomit.  That finally did the trick and woke me up.  Changing my socks and cleaning up the mess set me back a few more minutes, so by the time I did get out the door, I only had enough time for 6 miles.

I did a tempo run today so I could get some benefits from a shorter run.  My warm up first mile was 9:40, then I stayed around 8:30 pace for the next 4 miles, and finished with an 8:01.  My watch said my avg pace was 8:38.  I felt like my effort was good, so I was pleased with the way I felt after the run.

Ate b-fast with mini-me.  I have a new favorite b-fast.  It's my usual oatmeal, but when I cook it, I dump in a bunch of cocoa-powder (the kind for baking w/o the sugar).  Then when it's done cooking, I add fresh strawberries and some strawberry yogurt.  It's chocolate and strawberries for breakfast.  AMAZING!! 

Got up & got out.  I thought I'd be running in the rain, but I made it home before the rain came.  Which was nice, because it was beautiful temp & partly cloudy (partly stary) on my run.  Just me & Peter Rabbit out this morning.  I'm pretty sure there was a whippoorwill out too.  Sounded like one, but I'm not sure. 

Avg Pace 9:30.  My distance & pace are almost the same today. 

Running felt good this morning.  Didn't see any rabbits :-(  Had my music on so I didn't hear the birds, but enjoyed the tunes.

Avg pace 8:52 -  progressive run

Added some whipped cream (from the can) to my chocolate/strawberry oatmeal this morning, and what do you know????? Delicious.  I couldn't decide if it was breakfast or dessert :-)

Bleachers after school for 2.18 miles.  Wasn't fast, wasn't super slow.  Just one of those "get 'er done" kind of efforts.

sleep, easy effort. 10:50, 9:49, ? for last .5

schedules were different this morning, so I got to run as the morning dawn was lighting up the sky.  It was pretty bright outside when I finished, but the sun still wasn't up yet.  When I did see the sunrise around 6:50, it was so glorious.  Orange sky..looked like sunny delight.  I wonder if that volcano is making the sunrise/sunsets more dramatic in colors.

Two eight mile loops.  Mr. wanted to run, so we ran one loop with him, then went back & had a quick little break while he got the bike out and then we ran while he rode the bike for the second loop

The loops were different, which was nice.  We didn't have to see the same scenery.  For some reason, it was just a hard day to run.  Maybe the pollen in the air, maybe the lack of proper fueling the day before, maybe no good reason at all.  It was just tough. 

Had a light-headed spell around mile 9.5.  Drank water, ate a GU, and it went away.

Lots of dogs running today.  My friend had her pepper spray, and we had our 2 guys with us.  I forgot my pepper spray, and my garmin died as soon as I put it on, so I didn't have that with me either.  

It was a great run to finally finish.  Our avg paces were 9:45 on the first 8 and 9:43 on the second eight.  We walked for a while, and had some breaks on the second 8.  My friend had her first run-in with a side ache/stitch.  She stretched, did breathing, and all that stuff, but it wouldn't go away.  I ended up running the last 1/2 mile solo while she took a shortcut walk home. 

The yummy protien shake she made afterward was such a treat.  Pancakes with berries and ice cream for lunch later :-)   That made it all worth it.

Made 5 batches of strawberry jam later in the day.  I had to taste some of every batch to make sure it was good. It was.  I thought I'd have more to show for my labors, but the jam doesn't go far.  11 pints, 11 half-pints, and 2 mini jars.   Love strawberry jam!!!

got up, got out, ran a mile and stopped.  walked home.

Just not feeling good.

maybe I ate too much jam

Had lots of energy this morning due to the fact that I did nothing yesterday.

9 miles, avg pace 8:57.   First mile was a 10:14 and last was a 7:57.  I'm happy with the run; so many beautiful things to see outside this morning as the moon was up, then went down, then I saw the sunlight coming up and the eastern edge of the sky light up.   It was just beautiful.

Little update and unnecessary waste of my time.  Instead of doing productive work, I wrote a poem about my moring.  It's long, and is really more for me than anything, but I thought I'd put it here to share.  Just in case someone is bored and wants to read it...and so I don't lose it.  I can't get it to un-double space, so it takes up a lot of space.

As I came out and saw the world today

I was left speechless by the splendor, with nothing to say

The sky was dark, sparkles of stars all around,

And the nearly full moon light illuminated the ground.

It had been some time since I’d seen the moon,

I was delighted to see it had returned so soon.

Above the treetops it hung in the air

Sharing its light and beauty, I was glad to be there.

Into a light layer of clouds, the moon it did sink

And its light was clouded, which caused me to think

That is was slowly setting, and leaving me there

Alone in the dark, without my guiding light so fair

My disappointment soon turned to joy and delight

When the clouds did shift by, and returned my bright light

I knew that the moon, which was slowly falling in the west

Would eventually settle into the trees, taking its own night’s rest

But for a few minutes more, I was able to see

The moon and its light, flowing effortlessly and free

It showed me the robin that was out from her nest

Courting the males, and trying to choose the best

The moonlight revealed small flowers and plants

That were planted deliberately, and some that grew just by chance

I savored it all, taking in all the glory

And wishing I could somehow share such a wonderful story

As I turned and faced the west once again

The moon was nearly gone, the last ray of light so thin

As it sunk into the trees and housetops below

I was grateful that I’d been given such a beautiful show

I reflected on how I would miss the moon-light

When an awesome vision came to my sight

The first crack of dawn, just a faint glow in the sky

Was coming from the east as the time had passed by

A new light had come, to replace the one gone

I was given a gift, and saw the first light of dawn

And as the light grew, and the world came into view

I was disappointed that my time had run out, and my run was through

I am grateful for this gift I was given- a personal sign

That for those ninety minutes, the world was all mine.

I'd say it was a recovery run, but there's not much to recover from....so I'll just call it an easy effort run.  I tried to keep my paces slower, which seemed to be almost as much work as trying to keep them faster.

I did pretty good staying above a 9:45, except for a couple of miles when my mind wandered off and I got thinking about things that were irritating me...and then I unintentionally ran faster.

Wow, the moon was beautiful and bright today...and it stuck around a little longer.  That and the sun coming up a little sooner really "brightened" my day.

avg pace 9:49

Great run today.  It was cooler- 40 degrees. Officially 39 at the end of my run, so there's the 30's they prediced.  I was so grateful it wasn't colder.  I dressed warm and didn't regret it at all.  I don't usually pay much attention to to forecast, but was grateful for it this morning.  All my thanks to KP for bringing the cold front to my attention :-)

avg pace 8:35.  first mile was 9:45, then I picked up the speed.  I wanted to try and sustain the faster speed the whole distance, and still pull off something under 8mm for the last mile.  I was pleased with how it worked out.  Miles 4-6 were all at 8:31...I thought maybe my Garmin was broken because it never changed.  In the end, I was really happy with my last mile being a 7:45.  My legs were certainly tired by then, and I was wondering if my effort was actually speeding me up or just taking all I had to maintain.

Hope to get some bleachers in later today.

pm:

1.5 miles of bleacher work.  It was tough..legs were pooped.  Then finished with .5 mile around the track. 

Recovery run.  Legs were still tired, so was my head.  Avg pace was 10:22.  I kept all miles above 10 today.  I want them to recover for a longer run tomorrow.  I think we'll be running the tri-county run...should be around 17 miles.   Looking forward to a few hours out in the country. 

Our forecast here for Sunday is a high of 90.  Yikes...that kind of heat is too much too soon.