Running Wogging & the Glass Half Full

I just couldn't help it- I'd been thinking about it all last night- My Sis-in-law gets to run yet ANOTHER half this weekend Seriously! Isn't that a bit excessive? Not in the least- I'd run one too if I could. But wait- I can- Virtual though it may be- 13.1 is just a mile marker Anybody can get to. And that's when the white rabbit Jumped the hole. How was I not to follow this 'Wild hare'? Prep was minimal- 2 water bottles 3 packs of fruit snacks Dropped kids off at school. Deposited said water bottles At mile 6 and 9. Then home to start the trek. Route chosen- It would be a run up foothills- Chosen mostly for it's solitude- NOT it's abundant crazy hills- The first three miles could be Described by most as an Utter fail- The stoplight took forever Toward the end of mile1- Which turned into a gruesome Hill climb in mile 2- Mile 3 laughable- Some truck flagged me down For directions- I thought they were stopping me Because I looked like I needed help-

 Thankful- Very thankful- So many blessings: Family, Friends, This new found gift of running. What better way to give them their due, than a run. The sky so blue, Not a single cloud. But wind- oh there was that! Reminding me - winter and all the festivities that go with it, Chasing me down. I want to catch this moment The moment between thankfulness and giving The sigh before Christmas rush And run. 

On the first day of christmas Running Santa gave to me- A lotto draw for New York City On the second day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me Two round trip air fares And a lotto draw for New York City On the third day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me Three high tech gadgets Two round trip air fares And a lotto draw for New York City On the fourth day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me Four running shoes Three high tech gadgets Two round trip air fares And a lotto draw for New York City On the fifth day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me FIVE MINUTE MILES!!!!! Four running shoes Three high tech gadgets Two round trip air fares And a lotto draw for New York City On the sixth day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me Six practice races FIVE MINUTE MILES!!!!! Four running shoes Three high tech gadgets Two round trip air fares And a lotto draw for New York City On the seventh day of Christmas Running Santa gave to me Seven sa

Today I ran my first 5k Now- I have a different opinion on these types of things. It was not my first time to run 3-whatever miles. So I really hate saying it was my first - But it was  my first ever race . Hate calling it that too, I'm slow, and not competetive. Let's just say it was my first ever  Numbers,  T-shirt, Hoopla. I would really love to rant about how I despise the mentality, That it takes a race to affirm one's running prowess. But I'll spare you. Because for the first time I ran consistently faster than I ever have before. And no- I did't shatter any records- I may have even come in dead last- for all I know But I do know this-I got past a pace that has been haunting me. So what was the race like? Well, for starters I was running late- no surprise there. Breakfast was a banana (hate them, but heard they were a good choice) Down it went Water Melaluca Access bar (the chocolate caramel ones are so yummy) Fidgeted wi

Anticipation You feel it bubble up Half giddy Half scared Do you dare? Just one step And suddenly It's GAME ON!

 My Fence Outside looking in- Been wandering aimlessly this week. Even thought about forgoing running all together and post a few fall "spring cleaning" blurbs for good measure. (my cupboards are looking especially happy these days) Cleaning house is a sign of discontentment. My hubby loves it when I clean and organize, but for me it reinforces my shortcomings. I guess it's good to get it all out in the open, right the ship, and move on... rather than have some unsuspecting visitor happen upon my stash of  heaped up pots. My discontentment lay in a secret wish. Don't ask me why I didn't vocalize it. A silly little wish of a run. Hubby's in the home stretch getting his M.S.M.E through Purdue.  Every ounce of energy is focused on him finishing strong. His "marathon" of sorts- Only 4 weeks left, I am so proud- And yet, I digress- About a month or so ago, Our little town started organizing it's first Turkey Trot.

Saturday's sky- How can one describe it... Magnificent seems trite- Glorious- overused No words even come close to dignify the vast beauty of it. Yet, can you believe- I almost missed it. My running chart told me 8 was on the menu. The morning started well enough- But as I stepped out on this run, my mind got in the way. First, it was a new compression shirt- Embellished stripes on the back suddenly had seams- Windbreaker swished. Running form- wonky No slight annoyance went undetected. I thought about my friends and their scheduled runs- Some have 10 One, is running Rim Rock 26.2 Crazy Marathon through Colorado National Monument. The night before, T texted me while driving the course  THEN she texted me THIS Isn't that crazy awesome! It was her run that got my mind off myself. That's when I noticed the sky. And knew I had to have a special run. I chose a hill climb- College/Hood Mesa/La

runner ahead of me on the track running through the fog My first 'running winter' is approaching. A month ago I was petrified the cold would hamper my running efforts. But after having run in snow flurries last Saturday, the worry is no longer the cold- But visibility- My mid-week training runs must take place before the sun gets up, Or after it goes down- Thursday we had fog- Absolutely wondrous phenomena, Not so wonderous on the visibility chart. The photo above was tricky to get- A fellow runner ahead of me on the track- Visible for about 5 seconds- Then vanished into thin air. It's time to get creative- I wouldn't have it any other way~ Fog on the field First Frost!

This post is a procrastinated post. This run was completed 3 days ago. Typically I can't wait to share thoughts and pictures on a run, Blog it into oblivion. But this run was different. It's not that it was a hard run. Discouraging, no- New route-no.  Ever have a run that didn't go as planned, and it haunts you?  Maybe even a race- Just something that you keep replaying in your mind. craving a 'do-over' I've got one too. Nothing serious. Just a training run that rocked- then ran awry- A missed photograph of a building that intrigued me. Not really worth all the emotional drama- A silly little training run, but I can't shake it. Monday morning I finally got the chance to re-capture it. Funny how I had built it up in my mind- This perfect run- This perfect picture- It was neither. Just a simple run Ordinary snapshot "The photo "- yawn How many times do I do that to myself?

It is not enough to merely know the air is cold this time of year, One must feel its whispers as it rushes by. Nor enough to simply trust earth’s crust be sleeping, Lest you miss the frost beneath your feet. How can a soul be living if he linger by the window, Watching for spring’s waking sigh? Now is the moment, take it, bear it up, embrace the fear- Venture on a path, and live complete. There is no shame in slowing pace to take it in, Nor pride in speeding up to find relief. So go, my friend, and conquer wind and snow- With open arms, and running feet, and heart.

Saturdays are for celebrating. My son, Riley enjoys a good pancake. He has single handedly created a tradition of "Pancake Saturdays" by his sheer will and sweet coaxing. Today Molly helped. Usually we make Great Harvest pancakes, But I ran out of mix- Good old fashioned home-made were just that- GOOD- Breakfast cleared and cleaned, One thing on my mind. MY saturday tradition- a good old fashioned run. But the day had other plans. Kids rooms needed tidying, floors needed sweeping, you get the idea- The day was getting away. I wondered if my girlfriends had gotten their run in already- A quick check to Endomondo told me, not yet- they had 8 scheduled for today. I had 6. As if they read my mind, my phone chimed in a text. Boy did I ever want to run with them again- The last time I'd run with these gals was all the way back in August (read about it here ) Wow- had it really been that long ago? They had continued their Saturday group runs,

crabby when i don't run This is my crabby face- Well, not really, my crabby face is much to scary to post. I wanted to start this post, "Forgive me Father of all runners, for I have sinned... It has been 1 week since my last run....." But I'm not Catholic. I AM a  procrastinator. A procrastinator in denial. You see, I always THINK I will have time to accomplish whatever task it is I'm putting off. I even go through self visualization techniques of me completing said task. The glass is always half full. Can't even begin to explain how I do this to myself over and over again, why don't I just do the task at hand, rather than leave it for later? Take this week for instance. Sunday night- I'm thinking about the week ahead, and planning my runs. I get giddy at the thought of Monday being Halloween, even plan to 'steal' my daughter's cat woman mask to wear for a fun early morning run. Then I try on my daughter'