We headed up to the Wisconsin Dells Friday afternoon. The kids have reached the age that they ask - "Are we there yet?" Gracie was the first to ask, 10 minutes from the house. Then Zak took over asking every 10 minutes for the next hour. We stopped for a potty break at the Belvidere oasis, that put a damper on the question until we were 20 minutes from the hotel.
Check-in for our room was a mess. The computers went down which caused a back up in the lobby. Luckly the kids didn't mind. We watched people sledding to Hannah Montana music for 30 minutes while Scott waited for our room key. Finally we got to the room, barely unpacked and headed for the pools. We swam til 7:30 and got back to the room, ate some vegi sandwhiches and watched Spiderman 3.
I planned on being up and running by 7 a.m. Scott was teasing me because our room was 2 doors down from the workout room. He said I must have called and requested it. :) That's funny cause I absolutely hate running on a treadmill. I have read other bloggers and they refer to it as the "dredmill". Well, didn't get out there til 7:30. Got on and it took me about 5 minutes to figure out what I needed to do to program it. The machine wouldn't go any faster than 1 m.p.h. So got off it and moved to the next one. At least I knew what to do this time. Realized that I could only program the time for 30 minutes. UGH! Ok, just start already. Finally 15 minutes later I was moving. And knocking my fists on those goofy handrails. I told myself I was going to run outside this year but with all the snow and not really knowing where I was going I decided to suck it up and run indoors. The half hour dragged. Even with my music and the TV on. The exercise room filled up and people were actually waiting to get on this ridiculous thing. So after 30 minutes I got off. Went back to the room to put my water away and decided to run the halls. Heck, kids were running up and down the halls until 11:30 p.m., I didn't think me running at 8:15 would hurt anyone.
I was off. The halls were endless at this place. I would guess a good 1/4 mile long on some floors. The wing we were staying in had 5 floors. I passed alot of doors that smelled like bacon was cooking on the other side and some that had garbage bags full of beer bottles. Huh? Ok, I don't get that. A couple beers good, bags of empty bottles while your kids are swimming? Keep running. I was waiting for someone to come out and complain. Or security to see me on the hall cameras and ask me to stop. But that didn't happen. I would come across some little ones, waiting in the hall for mom and dad to go down to a pool with them. Some of them would start running with me. We would go a couple of doors and then I would turn them around to go back to their door. They would be laughing and giggling. I would actually see some of them again on my way back up the hall and they would race me again. It helped the time pass quickly. Other than those children I was surprised at how empty the hallways stayed while I ran. There was the occasional bottle neck but for the most part it was clear sailing. Ran an hour and a half total.
We swam the rest of the day. Running under buckets of freezing cold water and then leaping over enormous waves. Zak gave me a scare in the lazy river of all places. He slipped off the tube but wouldn't let it go, keeping his head under water with the rest of his body flailing. Scott grabbed him and he choked up some water, he was fine. We were off to something a little less threatening. We were busy all day just being a kid. At 5:30 we were back in the room, ate dinner and the kids were sleeping by 6:00. Sammy came up with us. After the kids fell asleep, Scott took Sam to the arcade. They were back by 8:30. The kids woke up when they came in so we ended up watch Ratioulle. Me and Scott missed most of it. I'm getting old, I can't stay up past 10 anymore.
Got up Sunday morning and ran the halls while Scott took the kids to the indoor play area and arcade. I was surprised by all the stuff they came back with. It was time to go. The drive home was a slow one because of the ice and drifting snow. Saw the capitol building when we passed Madison. Can't believe Ironman Wisconsin is over. This September I'll be up here as a spectator cheering my tri-mates on. Well, onto different things. Pekin IL. Hmmm, wonder what the trails of Pekin look like. I'll find out in about 11 weeks. :)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Friendship
In the 1980's I was given a gift. I gave it to myself. I started running. I used to watch a girl I knew from high school run around the neighborhood. I always thought she looked so cool. So I decided to try it. I didn't have an inhaler back then so the longest I could run would be about a mile. I would watch her and dream that some day that would be me.
I started using an inhaler in 1984. It was the magic mist I needed to keep me feeling good if my asthma got out of hand. I didn't run great distances then but I did run. Maybe a mile or a mile and a half.
During the 90's my husband started a second job as security for concerts. He was also coaching football which left a lot time to myself. We were married young and most of my girlfriends were still doing the bar scene. I was never comfortable with that. I had a habit of drinking more than I should and then saying something so stupid that it would haunt me for weeks. Other friends, like my sister were having babies and most of us know that new mothers are in an entirely different world than someone without children. That was when running became my friend. Sure I would go to the health club with Cin and we would run the indoor track and talk but like I said she had her single life. The streets in my neighbor would fill my time with something to do. Besides, having alone time can be filled with a lot of eating and TV. I would run and think, and pray, and sing. Remember the Sony walkmans that held the cassette tapes? I would carrying it with me on the long runs. We are so spoiled now. My first marathon I trained for in snow and grey cotton sweat pants. Trudging thru snow up to my calves, I didn't know any differently. I think that's why I hate using weather as an excuse when I do poorly in a run. Because when starting out I just thought the weather was something you ran in no matter what. Hot, cold, snowy, icy, slushy, didn't matter. Running was my friend I could count on. It never let me down.
I got used to being alone out there. I liked it that way. Even when a friend asked me to join the CARA marathon training team. I baulked at the thought but then remembered the marathon that past fall. I bonked big time and never wanted to let that happen again. I ended up in a faster pace group than my friend and never really felt comfortable with the people in my pace group. Don't get me wrong, they were very nice but I think I was just used to running alone. Ok, this is getting long and I really have a point to all this please bare with me. Just one more thing about being alone. I've been kind of shy my whole life. Afraid I'll say the wrong thing so I usually kept to myself. Never liked meeting new people. I stayed at the same job for almost 12 years because of that fear.
Just after the kids were born I joined the tri club. I needed to do something other than talk to the grandmas. It was just what I needed. I think I went to every talk the club had that summer. I never went to any of the runs, swims or rides tho. The group was way to fast for me and I didn't need to embarress myself. Beside, I could run just fine alone.
Well, some how, I volunteered myself as president to the club. I must have had a strange lapse in judgement. Tri-mates please don't take offense to that comment. But for me to agree to that, well like I said above, I've always been on the shy side out of fear of saying something really stupid. Before I knew it I was training with the "Big Dogs". And realizing I was missing out on a whole lot. I let my fear rob me of sharing my love for running.
I have met some of the nicest people I know. I have memories with these guys that are priceless. I can remember the first time I met each and everyone of them. Calling them by the wrong name for a couple of weeks and no one caring. Getting my friends lost on long runs and they would just laugh about it. I'm sure they were thinking, ok, we were only supposed to do 10 not 15. I thought I had it good back then, by myself.
Who knew back in 1993, as I ran alone, counting the miles down that 15 years later I would be running with a group and literally laughing the miles away. That I would have friends that would "watch my back", replace broken yax trax, share absolutely beautiful poetry or give me a light to run with when it is 5:30 in the morning. Thank you tri-mates. My gift of running has given me more than I could have ever imagined. My life is truly blessed.
I started using an inhaler in 1984. It was the magic mist I needed to keep me feeling good if my asthma got out of hand. I didn't run great distances then but I did run. Maybe a mile or a mile and a half.
During the 90's my husband started a second job as security for concerts. He was also coaching football which left a lot time to myself. We were married young and most of my girlfriends were still doing the bar scene. I was never comfortable with that. I had a habit of drinking more than I should and then saying something so stupid that it would haunt me for weeks. Other friends, like my sister were having babies and most of us know that new mothers are in an entirely different world than someone without children. That was when running became my friend. Sure I would go to the health club with Cin and we would run the indoor track and talk but like I said she had her single life. The streets in my neighbor would fill my time with something to do. Besides, having alone time can be filled with a lot of eating and TV. I would run and think, and pray, and sing. Remember the Sony walkmans that held the cassette tapes? I would carrying it with me on the long runs. We are so spoiled now. My first marathon I trained for in snow and grey cotton sweat pants. Trudging thru snow up to my calves, I didn't know any differently. I think that's why I hate using weather as an excuse when I do poorly in a run. Because when starting out I just thought the weather was something you ran in no matter what. Hot, cold, snowy, icy, slushy, didn't matter. Running was my friend I could count on. It never let me down.
I got used to being alone out there. I liked it that way. Even when a friend asked me to join the CARA marathon training team. I baulked at the thought but then remembered the marathon that past fall. I bonked big time and never wanted to let that happen again. I ended up in a faster pace group than my friend and never really felt comfortable with the people in my pace group. Don't get me wrong, they were very nice but I think I was just used to running alone. Ok, this is getting long and I really have a point to all this please bare with me. Just one more thing about being alone. I've been kind of shy my whole life. Afraid I'll say the wrong thing so I usually kept to myself. Never liked meeting new people. I stayed at the same job for almost 12 years because of that fear.
Just after the kids were born I joined the tri club. I needed to do something other than talk to the grandmas. It was just what I needed. I think I went to every talk the club had that summer. I never went to any of the runs, swims or rides tho. The group was way to fast for me and I didn't need to embarress myself. Beside, I could run just fine alone.
Well, some how, I volunteered myself as president to the club. I must have had a strange lapse in judgement. Tri-mates please don't take offense to that comment. But for me to agree to that, well like I said above, I've always been on the shy side out of fear of saying something really stupid. Before I knew it I was training with the "Big Dogs". And realizing I was missing out on a whole lot. I let my fear rob me of sharing my love for running.
I have met some of the nicest people I know. I have memories with these guys that are priceless. I can remember the first time I met each and everyone of them. Calling them by the wrong name for a couple of weeks and no one caring. Getting my friends lost on long runs and they would just laugh about it. I'm sure they were thinking, ok, we were only supposed to do 10 not 15. I thought I had it good back then, by myself.
Who knew back in 1993, as I ran alone, counting the miles down that 15 years later I would be running with a group and literally laughing the miles away. That I would have friends that would "watch my back", replace broken yax trax, share absolutely beautiful poetry or give me a light to run with when it is 5:30 in the morning. Thank you tri-mates. My gift of running has given me more than I could have ever imagined. My life is truly blessed.
Monday, February 4, 2008
An Act of Violence
Just one mile from where I live a human being walked into a store and bullied 6 other human beings to a room and shot and killed them. Just one mile from where I live.
Today at my childrens pre-school a young girl held her daddy's hand as the other children played and giggled before entering their school room. The principal made an announcement and asked that the parents not mull around the halls after they see the children enter their classroom. This was for "safety reasons". That was all she said. Once the children entered the room the one little girl still stood there holding her daddy's hand. She wouldn't let it go. He didn't force her to enter the classroom. The dad then asked if he could talk to the principal privately.
This little girl is 4. She has been affected by something not even an adult can explain. Life can be so good sometimes and then it sucks.
Today at my childrens pre-school a young girl held her daddy's hand as the other children played and giggled before entering their school room. The principal made an announcement and asked that the parents not mull around the halls after they see the children enter their classroom. This was for "safety reasons". That was all she said. Once the children entered the room the one little girl still stood there holding her daddy's hand. She wouldn't let it go. He didn't force her to enter the classroom. The dad then asked if he could talk to the principal privately.
This little girl is 4. She has been affected by something not even an adult can explain. Life can be so good sometimes and then it sucks.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Ice Run
Chicago Tribune - Tommy Skilling's weather forecast
Tuesday high 48 / low -1
Near 50-degree temp plunge begins late afternoon. Developing 50 m.p.h. gusts send wind chills plunging to -20 to -30-degrees by daybreak Wednesday. Mild through mid p.m. Tuesday. Spotty showers build to a period of rain. A t-storm? Accumulating evening snow. 2"-4" some heavier totals NW. Blowing snow, possible whiteout conditions.
I dropped Gracie off at dance class tonight. I had an hour to kill and decided to get 5 miles in. Tommy Skilling was calling for winter storm warnings, which was hard for me to comprehend since it was in the 40's, it was raining and windy but it felt more like spring than winter.
I got thru the 1st mile with the wind to my back and then my left. It was still feeling pretty warm. As I headed west I turned into the wind gusts and began to feel the temperature drop. It was blowing so hard I was worried a lawn ornament might come at me from someones yard. I only had 4 miles left and even with the wind I was keeping a good pace. It was still raining and the ground was wet. The Garmin chimed, mile 2 was completed. Then my feet started to slide. The ground was literally freezing with each steps I took. I tried to ignore it but slid again. Shoot! So I moved my run over to the grass parkways. This is going to stink I had 2 1/2 miles left, and had to run it in the dark on wet grass. Would try the street every once in a while but would slip as soon as I put my foot on the pavement. UGH! With a half mile left I was worried about getting back to dance class on time. The wet grass was starting to freeze and my feet were now soaked. It was so dark and difficult to see where I was running I would walk and then start running once I realized what the ground was like.
Got back to dance class with no time to spare. I saw Gracie lining up to leave as I was walking into the building. My feet were freezing and my toes felt numb. I have been running for a long time and don't ever remember having the ground freeze right under the steps I took. Tomorrow night, I'm heading to the school. I hate running in a circle 81 times but it's wind free in the building and there's no ice. :)
Tuesday high 48 / low -1
Near 50-degree temp plunge begins late afternoon. Developing 50 m.p.h. gusts send wind chills plunging to -20 to -30-degrees by daybreak Wednesday. Mild through mid p.m. Tuesday. Spotty showers build to a period of rain. A t-storm? Accumulating evening snow. 2"-4" some heavier totals NW. Blowing snow, possible whiteout conditions.
I dropped Gracie off at dance class tonight. I had an hour to kill and decided to get 5 miles in. Tommy Skilling was calling for winter storm warnings, which was hard for me to comprehend since it was in the 40's, it was raining and windy but it felt more like spring than winter.
I got thru the 1st mile with the wind to my back and then my left. It was still feeling pretty warm. As I headed west I turned into the wind gusts and began to feel the temperature drop. It was blowing so hard I was worried a lawn ornament might come at me from someones yard. I only had 4 miles left and even with the wind I was keeping a good pace. It was still raining and the ground was wet. The Garmin chimed, mile 2 was completed. Then my feet started to slide. The ground was literally freezing with each steps I took. I tried to ignore it but slid again. Shoot! So I moved my run over to the grass parkways. This is going to stink I had 2 1/2 miles left, and had to run it in the dark on wet grass. Would try the street every once in a while but would slip as soon as I put my foot on the pavement. UGH! With a half mile left I was worried about getting back to dance class on time. The wet grass was starting to freeze and my feet were now soaked. It was so dark and difficult to see where I was running I would walk and then start running once I realized what the ground was like.
Got back to dance class with no time to spare. I saw Gracie lining up to leave as I was walking into the building. My feet were freezing and my toes felt numb. I have been running for a long time and don't ever remember having the ground freeze right under the steps I took. Tomorrow night, I'm heading to the school. I hate running in a circle 81 times but it's wind free in the building and there's no ice. :)
Sunday, January 20, 2008
To Bike or Not to Bike
How I spent my breakfast time this week-end
Friday 1/18/08 - 9:15
I walked into the restaurant and my dear friend from high school was reading the paper waiting for me. I gave her a big hug, well as big as I could while she was sitting in the booth and then found my spot on the other side of the table.
Our conversation was filled with catching up from the last time we saw each other. And then she asked .....
"So you only have your blog calendar filled until June. What's up?"
Me - Well, I've been thinking about that. I really think I'm afraid to get on my bike again. I loved last year and spent a lot of time on the bike. I haven't been on it since October. I'm thinking I'm avoiding it all together. Does that sound weird?
Cin - No. She said with her reassuring smile, shaking her head.
Then the conversation moved on to something else. But my words started to haunt me. Later that day I got email of what my tri pals were doing this week-end. I had a lite running schedule so I decided to bite the bullet and use one of those mornings to ride. I picked Saturday.
Saturday 1/19/08 - 7:22 a.m.
Cell phone rings. It's my tri mate. "Hey, where are you?" - "I see you," I tell him. He was meeting me at the main intersection of a different mountain bike riding place. "Great, oh I see you, ok follow me" he said. "Hey, should we wait for Jim?" I ask. "Nope, he's there!" so off we go.
We zig zag up this small incline and then sharp left into the parking area. I'm excited because the sun is coming out and the snow is sparkling, the scenery is amazing. The lake is frozen but you can tell it still has spots that might not be completely trust worthy, even if it was -2 outside. We all stay in our cars and finish getting dress. Scott I. lends me goggle to wear, which were great. Off we ride into the woods. The ruts to follow are covered in snow so I just do my best to stay with the group. Your mind can not wander while riding here. Your attention must stay completely focused on the ride. I'm trying to focus on staying up right, avoiding trees and sticks and tree trunks. Swerving and spinning. It's hard to concentration because everything looks so pretty. Then my thoughts start taking me back to when I was a kid and we would ride our bikes thru the forest area behind Trinity College. There was never any fear back then. We would just go. Then I was brought back to the present. Some how I'm on the ground and my bike is on top of me. UGH! Hope no one saw that. I struggle to get the bike off. Catch up to the guys. It's a great morning. End up walking up a lot of the hills. That's ok. I really like this. How can I fit this into the runs. Jim is managing the ride effortlessly as he shows us which way to go. I ask him how long he's been riding "Only about 2 years". Great I'm thinking this is going to take me 2 years. It's as if Scott I. reads my mind and tells me that I'll catch on in no time. Rick's words continue to ring true - the only way to become a good rider is to get on the bike as often as possible.
Get back to the car. My phone rings, Scott is having trouble with getting me into the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. I told him not to worry about it. It wasn't meant to be. "Oh no" he tells me. He's determined to get me in. Then Rick calls me. He's frozen on the computer, he can't get into HHH. I tell him Scott's trying and he will try for Rick too. Here's a pic of Ken comforting me as I get the news that registration is a big pain in the butt just like last year. I get home. Scott's still trying. He has 3 windows open all of them frozen at the registration place. We sit there and watch the screen for about 20 minutes and then get the message that our time has expired on that website. I don't get in, neither does Rick. We're going to get in, I know we both want to get back there. I have a final hill to conquer :)
Sunday 1/20/08 - 7:30 a.m.
It's just a small group out running this morning. Scott starts out fast. I'm hoping it's the cold weather that has him moving at this pace and things will slow down. Nope, we're still moving quickly by mile 2. I tell Tom that I need to slow it down. He said he'll stay with me.
Ken and Scott slowly pull away from us. It is another amazing morning. The 9 1/2 miles went by quick. I feel bad for Tom tho, he feels blisters forming on his foot. OUCH! That's the worst, once that feeling starts miles can pass at a snails pace. 
We were actually moving pretty good for it being as cold as it was and for the blisters. I made plans on Saturday to ride Sunday too but had to change the plans when I never made it to mass Saturday night. It was hard to leave the guys as they got their bikes ready. Told them I would pray for them like I always do.
Looked at my running schedule last night. I was so excited to start riding - "I'm gonna do this type attitude" until I looked at the time I need to put in this week-end. I have to sit down and make some choices here. Something I'm never good at. To bike or not to bike? That is the question. :)
Friday 1/18/08 - 9:15
I walked into the restaurant and my dear friend from high school was reading the paper waiting for me. I gave her a big hug, well as big as I could while she was sitting in the booth and then found my spot on the other side of the table.
Our conversation was filled with catching up from the last time we saw each other. And then she asked .....
"So you only have your blog calendar filled until June. What's up?"
Me - Well, I've been thinking about that. I really think I'm afraid to get on my bike again. I loved last year and spent a lot of time on the bike. I haven't been on it since October. I'm thinking I'm avoiding it all together. Does that sound weird?
Cin - No. She said with her reassuring smile, shaking her head.
Then the conversation moved on to something else. But my words started to haunt me. Later that day I got email of what my tri pals were doing this week-end. I had a lite running schedule so I decided to bite the bullet and use one of those mornings to ride. I picked Saturday.
Saturday 1/19/08 - 7:22 a.m.
Cell phone rings. It's my tri mate. "Hey, where are you?" - "I see you," I tell him. He was meeting me at the main intersection of a different mountain bike riding place. "Great, oh I see you, ok follow me" he said. "Hey, should we wait for Jim?" I ask. "Nope, he's there!" so off we go.
We zig zag up this small incline and then sharp left into the parking area. I'm excited because the sun is coming out and the snow is sparkling, the scenery is amazing. The lake is frozen but you can tell it still has spots that might not be completely trust worthy, even if it was -2 outside. We all stay in our cars and finish getting dress. Scott I. lends me goggle to wear, which were great. Off we ride into the woods. The ruts to follow are covered in snow so I just do my best to stay with the group. Your mind can not wander while riding here. Your attention must stay completely focused on the ride. I'm trying to focus on staying up right, avoiding trees and sticks and tree trunks. Swerving and spinning. It's hard to concentration because everything looks so pretty. Then my thoughts start taking me back to when I was a kid and we would ride our bikes thru the forest area behind Trinity College. There was never any fear back then. We would just go. Then I was brought back to the present. Some how I'm on the ground and my bike is on top of me. UGH! Hope no one saw that. I struggle to get the bike off. Catch up to the guys. It's a great morning. End up walking up a lot of the hills. That's ok. I really like this. How can I fit this into the runs. Jim is managing the ride effortlessly as he shows us which way to go. I ask him how long he's been riding "Only about 2 years". Great I'm thinking this is going to take me 2 years. It's as if Scott I. reads my mind and tells me that I'll catch on in no time. Rick's words continue to ring true - the only way to become a good rider is to get on the bike as often as possible.
Get back to the car. My phone rings, Scott is having trouble with getting me into the Horribly Hilly Hundreds. I told him not to worry about it. It wasn't meant to be. "Oh no" he tells me. He's determined to get me in. Then Rick calls me. He's frozen on the computer, he can't get into HHH. I tell him Scott's trying and he will try for Rick too. Here's a pic of Ken comforting me as I get the news that registration is a big pain in the butt just like last year. I get home. Scott's still trying. He has 3 windows open all of them frozen at the registration place. We sit there and watch the screen for about 20 minutes and then get the message that our time has expired on that website. I don't get in, neither does Rick. We're going to get in, I know we both want to get back there. I have a final hill to conquer :)Sunday 1/20/08 - 7:30 a.m.
It's just a small group out running this morning. Scott starts out fast. I'm hoping it's the cold weather that has him moving at this pace and things will slow down. Nope, we're still moving quickly by mile 2. I tell Tom that I need to slow it down. He said he'll stay with me.
Ken and Scott slowly pull away from us. It is another amazing morning. The 9 1/2 miles went by quick. I feel bad for Tom tho, he feels blisters forming on his foot. OUCH! That's the worst, once that feeling starts miles can pass at a snails pace. 
We were actually moving pretty good for it being as cold as it was and for the blisters. I made plans on Saturday to ride Sunday too but had to change the plans when I never made it to mass Saturday night. It was hard to leave the guys as they got their bikes ready. Told them I would pray for them like I always do.Looked at my running schedule last night. I was so excited to start riding - "I'm gonna do this type attitude" until I looked at the time I need to put in this week-end. I have to sit down and make some choices here. Something I'm never good at. To bike or not to bike? That is the question. :)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
One of My Favorite Things ..... about running
When running, just like riding over a long period of time, your mind can take over the physical actions of your legs and before you know it you're lost in a thought. This is one of my favorite things about running. I had to run for 3 and a half hours Sunday. Most of the run was done with the group. And during the run, conversation was kept alive with funny stories of adult men jumping off of roofs into swimming pools. Then the group broke off and began to mountain bike leaving just me and Bubba to finish up. I think we were both getting tired and for the last 30 minutes things stayed pretty quiet. It's amazing how clear a sound can be on a cold winter morning. Trains running on the track seem to rattle louder. The ground beneath your feet makes a recognizable sound which causes vibrations up your leg, threw your body, a sensation that can feel like pain sometimes, usually after about 12 miles. :) But when it's quiet all these things become clearer. And that's when the mind just kind of takes over and you can get lost in a thought. Sometimes being taken back to a time in your life that you really enjoyed or to place where you are trying to find resolution with something. It's a great place to be. Like I said it's one of the things I like best about running.
While I was out in the cold yesterday morning Scott took the kids to a farm in the area. Gracie loves horses.
And the farm has a horse and pony. So off they went. Turns out the horses eat candy canes and we had extra from the holidays so while I was out pounding the frozen path the kids were feeding "Pony", the pony's name candy canes. It's a great feeling knowing your family is enjoying the morning in the same way you are. 
Even if we weren't together. When the kids got home Gracie told me I was with her even if I wasn't with her. "You know where you were mom?" she asked me. And then she pointed to her heart. I said, "That's funny Grace, cause you came with me this morning too, you were right there in my heart with me." Then we both giggled. Ah, life can be so good.
And the farm has a horse and pony. So off they went. Turns out the horses eat candy canes and we had extra from the holidays so while I was out pounding the frozen path the kids were feeding "Pony", the pony's name candy canes. It's a great feeling knowing your family is enjoying the morning in the same way you are. 
Even if we weren't together. When the kids got home Gracie told me I was with her even if I wasn't with her. "You know where you were mom?" she asked me. And then she pointed to her heart. I said, "That's funny Grace, cause you came with me this morning too, you were right there in my heart with me." Then we both giggled. Ah, life can be so good.Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Trail Running and Signing With a :)
Ran the trails both Saturday and Sunday. It was challenging for sure. Saturday was snowy and icey and by Sunday, well it was just a mess. We ran the streets for 7 1/2 miles. It would have been 7 but I got us lost coming back. Nothing worse than getting a group of cyclists lost while running back to get on their mountain bikes. After the road run a trimate and I kept going on the trails. Starting out is wasn't bad. We were warned before getting on the we would slide just by standing on the ice. We had our yax trax on whiched helped things go smoothly on the ice. The mud was what was making things difficult. If it wasn't icy then it was muddy. And the mud stuck. Just when I would free myself from it by running, I would run thru more. UGH! With about 4 miles left I started slipping all over the place. After stopping for some water I realized my yax trax rolled up my foot. So, I pulled it down, mud - yuck and all and finished slip free.
Don't ask why I feel the need to write this but I do, so here it goes. I'm not the kind of person that dotted my i's with hearts growing up or put cutesy little pictures on stuff. Well, except for me and Cin, we had this one thing we would always put on our notes in high school, but that's not what I'm talking about. For some reason, when I write emails, I'm compelled to sign off with a smile - you know :). I've tried stopping with the new year but can't. Hmmm, suppose I could have a worse habit that I can't break. I'll figure this out eventually. :)
Don't ask why I feel the need to write this but I do, so here it goes. I'm not the kind of person that dotted my i's with hearts growing up or put cutesy little pictures on stuff. Well, except for me and Cin, we had this one thing we would always put on our notes in high school, but that's not what I'm talking about. For some reason, when I write emails, I'm compelled to sign off with a smile - you know :). I've tried stopping with the new year but can't. Hmmm, suppose I could have a worse habit that I can't break. I'll figure this out eventually. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)