Just one more day: Days 101 - 106

-

Day 101 – April 10, 2012

I was really excited for our Tuesday Adventure Run. Jack Mountain, a long, steep rocky trail underneath a power line, is the toughest climb in the area. I had gotten reacquainted with it last week and wanted to share the wealth. I ran the 6.3 mile course before practice to make sure we would have enough time. Then, we ran it as a group. Their eyes about popped out of their heads when they first saw the mile-long climb. But, they loved it and I could tell they felt pretty accomplished. I listened to the chatter and laughter throughout the run. That’s probably the best part; knowing they are embracing being out in the woods and doing things most would think crazy.

Total – 12.6 trail miles

Day 102 – April 11, 2012

After a couple of challenging practices, we did a light run around campus. Nothing special but a pleasant time in surprisingly cold, windy conditions. It was surprising to be running with temps in the 40’s after days in the 80s.

Total – 3.5 road miles

Day 103 – April 12, 2012

After last Saturday’s run at Blackwater Creek, I knew I had to take the kids there. On the bike path, we did a 1 mile warm-up followed by a hard 1 mile effort. (I worked hard to pull off a 7:07. My goal is to go under 7.) Anyway, we ran back to the cars on the Creekside Trail, a lovely ribbon of real estate bursting with scents of honeysuckle and lilac. This part of the run was quick, keeping the pressure on the whole way. A couple of ladies walking their dogs asked who we were and said they were impressed with the kids. Good times.

Total – 5 bike path and trail miles

Day 104 – April 13, 2012

It’s an interesting situation to take sprinter and field event kids up the mountain to the “LU.” They are not used to 1) doing BIG hills and 2) running on anything that resembles a trail 3) and covering distances over 400 meters. But eventually, we reconvened at the gazebo that overlooks the entire campus and story of my SB6K adventure as illustration. After that, it was a nice time on trails, taking the round-about way back to school/

Total – 5 trail miles

Day 105 – April 14, 2012

A beautiful day, a long experiment with my Black Diamond trekking poles, and a good bit of patience marked the day. Tons of climb and descent, I put in a solid 32 miles on the AT. I am feeling stronger and so grateful for that.

Total – 32 trail miles
\

Day 106 – April 15, 2012

Today’ run was between pool cleaning and weeding the garden. It wasn’t long but it was a good time with Caleb, my oldest son. Very pleased there is no soreness or tiredness from yesterday.

Total – 3 road miles

Year-to-date: 657 miles

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When good results disappoint

-
Image
"If you don't find something you can fix, I will be greatly disappointed," I stated matter-of-factly to my cardiologist. And I was serious. Dead serious. I was laying in my hospital bed waiting to be wheeled into the cath lab to get a clear picture of what was happening--or not happening--inside those skinny little coronary arteries. If he did not find something to stent, like he did five years ago, my symptoms would have no chance of being validated. I will spare you all the details, but my running has really taken a dive over the last few months. The group of women I run with can be chatting it up having a great time, only to unintentionally pull away and leave me eating their dust. I try to keep up but it's like my engine is throttled back by a governor, heart rate zooming upwards to no avail. I simply can't go. I feel my chest tighten and throat close. I have to walk. I hate being the anchor. Lately, I make excuses to why I can not join them on those long Satu...
Read more

666 miles of Hell(gate)

-
Image
"Last verse, same as the first." In same ways, yes. My last race was the same as my first: I started. I finished. But in many ways, there's no comparison. It took ten finishes and 666 miles  of the devilish Hellgate 100K race to figure it out. The brainchild of Dr. David Horton, the Hellgate 100k+ (actually 66.6 miles) always begins at one minute after midnight on the second Saturday of December. The race has garnered a near cult-following, many hopeful entrants turned away. Those rewarded a cherished spot must earn Horton's approval as a worthy candidate. It is he who judges an applicant's toughness and ability to cover the rocky, mountainous real estate between the start and finish lines. But even so, the chosen few are never guaranteed a finish. What they are promised is a night and a day of unpredictable weather, trail conditions, and a barrage of self-doubt somewhere along the forest path. I was forty-five when I sold my soul to the trail devils. N...
Read more

Win a free scarf!

-
Image
Over the years, I have enjoyed home parties. You know the kind: a bunch of women gather, a representative lays out her wares (everything from kitchen tools to jewelery, to makeup and skin care products that promise a glowing, beautiful face), and the attendees pick, choose, and fill out order forms. I've been both a rep and a hostess. Back in the late 70's I made sewed crafty items and held my own little in-home selling parties. Years later, I sold for The Pampered Chef (TM) since I loved the products. But alas, I gave up because I didn't feel right about asking already financially-strapped folks to buy what they could probably live without. Yeah. I'm not much of a saleswoman. Borrowed from www.mytradesofhope.com/tamarawalston But every one in a while, a business idea comes along that grabs my attention. I found that in 'Trades of Hope.' Until about a month or two ago, I had never heard of this group. But then I came across a friend's post, Tamara Wal...
Read more