First frigid run of the winter season

Kona and I headed to Bluff Creek trails today to get some trail time in.  We (well, me) tried running, but the frigid air just burned my lungs to the point that I had to walk.  It was 20 degrees with a wind chill of 9 (and gusts of 22mph) when I left the house. Thankfully, the trails protect you from most of the wind, and it wasn't too bad once we got moving.  

Kona having fun exploring

Kona did a great job today on the trails.  She still struggles to stay out from under my feet when I'm moving, but she's learning.  For the first 2 miles she hardly stayed on the trail at all- darting back and forth from one side to the next smelling anything and everything she could; just taking it all in. She really loved watching the birds and taking off after them.

Taking a time out

We pretty much had the trail to ourselves.  We didn't encounter another person until we were almost done.  After about 2 miles Kona slowed to a walking pace and petty much stayed right by my side for the rest of the trail.  We stopped a couple times to let her catch her breath and to make sure that she was doing OK (and not getting ready to have a seizure).

Found a squirrel tail- and Kona kept picking it up to play with it.  Yuck!

By the time we hit the last section of the trail, the sun was out in full force and it was beginning to warm.  The sun felt good on my skin, and because we were heading mostly south- the strong wind (although somewhat protected from the trees) was at our back.
As we headed out of the trail on the newly cut, yet not quite open final section of the trail, I noticed that someone's driver side window was down.  I thought to myself "why would you leave your window down?"  Upon closer inspection, I discovered that someone had smashed the window of a car parked near mine.  Thieves just suck!

Someone will return from their run to find an unwelcome surprise

It was a great day on the trails.  Once home I jumped in the hot tub for a nice, long soak in the steaming water.  It felt amazing!!!!
Another successful day outside.   Although the weather is not acceptable most days during the winter, this wasn't quite so bad.

run dog run

Took Jimbo (the golden retriever) to Bluff creek earlier this week for a little run.
I'm horribly embarrassed to say that my dog is a jerk.  A really big jerk.  Oh sure, he's sweet at home, but take him out in public and he's a First Class A-Hole. He growls at strangers, snaps at dogs and snarls and bares his angry teeth if anyone or anything comes near him. It's so embarrassing.  I almost hate taking him out.  But I did.

 Jimbo leading the way

We went to Bluff Creek trails to do a short run.  He is really a fantastic trail dog.  Follows the trails perfectly.  Turns where he should.  Doesn't run too far ahead.  Stays out from under my feet.  I actually love to run with him.  I just need to do it when there is no other life forms anywhere near the trail system for us to have a successful adventure.

Good dog- follow that trail

We mostly ran, but stopped to take some sniff breaks and get off the trail as mountain bikers came flying by.  Just after this picture was taken, we saw a deer up ahead.  I didn't have him on the leash at the time, and suddenly became very worried that the retriever in him would be retrieving a deer for mommy to have.  I needn't have worried, though.  He stopped, sniffed, looked back at me, then just keep on going. 

We even stopped for a picture together- he was not too thrilled

All in all, it was a grand adventure.  I would love to take him out more often, but he really needs to be socialized better before I will to be completely comfortable taking him out in public.  Until then, we'll just stick to the path less traveled.

Girls Gone Wild (err...hiking)

Alison and I hit the trails today for some hiking fun while the boys went and rode their mountain bikes.  We headed south of Norman, OK to Lake Thunderbird- Clearbay Trail.  This is a fabulous area of the metro area.  The trails are super long (16 miles total) with lots of climbing and descending.  Well, lots by Oklahoma standards, that is. 

The sky sure was pretty with all those wispy clouds floating around

Alison and I before the hike began

 Before we took off, the boys got on their bikes and readied themselves for 3 hours of some tough riding.

We hit the trail about 12:30 and boy were we glad that we decided to go for some trail hiking instead of some other activity that didn't allow the trees to block the wind for us.  Wind was out of the south at about 30 mph.  Eek!  We sure felt the breeze, even in the trees, and although it provided a nice breeze to keep us cool, we sure didn't mind using the trees as a little windblock. 

Alison 'on the trail'

 So the trails aren't exactly what you would call "pretty" this time of year.  The leaves are all dead (what leaves are still on the trees) except for the occasional pine tree in the woods.  We didn't see one creature out there either- believe it or not.  Not one squirrel, not one deer, not even one little bug.  I suppose even they decided it wasn't the best day for being out and about.

We finished our hike in about 2.5 hours.  We didn't go very far, just took it at a casual pace (Alison *is* 7 months pregnant after all- even tho you would never know it by the size of her teeny belly or the stamina she still has).  We made it about 6 miles.  We enjoyed every minute of it.  Great times that must be had again sometime soon!!!

Good times!

Meet Kona

Here is our newest addition to our family.  5 year old Kona.

Her name is Kona- named after the place where we would both like to race one day (Hawaii Ironman World Championships).  In the triathlon world, when you mention the word Kona- everyone knows what you're talking about.  "You went to Kona" doesn't  mean you vacationed there- it means you raced there. 

I adopted her from the Oklahoma City animal shelter.  We lost Max in late September, and after our Golden, Jimbo, was showing major signs of depression we thought he needed a pal.  I went to the shelter and picked her out.  She was sick with heartworms, but I knew we could help rehab her.  She had the sweetest face, and just called out to me to take her home.  Bonus for us October was half-price adoption month, so I was able to take home a pup who was spayed, treated for heartworm and given her shots for only $25.  OKC is a kill shelter, so I felt much better about going there instead of a no-kill rescue.  At least I know I saved a life. 

Jimbo absolutely hated her for the first couple weeks.  Would growl, snap and bite at her.  He's gradually coming around.  They have even been seen playing together in the backyard, and once he helped her escape from her little dog run that she had to be kept in during her heartworm recuperation period.  They're not like peas and carrots just yet, but I'm hopeful.

I can't wait to take her out running with me.  I think she'll be a great running partner.  She came to us already knowing some commands, and she's a quick learner. 
We're very blessed to have such a sweet dog in our care!

 Kona in the car on the way home from the shelter, but after a bath at the dog wash.

Reflections on my 24 Hour run- last month

Well it's been a month since my 24 Hour race, and I'm just now getting around to telling you about it.  I suppose I've been... busy??  Nope- that's not it.  I've been lazy.  Yup- that's it!

It was a LOT of fun.  Putting it into a well-written story is useless.  All the memories are there, they just exist in short little bits and pieces.  Here are some of those pieces:

**morning started  out rough with my newly adopted dog having a seizure and me not knowing what it was.  Took her to the emergency vet and was subsequently late for the start of the race (well, made it just as the gun went off).
**first 5-6 laps were slow and lethargic.  Couldn't get my mind into the race with the worrying over the dog.  Super Steph went home to get Kona and brought her to the race.  Love my friend!
**Day was windy, but not in the trees on the trail.  Weather was perfect!
**walked all throughout the day.  Stopped and rested at each lap (and petted Kona).
**sun went down and I went on.  Took two 1.5 hour naps throughout the night.  Got VERY cold overnight and had to layer a LOT.
**blisters on the balls of both feet caused me to have to stop much sooner than I was ready to.  Had to call it quits at 6 am with 20 laps in (40 miles total).  Nothing else on my body hurt, but the balls of my feet.  I was devastated to have to stop, but I had no choice.  The last lap took me 1:20 to complete (2 miles).  I had no choice.
**it was the most fun I've ever had (maybe except Ironman).  I will do it again next year.  I will make it much further next year.

I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

 

The view from Tuesday

I don't know why I'm obsessed... but I am.  I can't get enough of it.  I look at it through the windows of the library at work.  I dream about being in it when I get home.  I drive/bike/run past/through it and wonder when I can just stop and take it all in. 

Nature.  

The colors.
The smells.
The breeze blowing my hair all around on my head.
The warmth of the sun on my skin.
The coolness of the evening breeze coming through the house.
The vibrant colors of the flowers/trees/grass/leaves.
The sounds the early waking morning makes.
The tickle on my skin as the wind ruffles the tiny little hairs on my arm.

It's all so very, very good.

So I've been taking a LOT of pictures of nature.  Not great pictures.  Not National Geographic award winning photographs.  Just pictures of things that make me smile.  And sigh.  And feel so warm inside and joyful that fall is here.

Here is what I saw in my yard when I got home...

Watchin' the clouds roll by

“A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed...It feels an impulsion...this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons.”         -Richard Bach

Don't know why, but today I was fascinated by the clouds.  They were so fluffy and billowy in the afternoon sky.  I hurried home from work so  I could get the camera and start snapping some shots.  Clouds are so welcome in so  many ways:  they provide respite from the searing sun, they deliver rain (sometimes much-needed, sometimes unwanted), they provide us with images of dogs, bacon, warriors... clouds are just beautiful in so many ways. 
Here are my cloud shots from the day.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed looking at them and photographing them. 

The ONLY time my legs are this long.  Thank you, shadow!!!

 The view of my front yard from my roof

The view of my feet from my legs

The view of my face from the camera

Oh the pain... it hurts so good!

 

Coach Troy worked me hard tonight.  I haven't worked that hard on the bike in a loooooong time!  I loved it.  I was like jello at the end, but it was so great!!  I bought this DVD this weekend as a supplement to my weight training workout.  I need to start doing strength training, and this seemed like a great way to get in a good bike workout and some strength work.  I wasn't disappointed.  I worked my butt off (well, I can only dream about that actually happening).

You know how sometimes you think you're doing everything right, but then you push it a little harder and realize you haven't been working as hard as you thought you were?  Yeah, I got that feeling tonight.  

Can't wait until next week!!

Hi October!!

 It's so nice to see you again, October.  Every year I yearn for your return, and every year I'm not disappointed in the fantastic weather, the early evening sunsets and the spider webs.  Yes, the spider webs.  You know who you are and how many times you've hit my upper lip/face while running/hiking on the trails. How I love the outdoors, but oh how I loathe the webs that grow across my trails.

This week will be a busy one.  International Walk to School is on Wednesday (along with my b-day), and Thursday and Friday I'm gone to Encyclomedia downtown (great times at a librarians dream conference).  Will be a quick week, and a great one.

Because we have so many students who live too far away to walk to school, and we cannot organize a Walk To School event without permission slips and such (stupid IMO), some students will walk from the church to the school to make it count.  All students who walk or ride their bikes to school on Wednesday will get their name entered into a drawing for some cool prizes (drawstring backpacks and blinky lights).  I hope we have a good turnout!


The 24 hour race is looming in the near future.  3 weeks to the big day.  I'm so tired of the long training days and so ready to get my game on.  Did 14 miles this weekend.  My body should have done more, but I don't think my mind would have allowed it.  We already fought it out just to get that many miles in.  I *LOVE* the trails at Bluff Creek, but after months of making the same loop, I'm about to tire of it.  At least the season is changing and the trail looks different with the leaves changing color and falling off the trees.  Makes the trail look totally different!

Have a great week!

Redman 2010

Redman was this weekend.  It was a crazy busy weekend, but as always, it was a BLAST!
The celebration started Friday after work in transition.  Checking in bikes, getting athletes settled, and soaking in the pre-race excitement.  Good times.

Saturday started at 4 a.m. at the transition check in line.  It was harried and hectic (only me and someone else checking everyone in), but it got done.  The weather was beautiful, and we got all the athletes all settled into the starting pen and ready to race.

Rian was doing the half Ironman distance.  The water was calm and beautiful and his swim went well.  I manned my post in transition and caught a glimpse of him as he came out of the water.

His bike ride went very well.  He said he went out a little too hard on the first loop and then paid for it later during the race, but he sure looked good on the bike!!

He finished in just over 7 hours.  The run was painful for him.  Had a cramp in his thigh for 12 miles and found it painful to just finish.  I'm very proud of him, though.  He did a great job racing in some hot, but nice weather.

While he was racing, I was working the mount/dismount line.  I had a lot of fun with Alicia and some other friends directing athletes back into the transition area. 
Good times with some of my favorite people.

We stuck around the race site until 12:30 am watching finishers cross the finish line.  So inspirational, so incredible, so amazing!!!  I got to see many of my friends complete their Ironman journeys: Sarah, Tracy, Larry, Brad, and Creighton.

I love Redman weekend!  It's totally exhausting both mentally and physically, but I love it like nothing else.  I have already decided I'm doing the IM again next year (on the 5 year anniversary of my 1st IM).  I can't wait!!!