A breath of fresh air

I only remember that Will came with me.

Will enjoyed pointing out the bridges.  We ran on two bridges twice.  We also went throught a tunnel.  Well, I called it a tunnel.  We went under the railroad tracks.  Will thought it was cool.

I love running with Erin!  Maybe we'll train for a race together.  Maybe the Park to Park half marathon in September.  Waterloo is only an hour away.

As for the Dam to Dam 20K, I am not going to run in it.  Des Moines is too far away to make it possible and money is tight.  Maybe if I knew someone else that was running in it.  Oh well, there will always be more races.

Will and I did not see any ducks on our run today.  But, he did think the bricks in the sidewalk were railroad tracks.  They were laid out like tracks.

We ran along the Iowa River.  It was a beautiful day.

Another beautiful, sunny, spring day!  I love it.  Will and I spent a lot of time outside.  The run went well AND I didn't feel tuckered out at the end.  But, I still haven't gotten over my cold.  It's driving me crazy!!  I don't have a sore throat any more, but my nose is very, very stuffed.  I drool every time I sleep!  I disgust myself.  What a sloppy sleeper I am!

I am finally caught up again with blogging my runs!!

I ran by a couple guys fishing. One was reeling in a fish as I passed. I was very curious about what they were catching. It looked like a trout to me. (However, I think most fresh water fish look like trout.) So, I turned around and asked. I thought they didn't hear me, so I asked again. The guy said the same thing again. So I figured he must be telling me what kind of fish it was. I asked him to repeat what he said. He repeated it again. I still didn't hear him and by now I am sure I've scared all the fish away. Finally, I got that he said, "A small crappie." "Oh"--I had no idea what kind of fish was. I hurried away to stop from embarrassing myself further. I hope I didn't bother them too much.

I looked up crappie when I got home. Supposedly they are "sought after for their fantastic flavor and fun of catching them." You learn something new every day.

Yesterday I thought I wouldn't run and try to help my sinus infection.  It didn't work.  My head still hurts--bad.

Will and I enjoyed the run despite the pain in my head.

I ran with Erin today.  She stayed up late making cinnamon rolls for her kids to sell at the neighborhood's garage sale.  (Her oldest is almost 4).  I was excited to go and buy some from her kids for  fifty cents each.  By the time Will and I got to the garage sale, the cinnamon rolls were gone.  They had sold out in an hour.

I had an opportunity to do some strides or tempo run, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.  So I did another easy six.

Will enjoyed pointing out all the bridges again: an overpass, a couple footbridges, and a small bridge for cars over a creek.

I'd like to celebrate that I haven't had any hip pain for a few weeks.

Will and I ran the Hospital Route.  I felt good and the weather was great.  Will complained a bit the last mile.  I have come to the conclusion that five miles is Will's limit for his ability to stay content in the jogging stroller.  We can do six, but the end isn't always pretty.

When Will was younger we did eight together, but he was a sleep for a good portion of it.  Back when Will was a month or two old, sometimes we didn't make it to twenty minutes.  Life is always changing.  I am grateful for the always changing journey.

It was hard to talk Will into getting into the jogging stroller this morning.  Eventually, we got out the door.  The run was easy and the weather was beautiful again.  Will sang a lot and pointed out all the bridges.

Will and I enjoyed the run.  I felt stronger today.  We stopped to watch a train go by.

Will and I ran a quick 5 miles this morning, so I could get a run in before I went to the Stake Enrichment activity. The Enrichment started at 9:30 and went to 2:30. I was fortunate to have one of my Romanian neighbors attend with me. We had a good time.

Will and I had a very enjoyable run, except for the mile when I had to wait to use the restroom.  We ran the hospital route and then added on an extra mile on the trail to get the run to six miles.

Today Will and I ran the route that goes behind the high school.  I can't tell how much Will loves pointing out the bridges.

Will:  Bridge?  Bridge?

Me:  Should we go find a bridge?

Will:  Yeah.

We have that conversation a lot.  Even after we've just passed over a bridge, we have that conversation.  And he always seems to know when we are on a trail that might have a bridge.  Also when we drive he points out every bridge and overpass.  He has amazing eyes and can spot a bridge any where.  Sometimes I have to look a while to find the bridge he's talking about.

On the route we ran today, there is one bridge that leads away from the direction we are going, but we go run over it anyway--just for fun.  After we run over it, we turn around to run back over it and head back to our route.  We have added this bridge to our run four times that it is now become a part of the "behind the high school" route.

Will and I ran on more trails today.  We saw three different violet wild flowers.  One of these days I'll remember to bring my camera and take a picture.

Will and I ran 3.5 to the store in the morning to pick up some black curling ribbon.

I ran 7 miles in the evening with Erin.  We talked mostly about our kids.  Erin's kids love the vacuum.  Her one year old is always trying to hug it, where as Will is still very concerned every time I vacuum.  But, he is better than he use to be.

I can't shake my cough.  Oh, well.  That's life.  I ran with Erin again.  Erin was very kind and listen to my talk about the planning of my class reunion.

I can't remember this run either.  I just know I took Will with me.

Will and I ran the hospital route and I did strides for the first time in a month!  Six of them!  And I've been wondering, how come the first two are the hardest?

Can't remember much, but I know I took Will with me.

I did strides again!  I had Erin do six with me.  When we finished the sixth she asked if I had anything else up my sleeve.  I think we are still friends because she said hi to me at church and emailed me a possible training schedule for the half marathon we plan to run in September.

And guess what?  I've become a training schedule snob.  I didn't like either one of the training schedules she sent me.  I've been reading some of the Training Review Requests and I love it how you guys (Michelle, Sasha, Jon, Josse, Bonnie, etc) say the same thing over and over.  "Build up your mileage."  "Incorporate tempo runs into your long runs."  "If you want to run fast, run in a race--a local, but certified 5K or 10K."

I've just learned something today by reflecting on the Training Review Requests.  5Ks do have a place in the race world (meaning the race world of those who like longer races).  Over the past year, I've been thinking they aren't helpful and just fun runs.  But, you could run them to your advantage.