A breath of fresh air

My mom always said, "Rain before 7, done by 11."

Well, the freezing rain missed the 7 am deadline, so it "iced" all day.  Seriously this freezing rain is something else.  It's kind of like snow.  It layers the ground in white; it makes the roads slippery.  But, when it hits your face, it's like tons of sharp, metal tooth picks.  It HURTS!  (I gained this experience by taking the trash to the dumpster.)

I could have run today, but I didn't corrindate with my husband, Lars.  I set up a run with a friend this morning.  I forgot to tell Lars about it and he ended having a group meeting at the same time.  If I had told Lars what I had set up on Wednesday, I would have gotten in my freezing rain run. 

Oh well.  Next week will be better.  I hope the new afternoon run time will work out well for Will and me.  I did lift today.  I did shoulders, biceps, triceps, back, abs, and lots of lunges.

I am grateful for all the comments from Tuesday.  I've been sewing every evening for a couple hours trying to make headway on Christmas presents.  I've made progress, but I'm not finished yet.  So, I imagine my blogging will continue to be sporadic.  Happy December everyone!

Will and I ran the first three with Jade.  Well, we skated the first three miles together.  Pretty much everything was still ice from the freezing rain Saturday.  In fact, church was cancelled yesterday because of all the ice.

Twice Jade and I had to stop and lift Will and the jogging stroller:  the first time was over a frozen mountain of ice blocking the sidewalk at an intersection and the other was over a huge fallen tree.  At the beginning of the run we had to stop and start a lot because shoveled ice blocked the sidewalk.  In the middle of the run we decided to run a loop, instead of an out and back course.  We made our decision based on all the mounds of ice we had to stop and climb over with the jogging stroller.  But, I don't know if it was the best decision because 1) we ran into the fallen tree.  2) going down one of the hills, for a moment I didn't know if I was going to stop.  I could even see Will and I sliding down into the large ditch.  3) going up one of the hills, for a moment I didn't know if I was going to make it up the hill.  Will and I were sliding backward.  I am very grateful Jade was there.

For the next three miles, Will and I chose a different route.  A better plowed route.  Will and I still had some excitement.  Going down another hill, I stopped moving my legs and our momentum carried us.  I decided to move to the grass which was still ice, but my weight broke through the ice enough to have some grip.

I don't think I should look into professional ice skating.

Jade and I went skating again.  There were more stretches of running today than yesterday.  I ran the last mile by myself and was able to get up to a good clip.  Tonight it's suppse to snow on top of all the ice.

Will stayed home with his dad.  He woke up today with a temperature and a runny nose.

I bundled Will more than I ever have.  The temperature was 25 degrees and the wind chill was 18.  I felt very slow and very achey, but we made it.  Will enjoyed the ride.

It snowed the entire run.  Traction wasn't a problem.  Everyonce and a while I knocked the snow off of the jogging stroller's rain cover, so Will could see.  Actually, I don't think he could see much because the cover was fogging up.  We heard lots of sirens and saw a few cars sliding.  On the way back home, I could barely see our tracks.

Will and I got out just before sunset.  I've heard that Iowa winters are suppose to make you tougher, but I am feeling weaker and weaker.  I feel down right slow.

I went out by myself I was thinking about doing a tempo run, but I didn't have the energy.  I haven't gotten much sleep lately.  I'm still trying to get Christmas presents finished.  Sew. Sew. Sew.  I am having a lot of fun working on them.  And I am pretty sure I am getting a cold.

Tired of the sidewalk routes, I decided to run on the trail.  It wasn't plowed at all, but I was ready for a change of scenery.  Running through the woods was beautiful.  The river was amazing with the unfrozen water snaking through the ice--just like a painting.  I didn't enjoy the winter wonderland as much as I normally would.  Running on the snow is hard work.  Most of the other tracks I saw was that from cross country skies.

The temperature was 14 degrees and the wind chill was 3 degrees.  I was so glad when the run was over.

I definitely made my goal of 26 miles this week.  I don't feel very confident that I can get in 30 miles every week to get 120 a month.  I am going to adjust my goal from 120 miles per month for December, January, and February to 100 miles per month.  I don't feel as stressed with 100 miles per month.  And it will be tons more mileage than last winter when I ran between 14 and 18 miles a week.

Jade and I went shuffling today.  There was more freezing rain.  I think it rained for nine hours straight.  Anyway, here's what's on the ground now--ice, snow, and another layer of ice.  And tonight there is a 60 percent chance it will snow.  The wettness doesn't seem to be stopping.

The run was nice and easy which was good because that cold I talked about Saturday is in full force right now.

There is still plenty of ice.  Will and I only had to slow down to a walk twice because we were turning a corner.  Other than that we ran/rolled right through it.  Or maybe I should say over it.

The trees are so beautiful.  Each branch is encased in a half inch of ice and they sparkle especially at night.  Automatic Christmas lights.

I ran the first three with Jade.  My legs rejoiced when I threw some strides in during the last half of my run.  They were so happy to go a different speed.

It was warmer today, in the low 30's.

It was snowing when I woke up and it continued until about 7 pm.  So, on the ground there is a layer of ice, a layer of snow, a layer of ice, and now another layer of snow.  During my run, the footing was pretty tricky.  Sometimes it was slick and other times it was okay.  There were a lot of footprints in the latest layer of ice that were hidden by the snow.  I am grateful I don't have weak ankles.

This run was mentally tough.  I finished my run in a sour mood.  Usually, running--even when running very hard--makes me feel good.  Lately, it feels more like a battle.  And I feel like I am getting weaker.  I did have a good run on Thursday.  I am going to try to figure out why I'm not enoying my runs as much.  I plan on running 25 miles next week.

I ran the first three miles with Jade.  During the second three, I sped up and did four strides.  I felt great and enjoyed the run.

Lars said he likes finals week.  You can stay home and study.  Then you go to campus, take a test for a couple of hours, and then you get to go home again.  I think he's also enjoying a break from his group.  They did at least twenty case studies together.

Jade, Will, and I ran up to the neighborhood.  Another enjoyable run.  We talked about games we made up as kids.  I really like Jade and her sister's game, "Oops! Sorry, Miss."  They would stand on opposite sides of the room and take turns calling out a body part.  Whatever body part was named like elbows, they had to walk across the room with their elbows sticking out.  Of course, they bumped into each other with the named body part and said, "Oops! Sorry, Miss."  They also played hide the magazine.

Will was a bit uncomfortable during the second half, but still great company to have around.

We were out of sugar and I wanted to make pumpkin bread for some friends for Christmas.  So Will and I ran to the store.  Actually, we ran past the store and grabbed the sugar on the way home.  The temperature was 26 degrees and the wind chill was 19.  It didn't feel that cold.  The day before the temperature was the same, but today felt warmer.  I think that's because we went today at 2:30 and yesterday we didn't get out the door until almost 4 pm.

Will and I put a few pennies in the Salvation Army bucket.  (Actually, Will had fallen asleep for his second nap of the day.)  The bell ringer said thank you and after I got the groceries situated in the jogging stroller's basket--I bought grapes, too--the bell ringer then said, "She off!"  It made me smile.  I am still smiling thinking about it.

Jade and I went exploring today.  We ran a new route which is more of a loop.  It was nice to have a change of scenery.  We talked about learning how to drive a manual.  Jade stalled straight through three green lights one time during the first week of driving a stick shift.  And I cried the first three times I tried to learn.  But, we both overcame the fear of the manual transmission.

I forgot some big news.  I found a marked trail that gets plowed!!  I ran on it today and yesterday.  It starts a mile and a half from my apartment.  A mile farther away than the other trail, but I'll take it!

Tomorrow we're driving to Columbus.  I am not going to run, but I'll still be able to make it to 25.  I've been sewing again this week, but mostly helping a couple friends with their Christmas projects.  It's been a sewing party at my home for the past three nights.  Jade wanted to make a brown pillow case for the body pillow she bought her sister-in-law. She had sewed once in eighth grade and I didn't have a pattern, but it turned out excellent--very professional. Mary Lynn, another friend, and I made Christmas towels that said Joy, Noel, and Jolly for family members. I am giving my towels to my mom. I am excited that this year I'll be there when she unwraps my present.

We made it to Ohio safe and sound.  I am grateful we were a day ahead of the snow.  Will and I ran around my parents neighborhood.  The temperature was 40 degrees and felt great!  Will fell asleep during the second mile and I met up with my husband during the fourth mile.  I enjoyed finishing my run with him.  Every once and a while, Lars would sprint ahead and then jog back.  We kept a pretty quick pace.

Because the weather was beautiful, my dad and I went golfing.  Neither one of us played real well. The best part was just being out together playing a game with we both love.

I went to the YMCA today. I ran on the treadmill. I kept running faster because the faster I ran the quicker it'd be over. I ran one mile at an 8:34 pace. The following mile I ran a 9:10 pace. Then the next quarter I ran at a 8 minute per mile pace. I followed that with an 8:34 quarter.

I ran through my parents’ neighborhood.  During the last mile and a half, I thought about what I'd like to serve at Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas dinner.  For Thanksgiving, I was thinking turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, peas, rolls, and a chocolate cream pie and a pumpkin or apple pie.  For Christmas Eve dinner, I think I will keep with my parents' tradition of a Mexican Christmas Eve dinner: a red and a green enchilada casserole, burritos and/or tacos depending on how many people there are.  Or we could do the green and red casseroles with beans and rice.  I haven't figured out Christmas dinner yet.  Maybe a ham?

Will and I ran 1.3 mile loop four times in my parents' neighborhood.  Half way through the first lap--I am going to call each time on the loop a lap--I saw another lady running the same loop we were.  Will and I picked up the pace to catch up with her.  Her name is Amy.  She has four kids, a five year old, a three year old, and eleven month old twins.  It was fun to talk to her for a lap.  Amy was running 3 miles so Will and I finished the last two laps by ourselves.

This morning Will and I ran the 1.3 loop four times again.  Will fell asleep.  I tried to keep the pace up beat, but I was pretty tired.  My mind kept evaluating the houses and trying to figure out which ones were my favorite.

I ran the 1.3 loop through my parents' neighborhood four times again.  My sister, Margaret, joined me on the first two laps.  She and her family arrived today from Texas.  Family is so fun.

Can you believe I made my goal of running at least 100 miles in December?  With today and Monday, I'll make it to 110 miles!  Shoot!  I could have made it to 120.  That's easy to say now.  Since it's currently 35 degrees here in Columbus and 10 degrees back home in Iowa!!!  (I am loving the warmer weather.)  However, for this winter, I am going to stick to 100 miles per month.

I threw up before I went running, during my run, and five more times after my run.  Probably, I shouldn't have gone running, but my sister from Houston was in Columbus at my parents' house too and I love running with her.  I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to run with her.