Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

I Can Almost Smell Spring

This has been such a long winter, I can't wait for spring.  The whole idea of no winter boots, no big heavy coat....it just sounds heavenly.   Tomorrow is officially the first day of spring, but I don't think Mother Nature is going to cooperate because snow is in the forecast.  Monday and Tuesday of this week were above freezing (it was below if you counted in the windchill) and sunny, so Lola and I went out for runs/walks each day after I got home from work.

Lola and I out for a run with my new Garmin I recently won.

The sideroads and trails are still muddy, but at least most of the snow and ice is gone so I can feel more secure running and not worrying about slipping and falling.

As you might remember, I have my first race of the year at the end of April, so I need to get some more outdoor training in.  Let's hope that Mother Nature remembers that spring "officially" starts tomorrow, and she should start warming up the temperatures.  This winter was long, snowy and very cold - I think we are due for some nice weather.  

Here's to spring!!

Lola giving me a thank you kiss for the run

Loving the sunshine!!

Hurry Up Spring!!

This winter has been so long and nasty, that my runs (and truth be told there weren't as many as there should have been) all had to be on the treadmill.  So when this past week had two "nice" days (days above the freezing point), Lola and I took advantage and went for a run outside.  The trails are still too muddy, so we took the roads, but it was so nice we just had to get out.

Hopefully spring is just around the corner, and I can get back on the trails to train for my first race of the year in April!!

Lola - "come on mom, hurry up"!!

Kisses from Lola - thanking me for the run

Lola and I enjoying the spring-like weather.

Another reason for me to be anxious for spring to arrive, is that I won a Garmin!!  Thanks to Caroline at www.iheartrunning.com for the giveaway!!  I am really hoping that this weekend is nice enough to go outside for a run and test it out :)

My new Garmin I won from www.iheartrunning.com

Winter Running & An Upcoming Giveaway Announcement

I must admit that this winter, and here the snow came early, I haven't been running outside much, and the dreadmill just doesn't feel as good as a good outdoor run.
I have been very stressed and angry lately, and been daydreaming of my fall and summer runs through the conservation area, I miss them.  Today it was mild and sunny, so I took one of the dogs, Lola, out for a run.  It was muddy, and I only used the farm lane at home, but it felt so good to run outside again.  I felt so much stress leave as I was running - now I know what has been wrong for the past weeks; I need to run. I need to run outside in order to relieve my stress.

Today's run :)

Now that I know this, I will make more of an effort to try to get out.  It's hard when you live in the country, it's not safe to run on the side of the road, and the conservation area isn't really the best in the winter (it's either knee-deep in snow, or flooded if it has been milder).  The farm lane is boring, but it is all I have that is safe in the winter, so I will take it.  Until the days get longer, I will be limited to weekends or quick runs when I get home from work.  There are coyotes, etc. that run wild down this lane, and I don't feel safe running there if it's not during the daylight.
I feel better knowing that I *need* to do this, and that it works!!

COMING SOON.....A Giveaway!!

To celebrate my recent acceptance to becoming an ENERGYbits ambassador, I am holding a giveaway for a sample of ENERGYbits!! 

I will be holding the giveaway soon, so keep watching here for the post.  :)
If you just can't wait and want to order some right away, be sure to use the code "Journeytofit" to save 20% off your order.

Today's amazing run was #poweredbybits :)

#RWRunStreak & Race Prep

LOLA

My four legged running partner is really glad that her and I are taking part in Running World's Running Streak.  This means that she gets to go for longer daily runs - the highlight of her day (except for when she gets a "cookie" before bed each night).  All I have to say is "walk" or "run" and she is off to where we keep the leashes and she follows me all around the house until we leave.  We usually do at least a mile, often more, but depends on the weather.

LOLA

 The hot and humid weather was making it hard to go outside for my 5k race training.  Not just because of the humidity, but because of the severe weather warnings - I don't want to be caught out in the middle of nowhere in a thunderstorm.  So, some days I had to resort to the treadmill, and poor Lola didn't get her long run.  The weather has cooled off and (knock on wood) the rain has stopped too.
My 3rd 5k race is this weekend, and I haven't been training as much as I would have liked. :(  I am still hoping that I will beat my time from my last race, even if it is just by a few seconds.
I have no other races planned after this one - I am not used to running in the heat, so I may hold off on signing up for races until the fall.

I will post on Monday or Tuesday about my race.  Wish me luck :)

M

A Little Lost

I haven't been posting for quite a few months...sorry about that.  I suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and on top of losing my mother in 2012, it's just been a tough year.  My son (my oldest) left the nest to go to school, and to top everything off, my running partner, Rosie, suddenly passed away on Dec 22nd after giving birth to 6 puppies.

Rosie

 It was a busy Christmas!  We had to bottle-feed 5 little munchkins (one didn't make it) who just like babies, needed to eat every 2 or 3 hours!  It did help me take my mind off of missing my mom (first Christmas without her - she spent every Christmas with us).

 My husband and I were both sleep-deprived over Christmas until the pups could go a little longer between feedings.

We have become so attached to these "babies" of ours, that we just have to keep one.  We know we can't replace our Rosie, but we can keep one of the babies that she left in our care.  We already have one of Rosie's babies from a previous litter, Lola.

Lola

This is the baby that we have decided to keep, and we are calling her Lily Rose :)

   All of them are super-sweet and it was hard to chose only one!!!  We will be very, very choosey about who gets to take the other babies home!!

Help, I've Created A Monster!

When I started taking one of my dogs on a walk, I figured it was a good thing and that I had a companion and the dogs were getting extra exercise.  Lola, one of my Pugs, was very happy to go for a walk and would get excited when I asked if she wanted to go for a walk.  Lola never asked to go on walks, but was happy to go when we asked her if she wanted to go.  But, Lola is due to have her babies any day and I can't take her any more, I guess she is on maternity leave.  I am out of a walking/running partner.

Lola

So, I figured my next choice would be Lola's mother, Rosie.  Rosie likes walks as much as Lola, but doesn't just walk, she bounces all over the place sniffing this and wanting to chase that. Not as easy to walk or run with as Lola but, I wanted someone to go with me, so I hoped she'd settle down once she got used to our daily excursions.

Rosie

 Rosie is game for 2 to 3 mile walks and loves it the longer we go.  She even did a 5 mile virtual run with me this past weekend and had a blast.  I have signed up for another virtual run this coming weekend, so Rosie will be happy with me.

She is starting to settle down, behave and walk like a good dog should.  My only problem is that I think I have created a walking monster!  She goes to where we keep the leashes and cries and whines and comes running back to me; Rosie is asking to go for a walk.  She'll ask to go any time of the day or night - whenever she thinks of going for a walk (or God forbid, someone mentions the work walk - she can spell it too), she races off to find the leashes and expects to go.

I am glad to have an eager walking/running partner, but she has more energy and endurance than I do.  The good thing is that she does keep me going for my daily walks, I just wish she wouldn't ask to go so many times during the day!  :) 

 My husband finds it funny to ask Rosie if she wants to go for a walk, so I ask Rosie if she wants to go for a car ride.  My husband is the only one who takes her for a car ride, and she loves car rides 100x more than walks!  She might pester me for a walk, but she pesters my hubby for the car ride!

I do love my new (and retired) walking/running partners!

The only thing Rosie loves more than a walk, is a CAR RIDE!!!  :)  She is  definitely smiling here!