A real spring teaser today, the temperature reached 63! Unfortunately winter will be touching down again with flurries and a low of 25 on Sunday. I took advantage of the day and went out for a 40 minute run. The run felt good and I felt stronger. Has me looking forward to getting out again tomorrow.
A couple of unrelated thoughts:
John and I met 9 years ago today. We were on a backpack on Pond Mountain in upper East Tennessee. He was by himself, I was with my friend Duane. I knew immediately that I wanted to get to know him. After the backpack, I had a friend dig up his email address through the University system. Yes, I initiated our first contact :-) Took us a month of flirting via email and phone before we had our first official date on March 25th (it was another backpack). Contacting him was my best decision ever and 9 years later, we are still having a great time together!
Valentine's Day is over and Cadbury eggs are once again showing up on store shelves. I wonder if the Fish Oil tabs I bought yesterday cancel out the Cadbury eggs I purchased on the same sales check?
Had a nice run today, 45 minutes. I ran a neighborhood route backwards of my usual direction, adding on a few streets to up the time. My iPod was plugged into one ear but I can't really tell you what I listened to, my mind drifted to from one thought to another. Running is never easy for me but this one was better than most. These are the runs I remember as they provide the motivation to do the runs that are not so nice.
I am in the process of gathering quotes to fix some things around the house. In the past, unless a repair is critical, I have made the choice to spend surplus dollars on travel. As a result, I have had a number of incredible experiences across the world but the toll on my house is showing. I need to correct a few issues before they become critical.
I had hoped the cost of repairs would fit my definition of affordable (currently a moving target). After all, the incidence of repair-remodeling companies attempting to drum up business around here is much higher than in the past, the economy is the way it is and unemployment is what it is. But I have been surprised. A quote to replace double panes and gaskets in several windows is double what I paid for similar work 10 years ago. Getting the house painted and deck replaced is also, well, a bit more than expected...
As of today I am still struggling with the run but I have a goal, a 5k in April. That gives me 8 weeks to build my 5k confidence and I know I can do it! I am also looking toward some other running goals but I still have time before I need to commit. Wish me luck!!
Since lack of motivation is no longer my dark, little secret, I have decided to turn things around. I woke up this morning with a very small goal...complete a run that will up my level of running confidence, just a notch. Simple huh, or not! A quick check of the Weather Channel indicated gusty 15 mph winds but the temp was 37 and the sun was out so I figured not so bad for running.
I dressed a little too warm, choosing to ignore the fact that if I am comfortable at the start of the run I am wearing too many clothes. But I barely got my big toe out the door when that little voice in my head spoke up "what if you can't finish the run, what if you have to walk...you are going to freeze." Well, not likely but that little voice is hard to ignore so I grabbed a rain jacket and tied it around my waist. Pesky little voice.
The run started out into the wind and I was cold but I quickly began my usual exercise induced warm-up. For the first time this year I actually enjoyed the run, I remembered why I like to run. At the halfway point (out and back run) I felt decent but the finish was not guaranteed. Sometimes my feet and my mind do not work together. Luckily this was not one of those days and I finished a nice 38 minute effort. As for the jacket, I did not need it, I did not walk. Tomorrow, maybe 40 minutes :-)
In case you are wondering, crocus blooms in my yard are almost open. Doesn't look the volume of blooms will be as high as in years past but I am not complaining. The first yellow blossoms are always a bright ray of sunshine to me.
My motivation has gone missing this year as evidenced by 24 days without a blog post, then a series of back dated posts of which NONE mentions exercise of any kind...well, maybe a couple of hikes. What is going on here? I need an injection of type A personality, it appears my type D has taken control.
Along with my sluggish performance, a little pudge has crept in. This year's spotty 2-3 mile runs combined with increased dining out and eating with friends, is not cutting it. Goals, goals, goals, I need to set some goals.
On a lighter note, we had a fun Valentine's Day. John and I went to the matinee to see, "He's Just Not That Into You." Nice of him to spend his afternoon at a chick flick. For dinner we went to Kalamata Kitchen for plates of sushi and to listen to his son's band ( http://www.myspace.com/ganasita ) .
In the past few weeks, friends of ours purchased a mountain home. As it turns out, this is a great time to pick up a piece of real estate. They invited us up for a Sunday walk through Gatlinburg and lunch on the deck. The weather was warm and we had the best time!
Sonya and Mac, your new mountain house is beautiful !!
Sonya and I sitting in a couple of rocking chairs on the strip in Gatlinburg. This is where Mac told Sonya how great he thought the grapevine rocking chairs would look on the new deck. In response, Sonya frowned at the chairs, we sat in them and rocked for a few minutes, agreed they were comfortable and she quickly put some mileage between Mac and the chairs. The chairs will not show up at the mountain house :-)
Another Gatlinburg strip shot
A view from the deck of Sonya and Mac's new mountain home. Nice!
John and Sonya on the deck
One last pic of the Smokies from the deck.The groundhog saw his shadow today which means 6 more weeks of winter. As someone who is usually a winter oriented person, I am having trouble dealing with the thought of more cold. I cannot seem to get warm this winter. Luckily our winters are relatively mild although it seems as if, in response to the prediction, we are having the heaviest snow we have had in years. Now where did I put my sled???
Below I have posted several pic of my yard in the snow...enjoy!
© Blogger template 'Solitude' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
