Thursday, April 15, 2010

Wind and Soft Sand

At our friend's house for dinner in the evening - we drive 800 miles and we still have colleagues in the next town!


Wednesday I wanted to run 10 miles.  I headed south out of town with the wind at my back. I knew it would be hard when I turned around but I didn't have a clue.  I got past 5 miles, watched the kite surfers briefly who were thrilled about the wind and headed back to town, planning to run the last 3 miles on the beach.  The two miles on the highway were hard. I turned off my Ipod which I couldn't hear due to the wind. I had never run in such hard winds but the worst was yet to come.  When I got to the beach the surf was way up toward the dunes.  The sand was mostly soft again although not as bad as Tuesday.  The roar of the ocean was impressive.  I could see NO ONE and wondered if I was out of my mind.  I progressed very slowly stopping more often than I care to admit.  I would tell myself I wouldn't stop until I had gone a certain distance but I wasn't making it!  There were more kite surfers here and they were flying!  I was glad to see some other humans!  I eventually realized my "running" just wasn't cutting it and decided to head back to the road at the fishing pier.  I NEVER change my "goals" I have set for my runs but it just wasn't happening. It felt good to get back to the road just to be out of the extremely relentless wind.  I made it back to our house, having completed the 10 miles but not quite in the fashion I thought I would.

Wonderful hard sand!!!
Thursday I managed to fit in two runs!  I got up early - although not quite early enough to see the sunrise and managed 6 miles on the beach. The sand was hard and so much better than the last couple of days!  I loved it going my favorite northerly route. There were no dolphins and just a few fishermen some of who were quite unfriendly. Oh well, probably why they didn't catch much!

On the ferry to Ocracoke!
Then we were off to Ocracoke Island on a wonderfully gorgeous day!  The ferry that connects Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke - a car ferry - about a 40 minute ride - is FREE!!!!  Unbelievable!  It was a great day to be there. We rented a golf cart and tooled around. We had a car and had no reason to rent a golf cart other than that it was fun.  We had a wonderful seafood lunch!  Yum!

When we got back to our "house" even though it was late I took off for another run.  I have not been on the beach at the end of the day and it was wonderful. Peaceful and calm.  There were a few surfers and myself.

 Then it was my evening to cook. FAIL!! I told everyone: As Richard Nixon once said, "I am not a cook."

Cards tonight and guess who won!

One of my housemates going out for a sunset kayak ride - gorgeous!

And last but not least Good Luck to all the Boston Runners - especially ESH at Sweat Once a Day my sweet daughter!!!!

13 comments:

Lisa said...

I want a weekend like that. Looks amazing and love the sunset picture.

Amy said...

Whoa, that windy run sounded dreadful - but glad the rest of the vacation has been so wonderful! I hope your daughter is feeling better now for Boston - I hope she does really well! That is so exciting, my baby sister just qualified too (but will run next year, she was too late to sign up).

Johann said...

Some runs are more adventures than runs. Sounds like you had one of those adventures and I'm sure you are still glad you experienced it. The pics are amazing! Enjoy every moment there.

Julie said...

Looks like a fun and memorable weekend! I also love the pictures:) Sorry to hear about the windy run....it will make you stronger! Have fun in Boston cheering your daughter on:) You need to take pictures to post in your blog. I wish I could be there too but am so glad that you get to share this experience with your daughter and son!! Have a fantastic weekend:)

TMB @ RACING WITH BABES said...

Sounds like an adventure! Yay on winning at cards!! Have a great weekend!

HappyTrails said...

Awesome pics - miss the ocean some, although it would be impossible to leave the mountains at this point. Are you using a special setting for your sunset pix? Bet you will hate to leave there....

Send good luck to your daughter!!

Anne said...

I really hate wind!! Sometimes we have no choice but to adapt! Otherwise, sounds like you're having such an amazing time...sigh...I do love the ocean :)

Good luck to ESH...will totally go over to her blog and wish her good luck directly!! :)

Pining for Pinterest said...

YAY!! Good luck to your daughter :) Have a wonderful weekend!

Monica said...

I have had kids that got very lightheaded while watching the ppt. A few kids have asked to be excused to sit somewhere else in the library because they feel sick watching the presentation...They really are VERY DISGUSTING pictures.

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

Wind makes running really hard, but you finished ten miles! That's great!

Darlene said...

I am so impressed with your running. I never succeed in running on vacation. That sunst pic is so BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck to your daughter.

Heidi said...

Hey, you set a goal to run 10 miles and you did just that. Maybe not quite as planned, but you didn't give up. I think that's a huge success.

I love that last pic of your friend and the sunset. Gorgeous!

misszippy said...

Wind is the hardest element, I think. Great job for fighting it. Enjoy the rest of your trip.