Mud Season

These ruts were frozen this morning but when

it warms up, look out!

Saturday I nailed my pace run. I needed to run 5 miles at a 9:30 pace.  Friday the weather was beautiful and very spring like.  Today when I got up what was it doing?  If you are thinking, snowing you win the prize. I did not feel like I had won any prize.  I got dressed accordingly - no capris this weekend like last weekend in DC - and headed out. T is gone to visit her son so I was on my own.  The roads had only a few icy spots so that improved my chances of hitting my pace.  My first four miles were great with the last one being  a bit slower. I actually ran these five miles faster than the five miles I ran last Sunday in the St. Patrick's Day race.  For me that is amazing as races really do get me to push it much more. But last Sunday I was not rested and yesterday was   a rest day for me.  It felt great all the way around.  Even though I was disappointed in the weather, later in the day when I headed into school for a few hours to work on report cards, I was glad it was cold out.  That is rather selfish of me, but it's how I felt!

Okay now it is Sunday the first day of spring. I'll get back to that fact.  I had an 11 miler on taps with no T here to run with me.  I took my time getting going as I am just plain sick of the cold and I wanted it to warm up. By the time I left it was in the high 20s but don't worry, it took me so long to run this 11 it warmed up just fine.  I still am wearing long pants, two layers on top (one fairly thick), gloves and a fleece headband.  When I am finally in short sleeves and capris you will hear my hallelujahs all over the country.  So because I was running alone I had my Ipod and caught up on some podcasts.  I must say from listening to them I now have a new item on my bucket list. I am so going to do that Goofy Challenge some day.  It probably won't be until I retire because it totally doesn't fit into my school calendar but it will happen.  I ran these miles rather slowly. I wasn't feeling the love right from the start.  I never was completely dying but there wasn't a whole lot of enthusiasm either.  I stopped to take a break take pictures quite often.

Even the paved roads are in tough shape.

 I saw some ducks that were rather amusing.  They would swim upstream, turn around and ride the current down.  They did this several times like little kids playing in the water.

 I also saw a weasel after something in the road. I tried to take a picture but once he saw me he was gone fast.  I also had  a dog come after me. T would have died!  I thought I knew where all the dogs are on the route. This guy appeared out of nowhere but when I turned and yelled he stopped.  He would start after me again but if I turned and glared he instantly stopped so I wasn't worried and just continued.  Finally I was back on home stretch with 11 in the bank.

I had to watch my footing as if

I was on a trail.

Okay back to spring.  It is my least favorite season especially this part of it.  Right now everything is mud mud mud.  Our driveway is a mess. The roads are a mess. I tried to take a picture of the ruts. The pictures don't do them justice. Some roads become impassable.  The weather.  Friday - when I was at work - was quite nice. Saturday and Sunday let the colder temps return. What did I get in my email an hour ago? A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.  If you look at the forecast for the coming week, there is snow pictured in the next 5 days.  This is spring?