Do You Take Chances/Risks to Get Your Run In?

I posted this picture from my run last night and got a lecture from a relative.

I posted: The roads were too bad to do my usual errands so I did my Saturday run tonight.  It wasn't as cold as tomorrow will be but my phone did shut off due to the cold.  I love running in a storm so that was a win.  I misjudged time so I was in the dark near the end. I was glad to reach my road.

She posted: That's not sounding safe. Roads too bad to drive, so cold you lose your phone and in the dark. In  a storm.  Where it is not safe for drivers. I have the funny feeling you wouldn't want your kids in the same conditions.

Okay, I did respond to her.  Not all of this did I say to her but I gave a very polite response saying the only thing that bothered me was the dark.

First - she is mistaken if she thinks I have influence over my adult children and decisions they make to work out.  I know that Emily is in situations I wouldn't dream of putting myself. I'm thinking in particular of her multi rim Grand Canyon run and her 100 miler that went up and down mountains and she had to scale some scary rocks and there were many scary creatures around.  Did I encourage her not to do it?  No, it is who she is.  She is an adult and makes her own decisions.  If asked I would answer but I don't volunteer. If I was very worried I would but....?  I get it.  I ride my bike and many bicyclists are killed on the road. I am not going to let that stop me. I have told friends, if it happens to me I was doing something I love. I am not willing to live that careful a life.

Yes, the roads were too bad to drive.  So I didn't. But I had my Yak Trax on and traction was good.When cars came I stepped to the side. (Okay, mostly)  I went on roads not busy at all with traffic.

Yeah, my phone died which bothered me because I couldn't take pictures.  I did think I couldn't call my husband (who knew where I was and what I was doing.  I told him not to worry until 6.) I put my phone in my mitten and got it to turn on again. 

Personally, except heading into the wind gusts I was toasty.  For a Vermont winter.

Saturday (today) was bitter bitter cold.  I am so glad I did this last night.

As far as the dark that didn't thrill me. Many of you run in the dark.  I don't like to.  I altered my route as it got darker and didn't go down  one road I planned to.  I didn't even stop and pee!  The snow helped a lot.  I had a flashing arm band. Stupidly I had not brought my head lamp.  The thing with the dark is I watch too much Criminal Minds and imagine too many awful things happening from humans. The roads I was on are pretty isolated.  I did see cars. One stopped ahead and that put many thoughts into my head.  I ran by it and just kept going.  I imagine they were waiting for someone from a house in the woods as they never went back by me.  I will say I ran too fast for the light and the conditions. I am lucky I didn't fall.  I felt like I had great footing and just went for it.  It was mostly downhill at this point.  I got to my road which is more open and "friendly" so I went in a loop on it until I had my mileage. (I'm that person.)  I knew I was doing a mile more than last week but I had thought I had done 7 last week and needed to do 8. I went on the same route and extended it but I was shocked when I saw 9 miles.  Part of the problem with misjudging the time.

In a storm .  Completely guilty. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE running in a storm. It exhilarates me.  I can't really describe how much I like it.  Vermont winter storms and running just float my boat.  

So there it is.  To me .........a  chance worth taking.

Here are a few more pics from when my phone was working.

This is near the beginning.

This sheep bleated as I went by so I went back to say hi and take a picture.

A beautiful spot where I seem to keep taking pictures from different angles.

It was starting to get dark but not too badly yet.  I was hoofing it for  me!

The top picture was just before I finished. I got home and was tired but felt great!  

Currently

Here's a quick update of sorts.

Reading - The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scott.  Not recommending it. I'll finish it but that's about it.

Reading - I always  have  a "gym book" going to and I'm loving this one.  I heard this guy speak in Alaska and he was very entertaining.  The book is just as good with fantastic pictures.  Cold Hands, Warm Heart by Jeff King.

Watching - Snow fall outside my window.  The porch light is on, it's dark, and snow is falling.  A truly beautiful sight in my opinion.

Eating - kind of Paleo, kind of whole 30.  Dinner suggestions needed. Trying to take off weight I gained this fall.

Listening to - Serial.  Loving it.  I have 4 episodes left and I'm saving this for my long run(s) as a treat!  Any recommendations for similar podcasts?

Trying - to cross country ski again.  Last weekend I went south (to Peru, VT) and met friends from my Alaska trip to cross country ski.  I had never gone to an area and paid but it was very fun. I did fine and sort of want to get new equipment to do more.  It was fun being out in the woods enjoying the winter I love.  It was so great to connect with people I met last summer and see them again.  I spent the night and went to the ski lodge for game night (be still my heart, I LOVE GAMES), and a good meal. It was a great time.

Frustrated with - my body.  My knee still hurts although it is improving.  I have made an appointment with a PT but can't get in for a bit. Oddly it feels fine when running.  Sitting is not good at all.  It stiffens up.  I also have a sore elbow which has gone on for more than two months. I know exactly how I did it and wish I could relive those ten seconds. It is certainly taking it's time to get better.  I will get my money's worth from the PT.

Indifferent - to the Super Bowl.  Sorry. I'll watch some of it with my husband but really?

Loving - going to the movies more.  Again, any recommendations?

Enjoying..... Vermont's beauty.  It's making those long runs much more enjoyable.  

Running and Upcoming Trips

I'm almost done my 4th week of training for NYC half marathon.  BUT my knee is bothering me. It seemed better so I ran again and it still seemed better but today it hurts. Hate injuries.  Hate them. It is so hard not to run.

This is from my hillier route.

Today I ran inside because it was -16 and I am not that hard core.  It still hasn't warmed up much and I am huddled by the woodstove.

I am trying to run new routes or at least not run in a long time routes and I am really enjoying it.  My route at home is much hillier now but I definitely needed to change it up some.  I am actually kind of liking the treadmill too.  I seem to like it better when I am on a training plan.  I certainly push myself harder.  Come on knee, play along.

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to go to the movies more.  Isn't that a smart one? Today we went and saw American Sniper. Part way through there was a fire alarm. And did I already say it is freezing out?  We were probably out there about 15 minutes - much harder when you're standing still.  The good news was we got back in and finished it. I didn't want to come back another time and watch the first two hours again.  Many people left.

School is going great.  I love my class this year. The two grades I work with are full of such good kids. What a difference it makes in your attitude going to work.  We're studying the rain forest which is fun and very motivating to them.

This is from when I was leaving school the other night.

I have not one but three trips planned.  One is my usual trip to Maine in February.  One is a weekend in NYC to run the half. We already have show tickets for Saturday night.  Not the best for the night before but I'm not going to be walking away with any of the prize money.  The third one is for a biking trip over April vacation with the same friends from last year. We'll be biking from Pensacola to New Orleans.  The sister of one of my friends is going to be the sag wagon!  

Hope all of you are healthy. The flu is nasty stuff around here!

2014 by the numbers

I swam more than twice as much last year. I took a long break this fall where I didn't swim at all. 

Last year I tried to hit 1000 and didn't quite make it.  Glad to do it this year. This is way under old totals but that was before I threw biking and swimming into the mix. My body likes the 4 days of running better than the 5 or 6.

Last year I had no goal but almost hit 2000.  So that became this year's goal.  I wasn't sure if I would make it since I was gone to Alaska during some prime biking time.  But I also upped my days per week from 3 to 4 once back and it was pure pleasure to make time for it.  

Numbers Pure and Simple

 17 Races Done

2 halves

5 triathlons

2 duathlons

1 virtual

5 new races - something I like to do

12 Age Group Awards

Sounds ridiculous but it's true - benefit of being older

3 of the awards were first place

1 National Qualifying Race

I qualified for the age group national championships in triathlon

Like I said - it's great to get older

2 races with family members

This is way down.  :( 

One race a month at least except for April

Love this one too.  One of the ways I do new races.

6 states biked in

Alaska, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Virginia

One Century Ride

The same as last year.  Loved it.

2015?

I already did one race with my husband. It was fun but freezing! And I was slow! So why was it fun?  I guess I just like to race.  I am trying to run more on different routes and change it up. Tomorrow I have an errand in another town so I am plotting a new route.  Finding some love in running right now which always surprises me when I get it back because the running love is so absent when I am biking.

I want to keep racing, hopefully one a month.  I want to ride 3000 miles. Is that possible?  Not sure but I'm reaching high.  I want to tri in a new state.  I want to run 1000 again with a little extra. I want to keep not letting those scary weeds get the better of me and continue to tri.  

Happy New Year!