OH Yeah!

stats:
5.20 mi
1:00:23 (yes, one hour!)
11.37 min/mi avg
9.21 min/mi best
952 cals burned (??)

Yes! I GOT IT DONE! I drove to the park, my all-time fav place...so many variations available. parked the van and started at 3.49p.m. Yes, I knew it would prob. be getting dark before long. Of late, it gets dark by 4:30. But away I went. Of course, since it was around 29 degrees, there were VERY few people out. I did take a headband/ear-warmer thing this time which was very good. Only a few wks ago when I did that, it was WAY too sweaty and itchy. (i think it's made for skiing.) But I knew my ears wouldn't make it. That was over my earphones and I just left my hair down to keep my neck warm. Gloves are a must this time of yr too. I don't wear them the whole time but w/o them, I'd probly get frostbite!

(btw: I LOVE MY GARMIN!)

So, I had my gloves and ipod to contend w/. Not too bad. I'm back to tying my car key in my laces. I'd forgotten about that trick. No biggie. You don't even notice it. Tie it onto the side. Make it as sturdy as you can but don't push it thru the laces that go up the tongue of your shoe...that will inhibit your foot movement and the key will feel like it's cutting your foot! Anyhoo, since I'm no longer wearing SHORTS, and don't have pockets...this is a new thing to have to worry about. When I run w/ FOLKS, I just carry my keys. Cuz then I don't use my ipod. I don't have one of those nifty arm deals to hold it. I don't want that at this point. I like to hold it in case i need to change the song or pause it to say "YO!" to a passer-by. (ok, so it's more like hello.) I also like being able to control the volume so I can hear traffic better at some points or BLARE a fav. song at other times!

Well, I MUST SAY: I could not feel my little toes on either foot for about 1 mile. I noticed my ipod cord was very hard....like the cold had frozen it. Ipodmamma's hubby wrote me that her ipod had a hard time in colder weather. So, I was trying different ways to carry it. I came up w/ putting it down my sweatshirt...then it was pulled too taut. So then I tucked the actual POD into between my tights and my shorts on under. Well, that was okay for a while. But for some reason the cord was pulling hard enuff that I felt the ear phones trying to come OUT, UNDER my head band! That was irritating. So, THEN I decided to run the cord down the arm of my sweatshirt and right into my palm! PERFECT! Why dint i think of that before?? I ask you! That was about 2.8 or sumpin ... before i had all that down. So, from then on I could just have fun.

AND HAVE FUN I DID. I really tried to just slow it down a lot and not over do. I read about long term aerobic benefit...and wet losss (of COURSE) & "they" do say that longer periods will have more effect. I guess a good goal is 90 minutes ... maybe not all the time. But that is what i'd like to do more often. Well, I felt like I was barely moving...but i wondered why i usually try to push it faster, harder? I think, of late, it would be becuz i'm in traffic. I don't want people SEEING me and thinking I'm a slow pig out there, super OUT OF SHAPE! Isn't that insane? It's lifelong, folks. I wish i didn't care.

Who saw that Oprah show once about the lady that wanted to overcome her inhibitions....and how she did it was to don a BIKINI and jog around the neighborhood...even going up to houses and introducing herself! She was not bikini-worthy (by American standards) and so it was really SOMETHING! She was running right down the street, waving to cars and talking to everyone! It was an EYE-POPPER! Of course, she had Oprah's camera crew right there with her...WHICH, on ONE hand would be better becuz she had lots of company...like: supporting her. But, on the OTHER hand, THE WHOLE WORLD GOT TO SEE HER, not just her neighbors who were the ONES she was trying to overcome her fear of. (i know that was an incorrect sentence...so sorry.)

All that to say, I've often thought of her, when i'm super-inhibited about running in public. I would look a LOT worse than her in that bikini! I LIKE covering up! But sometimes I'm most stymied by what I look like.

I know i've said it before: when i take off, i'm concerned about what i look like. However, on the home stretch, i could be running naked and i'm so euphoric, it wouldn't matter. Now, that's a gross (eyesore) exaggeration but YOU GET THE POINT (i hope)! (just don't try to imagine...that would be too scary.)

So, today i felt purty good. Great, in fact. I just took it real easy. I think, sometimes there's something to be said for taking some time off. I mean, i want to get right back in the saddle...but tonite's run it was like i could run forever! It makes me want to run less. The prob. w/ that is my whole life kinda goes down the drain on days i don't run! ugh! balance, kt!

Okay, i made a point to tell you i'd started right b4 dusk. Well, I ran down the length of the park, then moved out onto the residential street that parallels the river path...then ran all the way back, just on the streets. This is an old part of town which i've always loved! The homes are all government houses built in the 40s i believe. Lots of them have been re-done and they are way cool! I've always wanted to live there! Close to the river would be a big plus too, eh?!

Well, by the time i got even w/ where the car was parked, it was dark. I was spooked. I didn't want to go down there. I thought about stopping at the fire dept which is right there and asking if there was a roaming firefighter (hero-guy) who could spare a couple of minutes to walk down w/ me. I himmed and hawed for a while and just went on my own. I was walking and kept my eyes PEELED...just like "they" say to do. The unfortunate part was i had to unlock my car...just carrying a key i didn't have the remote lock. There was, also, a car, parked closeby IDLING! Spooky! I prayed on the way down, "Lord, go before me and behind me!"

And, on the way home I tried not to get my hopes up that there would be a Christmas tree awaiting me....until i forgot about it. As I turned the corner and looked up to our 2nd story window, I BEHELD A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT! DH and the kiddos HAD gone out and got us a TREE! Yeahooo! He knew and did it just for me! Whatta guy!

God Bless and love to all!
kt

ps: check out AMBER's blog...i have a link up there. she has updated her's ...w/ info about her MARATHON!