2005 is just about expired. I can't even believe how quickly the years go by. Yup, I sound just like my Mother. Good grief.
I spent the day just having a blast. I awoke at 5 AM so that I could be at Afton State Park prior to 8. On the way, stopped by St. Paul to pick up Marie and Bonnie. After unloading all of their gear into my car, we realized that I didn't have a State Park sticker. Oops. Had to get another workout carrying all the gear from my car to Bonnie's.
At Afton we met up with Scott and Alicia.
The snow was fabulous for snow shoe running. Just wonderful! I love Afton State Park. There is a nice visitor center with a wood stove, indoor plumbing with flushing toilets; what more can a gal ask for? Not to mention the best trails-wooded, open, meadow, ravines, hills, some flats, river, ski alps; you name it, Afton has it.
We spent a couple of hours out on the trail-running up and down the hills-looking at at the St. Croix River, watching the downhill skiiers. Just wonderful.
Each hour I gulped down a Coca Cola Cliff Shot (not my favorite..Mocha Mocha is) and I drank 60 oz of Hammer Heed. I never felt Bonkie; just feeling good.
After our run we warmed up in the Center, changed clothes and I, Bonnie and Marie headed off to Sunsets in Woodbury for a wonderful lunch to celebrate mine and Marie's birthday. I had a Tucson Grilled Chicken Salad that I highly recommend.
Tonight, per our New Years Eve tradition, the Big Lake Run Club gathers at 11:45 for a run around our Wednesday Night Run Club route at Midnight to ring in the New Year.
See..a fabulous day!
Tommorrow will begin with another couple of hours snowshoe running on my Blue Hill Trail with Topaz. He didn't get his Run On today!
Enjoy the New Year Celebration!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Friday, December 30, 2005
Winter Wonderland
We received a good 7" of fluffy white snow overnight. I was pretty suprised when I woke up and saw how much snow we received.
I and Troy hit the hill shortly after we awoke; we had to go out and mess up the new white snow.
The snow plows hadn't been by yet and I figured the Blue Hill Trail head wouldn't be plowed until mid-day. I decided to run a snowshoe run through our property.
We sit on a cul-de-sac and have over 5 acres so there is hardly any traffic around and plenty of space to run. I wouldn't want to have to run in my yard every day, but today it was actually fun.
I went up and down the driveway, through the cul-de-sac, onto our bike trail, around the veggie garden, up the hill, around the swimming pool, around the trampoline, up to the front yard and down the driveway. Repeat!
I was able to get in a good one hour run, huffing and a puffing.
The snow plow then came along and made a huge snow bank in front of our driveway. Steve is up north so is relieved of snow plow duty. I pulled out the shovel and got in a real good upper body workout.
Then figured Blue Hill Trail might be plowed out..and it was :)
What a wonderful way to spend my 41st Birthday.
I and Troy hit the hill shortly after we awoke; we had to go out and mess up the new white snow.
The snow plows hadn't been by yet and I figured the Blue Hill Trail head wouldn't be plowed until mid-day. I decided to run a snowshoe run through our property.
We sit on a cul-de-sac and have over 5 acres so there is hardly any traffic around and plenty of space to run. I wouldn't want to have to run in my yard every day, but today it was actually fun.
I went up and down the driveway, through the cul-de-sac, onto our bike trail, around the veggie garden, up the hill, around the swimming pool, around the trampoline, up to the front yard and down the driveway. Repeat!
I was able to get in a good one hour run, huffing and a puffing.
The snow plow then came along and made a huge snow bank in front of our driveway. Steve is up north so is relieved of snow plow duty. I pulled out the shovel and got in a real good upper body workout.
Then figured Blue Hill Trail might be plowed out..and it was :)
What a wonderful way to spend my 41st Birthday.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
2006 Calendar
The New Year is just about upon me. I feel quite different than I did last year at this time when I first created this blog.
I was feeling fat and unfit; although I was running 50 mile weeks. Somehow my weight had creeped up (read: sugar) and the big 4 - O h was making its presence known.
I was depressed.
Now, one year later, I am 25 pounds lighter and running faster than I ever believed I could. Once the weight came off, the miles became much easier.
Hey-and I'm not depressed about turning 41 next week. Not. At. All. Thank goodness. It's not like I could do anything about it anyway..hello!
Today I created my race schedule for 2006. All I can do from here on out is move forward. I have planned my races and have planned my workouts to get me there. I have big plans.
I published it on the sidebar.
I am going to begin taking swimming lessons next week so I will be adding in a few triathlons-when I'm not running races.
My 2006 goals will allow me to reach my 2007 goals.
I contacted a gal from MN who ran the Grand Slam a few years ago. She's the only woman in MN to have completed the series, plus, she is the youngest woman EVER to have completed the series. We are going to meet for coffee after the holidays so that I can learn from her. It will be very interesting to hear of her training and the races she completed to get her to the finish line at Wasatch. Wow. Sheesh. That seems so unattainable to me.
You know what, this all seemed so unattinable to me..
Today was a 10 mile snow shoe run in temperatures again, above average. 38F and sunny. Gotta like that.
I was feeling fat and unfit; although I was running 50 mile weeks. Somehow my weight had creeped up (read: sugar) and the big 4 - O h was making its presence known.
I was depressed.
Now, one year later, I am 25 pounds lighter and running faster than I ever believed I could. Once the weight came off, the miles became much easier.
Hey-and I'm not depressed about turning 41 next week. Not. At. All. Thank goodness. It's not like I could do anything about it anyway..hello!
Today I created my race schedule for 2006. All I can do from here on out is move forward. I have planned my races and have planned my workouts to get me there. I have big plans.
I published it on the sidebar.
I am going to begin taking swimming lessons next week so I will be adding in a few triathlons-when I'm not running races.
My 2006 goals will allow me to reach my 2007 goals.
I contacted a gal from MN who ran the Grand Slam a few years ago. She's the only woman in MN to have completed the series, plus, she is the youngest woman EVER to have completed the series. We are going to meet for coffee after the holidays so that I can learn from her. It will be very interesting to hear of her training and the races she completed to get her to the finish line at Wasatch. Wow. Sheesh. That seems so unattainable to me.
You know what, this all seemed so unattinable to me..
Today was a 10 mile snow shoe run in temperatures again, above average. 38F and sunny. Gotta like that.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Snow?
Each time I hear on the news that we are supposed to get a good snowstorm I can't help but roll my eyes. You wouldn't think there would be too much hurrah about a snowstorm..or even snow flakes in Minnesota.
All I hear on the news and radio is snow snow snow is coming. I won't hold my breath! I bet we'll be lucky to scrape out 2".
Today I brought my snowshoes to the trail but left them in the car. The path was pretty well worn down to the dirt so snowshoes weren't necessary. It still took me longer than sans snow to complete the 7 miles. I had to finish in the dark, in the middle of the woods. I had my headlamp stuffed down into my pocket. I somehow thought I'd beat the sunset. Nope. I didn't.
After a left over dinner of turkey and veggies I brought Troy to basketball practice, Tyler to guitar lessons and I hit the gym for 45 minutes of leg work before collecting my off spring.
My legs are tired now. That 50K on Sunday wore them right out!
All I hear on the news and radio is snow snow snow is coming. I won't hold my breath! I bet we'll be lucky to scrape out 2".
Today I brought my snowshoes to the trail but left them in the car. The path was pretty well worn down to the dirt so snowshoes weren't necessary. It still took me longer than sans snow to complete the 7 miles. I had to finish in the dark, in the middle of the woods. I had my headlamp stuffed down into my pocket. I somehow thought I'd beat the sunset. Nope. I didn't.
After a left over dinner of turkey and veggies I brought Troy to basketball practice, Tyler to guitar lessons and I hit the gym for 45 minutes of leg work before collecting my off spring.
My legs are tired now. That 50K on Sunday wore them right out!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
50K Fat Ass
The race..well, it really wasn't a race, it was a get together with friends for a fun training run..but it was a blast.
Of course. How could it not be? A bunch of runners who LOVE to run, get together for chit chat, catching up time and let's get one hell of a good workout out in too while we are it. It was fabulous.
We met at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis at 815. We signed a waiver and dropped a few bucks into a baggie..then headed up the hill to a runner's house. At the house there were cookies, candy, crackers, oranges and a big container of water and one container of an energy drink.
We wrote our names in on a big piece of tag board hanging from the wall. Each loop was 4 miles; after each loop and a run to runner's home we signed in our time near our name.
I think 15 or so of us began the run, most didn't have any intention of running the full 50K. A few of us did.
Running around the Minneapolis Lakes is really quite a treat for me. I live 54 miles away so don't do daily running over there.
There are LOADS of runners doing the lakes each day; it's awesome. There are port a potties all over the place so I could go in a dry place whenever I needed. The luxury!
4 of us ended up running the complete distance. Scott and I finished in 6:18 or so I believe. We stopped at Dunn Brothers for coffee afterwards to talk big with the other runners.
What a blast.
Before I left home this morning I placed a 20 pound turkey in a cooking bag. I left Steve a note: please place on grill on low at 12:15. I'll be home by 5 and turkey should be ready.
I called Steve enroute home and sure enough..turkey was cooking well. Asked Steve to foil wrap a few big baking potatoes and place on grill.
Success!
Awesome turkey dinner after the run. It doesn't get much better than that :)
Of course. How could it not be? A bunch of runners who LOVE to run, get together for chit chat, catching up time and let's get one hell of a good workout out in too while we are it. It was fabulous.
We met at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in Minneapolis at 815. We signed a waiver and dropped a few bucks into a baggie..then headed up the hill to a runner's house. At the house there were cookies, candy, crackers, oranges and a big container of water and one container of an energy drink.
We wrote our names in on a big piece of tag board hanging from the wall. Each loop was 4 miles; after each loop and a run to runner's home we signed in our time near our name.
I think 15 or so of us began the run, most didn't have any intention of running the full 50K. A few of us did.
Running around the Minneapolis Lakes is really quite a treat for me. I live 54 miles away so don't do daily running over there.
There are LOADS of runners doing the lakes each day; it's awesome. There are port a potties all over the place so I could go in a dry place whenever I needed. The luxury!
4 of us ended up running the complete distance. Scott and I finished in 6:18 or so I believe. We stopped at Dunn Brothers for coffee afterwards to talk big with the other runners.
What a blast.
Before I left home this morning I placed a 20 pound turkey in a cooking bag. I left Steve a note: please place on grill on low at 12:15. I'll be home by 5 and turkey should be ready.
I called Steve enroute home and sure enough..turkey was cooking well. Asked Steve to foil wrap a few big baking potatoes and place on grill.
Success!
Awesome turkey dinner after the run. It doesn't get much better than that :)
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Wednesday Night Run Club
Well, Wednesday Night Run Club was..not. I had a 630 meeting, another member had a meeting, one member was sick. One member was going to run; I ran the run club route at 430 and then headed to my meeting. Meeting ended early so I went to the gym for an awesome chest/bicep workout and ran on the treadmill for a speedy 8 miles.
Had a great treadmill run..I shouted the whole time! A friend happened to be at the gym so we ran side by side. Sure helped the miles tick on by.
Hey-I was invited to a 50K Fat Ass run on Sunday around the Minneapolis Lakes. Woohoo! Lake Harriet to be exact. I'm sure looking forward to it. I had NO plans for Sunday and just like that..something fun to look forward too. Yippee.
Had a great treadmill run..I shouted the whole time! A friend happened to be at the gym so we ran side by side. Sure helped the miles tick on by.
Hey-I was invited to a 50K Fat Ass run on Sunday around the Minneapolis Lakes. Woohoo! Lake Harriet to be exact. I'm sure looking forward to it. I had NO plans for Sunday and just like that..something fun to look forward too. Yippee.
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