Monday, November 27, 2006
Inov-8
I still can't quite believe that Inov-8 offered a sponsorship to me. Every once in a while I'll receive a box of goodies. Today I received a box of goodies for the winter running season. How cool is that? I've ever so grateful.
Unbelievable..
Today after my run with Topaz I saw a box on the front step. Ooohhh...it was from Inov-8, what will it contain?
Well, Merry Christmas to me! 4 more shirts, 3 pair of shoes-Gortex, of course, thick socks, 2 more running bras and uh..two.. pouches????
See the black and blue pouch. Hmmm..what is zippered up in there?
Well, Merry Christmas to me! 4 more shirts, 3 pair of shoes-Gortex, of course, thick socks, 2 more running bras and uh..two.. pouches????
See the black and blue pouch. Hmmm..what is zippered up in there?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Topazs' First Road Run
I had been thinking about how I was going to fit in a run today, preferably with Topaz. During the week he is stuck inside of the house for 6 hours, anxiously awaiting his family's return. I didn't want to run without him.
I decided I'd try him on-leash, in town, while Tyler was at his 5:00 guitar lesson. Troy had a basketball practice from 630-830, I was planning on attending the gym during that time slot.
Topaz has run in our neighborhood before, off leash. We live out in the country, there isn't much traffic, I live on a dead end with .5 mile of driveway so he isn't used to moving vehicle traffic. He lives a sheltered life!
After some digging around I found a waist belt webbed leash I purchased for him online but had never put to use before. I found his collar. Tyler packed up his guitar, we were ready to roll.
I don't know why I haven't taken Topaz with me during the guitar lesson run. I guess much of the time it is too warm, the pavement is too hot for him, and I don't mind running without him once in a while. I knew he'd love it, hell, he'd love running over a molten lava field as long as he was running and he was with me. He loves me.
I brought Tyler to his lesson, parked the car and Topaz and I began our run. Oh my gosh, he pulled and pulled and pulled. I couldn't believe how he pulled me forward. He was making that gasping choking sound and I was going as fast as I could go! Thank goodness he was fastened by the waist band because I needed my arms to pump as fast and hard as they could!
We had a few miles in before we came upon the lake, I took out my flashlight so we could see where the rocks were and he went in for a swim and drink. Back out to the sidewalk and another mile before we came upon the real heavy traffic along Highway 10. The asphalt path is inbetween the lake and the highway for a while. Topaz is not used to traffic; this was heavy heavy traffic. Semi trucks, people honking at us that recognized me, trains, etc. He ran even faster! I realized what a country dog Topaz is. He was confused as we waited for a red light. I had him sit and stay and he's like 'why? I have my leash on and we are going for a run. what's up?'
Eventually we came upon a heavily wooded area where I was able to take the leash off and he could romp around as he loves to do. I realized he hadn't fully extended his legs during the whole time he was on leash. There was no way that he could while I was attached to him! He had stopped gasping early on, but there was never any slack in the 10 feet of leash between us.
He ran all out, tearing up the field, legs fully extended. I sat in a ball on the grass and panted.
He kicked my ass. I'm proud of him! He did very well on his first run in town. We now have a new Tuesday run around the lake.
We finished our run in time to pick up Tyler, get back home; pick up Troy and get on back to town for basketball practice, as I went to the gym..for workout #2: shoulders and back.
Is it wrong to have a dog for a best friend?
I decided I'd try him on-leash, in town, while Tyler was at his 5:00 guitar lesson. Troy had a basketball practice from 630-830, I was planning on attending the gym during that time slot.
Topaz has run in our neighborhood before, off leash. We live out in the country, there isn't much traffic, I live on a dead end with .5 mile of driveway so he isn't used to moving vehicle traffic. He lives a sheltered life!
After some digging around I found a waist belt webbed leash I purchased for him online but had never put to use before. I found his collar. Tyler packed up his guitar, we were ready to roll.
I don't know why I haven't taken Topaz with me during the guitar lesson run. I guess much of the time it is too warm, the pavement is too hot for him, and I don't mind running without him once in a while. I knew he'd love it, hell, he'd love running over a molten lava field as long as he was running and he was with me. He loves me.
I brought Tyler to his lesson, parked the car and Topaz and I began our run. Oh my gosh, he pulled and pulled and pulled. I couldn't believe how he pulled me forward. He was making that gasping choking sound and I was going as fast as I could go! Thank goodness he was fastened by the waist band because I needed my arms to pump as fast and hard as they could!
We had a few miles in before we came upon the lake, I took out my flashlight so we could see where the rocks were and he went in for a swim and drink. Back out to the sidewalk and another mile before we came upon the real heavy traffic along Highway 10. The asphalt path is inbetween the lake and the highway for a while. Topaz is not used to traffic; this was heavy heavy traffic. Semi trucks, people honking at us that recognized me, trains, etc. He ran even faster! I realized what a country dog Topaz is. He was confused as we waited for a red light. I had him sit and stay and he's like 'why? I have my leash on and we are going for a run. what's up?'
Eventually we came upon a heavily wooded area where I was able to take the leash off and he could romp around as he loves to do. I realized he hadn't fully extended his legs during the whole time he was on leash. There was no way that he could while I was attached to him! He had stopped gasping early on, but there was never any slack in the 10 feet of leash between us.
He ran all out, tearing up the field, legs fully extended. I sat in a ball on the grass and panted.
He kicked my ass. I'm proud of him! He did very well on his first run in town. We now have a new Tuesday run around the lake.
We finished our run in time to pick up Tyler, get back home; pick up Troy and get on back to town for basketball practice, as I went to the gym..for workout #2: shoulders and back.
Is it wrong to have a dog for a best friend?
Monday, November 13, 2006
Racing Topaz
What a fun run today! After work I came home, changed clothes and told Topaz 'let's go for a run!' We headed off to the trail before the sun was going to set. The sky was beautiful: pinks, oranges and yellows. I didn't have my camera. I'll bring it next time!
I felt pure happiness again while running. It's been a while. I've felt burnt out, in a rut, whatever you want to call it. I'm not sure what is was. Probably still a sting from Superior 100. That won't go away until I finish her.
Anyhow, as I and Topaz were running I began to laugh, to talk to Topaz, and realized I hadn't done that in quite some time either.
I felt awesome, happy, strong and fit. I was trying to race Topaz. As he would meander off of the trail to chase a deer, or smell a turkey, I'd run up ahead as fast as I could. Inevitably, he'd notice I was ahead of him and tear up the trail as fast as he could, passing me, and getting in another 200 feet for good measure. I can not beat that dog. Ever. I kept trying, it was hilarious. For my last effort, he took off for a pheasant, of course the trail happened to go up hill, I ran as fast I could, trying to be quiet so he wouldn't notice that I was ahead of him. I didn't get half way up the hill when he came tearing by me as fast as he could go. I couldn't stop laughing. What a speed demon I have created in him! He truly loves running as much as I, plus he has that little Border Collie herding instinct working for him.
As we walked to the trail head I realized I was laughing, beaming, just having a grand time. I'm so glad I'm back!
I felt pure happiness again while running. It's been a while. I've felt burnt out, in a rut, whatever you want to call it. I'm not sure what is was. Probably still a sting from Superior 100. That won't go away until I finish her.
Anyhow, as I and Topaz were running I began to laugh, to talk to Topaz, and realized I hadn't done that in quite some time either.
I felt awesome, happy, strong and fit. I was trying to race Topaz. As he would meander off of the trail to chase a deer, or smell a turkey, I'd run up ahead as fast as I could. Inevitably, he'd notice I was ahead of him and tear up the trail as fast as he could, passing me, and getting in another 200 feet for good measure. I can not beat that dog. Ever. I kept trying, it was hilarious. For my last effort, he took off for a pheasant, of course the trail happened to go up hill, I ran as fast I could, trying to be quiet so he wouldn't notice that I was ahead of him. I didn't get half way up the hill when he came tearing by me as fast as he could go. I couldn't stop laughing. What a speed demon I have created in him! He truly loves running as much as I, plus he has that little Border Collie herding instinct working for him.
As we walked to the trail head I realized I was laughing, beaming, just having a grand time. I'm so glad I'm back!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Seeing Orange
This morning the deer hunting opener for rifle took place. Steve and Tyler headed up north to get the almighty buck. I and Troy will be home enjoying the next three weekends in each other's company.
I and Topaz headed out for the trail early this morning. The hunters were out and shooting. The trail which I run is closed to hunters, and it is well posted as such. However, there are hunters surrounding the property, and the sound of gun fire in unnerving. I have orange running jackets - and Topaz wears his orange dog jacket as well. We ran a nice 10 mile route, never seeing any hunters but watched many many deer. Topaz was very busy herding them back to me.
After the run I came home and picked up Troy. We headed to the gym. I had a plyometric workout on tap. Oh good lord almighty. It kicked my ass. Big Time.
Last night the new trainer emailed me this workout and I was like, 'wow, no weights!' Well, no wonder. He wrote me to go hard and fast on the cardio, which I did. Warmed up with 10 minutes running, then plyometrics. Step jumps, jump over step, lunge on step, stairstepper break, jump on and off step, mountain climbers, elipitical break, bend and thrust, dumbbell step up with lunge, walking lunges and finish off with a 15 minute sesson on the treadmill at 8.5 mph. HELLO!
I was wringing wet and exhausted. Yeah. He calls this a 'fat stripping bootcamp workout'. I call it hell. I don't want to see it on my workout list again! I'm sure I will be there again.
Ugh.
I and Topaz headed out for the trail early this morning. The hunters were out and shooting. The trail which I run is closed to hunters, and it is well posted as such. However, there are hunters surrounding the property, and the sound of gun fire in unnerving. I have orange running jackets - and Topaz wears his orange dog jacket as well. We ran a nice 10 mile route, never seeing any hunters but watched many many deer. Topaz was very busy herding them back to me.
After the run I came home and picked up Troy. We headed to the gym. I had a plyometric workout on tap. Oh good lord almighty. It kicked my ass. Big Time.
Last night the new trainer emailed me this workout and I was like, 'wow, no weights!' Well, no wonder. He wrote me to go hard and fast on the cardio, which I did. Warmed up with 10 minutes running, then plyometrics. Step jumps, jump over step, lunge on step, stairstepper break, jump on and off step, mountain climbers, elipitical break, bend and thrust, dumbbell step up with lunge, walking lunges and finish off with a 15 minute sesson on the treadmill at 8.5 mph. HELLO!
I was wringing wet and exhausted. Yeah. He calls this a 'fat stripping bootcamp workout'. I call it hell. I don't want to see it on my workout list again! I'm sure I will be there again.
Ugh.
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