The flu bug, that it. It totally stung me and hit me like a truck. For three full days I have laid in bed, sweating profusely with a fever of 103.6, then a teeth chattering, body shaking chill that I can't warm up . Vomit and diarrhea exuding my orifices on an hourly basis. It's that bad.
I missed multiple runs, many lifts, three days of work, meetings, meals, house cleaning, etc. to lay in bed in pain and agony.
The poor boys! They would come into my bedroom to talk, sit upon my bed, only to be chased out by the horrific odor exuding my body. Topaz and Toffee didn't mind. They laid with me for three days upon my bed. Toffee really does sleep 22 hours a day.
This morning it all changed. I opened my eyes and it took a few minutes to realize I wasn't laying in stack of wet sheets, I wasn't shaking the chill out of my bones. I had slept all night without stumbling into my bathroom. Oh my gosh, can it be? The flu that had me has now let go!
I'll take a shower, I'll go to work, I'll prepare for Troy's birthday celebration, I'll scrub my bedroom and bathroom with disinfectant and catch up on the housecleaning. I'll even go to Afton tomorrow to visit with my friends. I may not snowshoe..I am incredibly weak..but I will attend the pot luck at 1030 for sure.
I hope the flu doesn't get you. It bites.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Strappin' on the Snowshoes
After scoping out a 50 mile run route last week I was really looking forward to a non snowshoe run. That's what I get for hoping! We received about 3.5" of snow last night. Although it looks beautiful I really wasn't looking forward to 50 miles on snowshoes..again.
I kept reminding myself that I actually had fun last year during my 50 mile snowshoe run and it was going to be warmer today than it was when I did this last year.
Topaz and I headed out at 4 into the crisp cold air. I decided to stay off of the snowmobile trails, I could hear the snowmobiles in the distance even at this early hour. Instead I drove over to Blue Hill Trail to forge yet another path through the woods.
Flashlight in hand, running down the trail, I realized the snow had made the trail much nicer to run than it had been earlier in the week. The ice had been hazardous. Now there was a few inches of fluff over the ice and as long as I was in snowshoes the surface was fine.
I kept thinking about the two bear that I had seen earlier this winter. Eventually I decided there was no reason in fearing something that I couldn't see and probably wasn't even there.
A few grouse freaked Topaz and I out and they ruffled near the trail, sounding loud and strange so closely to us. While we were running the gravel road 18 deer crossed in front of us, what a sight!
As daylight began to dawn the sky began to run a gorgeous rose/purple. The snow had a pink reflection upon it. Beautiful!
The hours ticked by and not another soul was on the trail. I couldn't believe I didn't see tracks from anyone else. It was a lovely day and no one was out in the woods enjoying it. Lucky me!
Topaz began to roll in the snow as the temperature warmed into the high teens, chewing on the snow and chasing after the rabbits. I was able to get him to take in some water each time we went back to the car.
We left the trail and ran some of the gravel road, now covered in snow and good for snowshoeing; out across the lake and back.
51.8 miles, 2 gallons of water, 11 gels and a 2 Cappuccino Optimum Nutrition protein shakes later we headed back home. Me for a hot shower and Topaz to curl up near the fireplace.
I'm tired..I believe I will sleep well :)
I kept reminding myself that I actually had fun last year during my 50 mile snowshoe run and it was going to be warmer today than it was when I did this last year.
Topaz and I headed out at 4 into the crisp cold air. I decided to stay off of the snowmobile trails, I could hear the snowmobiles in the distance even at this early hour. Instead I drove over to Blue Hill Trail to forge yet another path through the woods.
Flashlight in hand, running down the trail, I realized the snow had made the trail much nicer to run than it had been earlier in the week. The ice had been hazardous. Now there was a few inches of fluff over the ice and as long as I was in snowshoes the surface was fine.
I kept thinking about the two bear that I had seen earlier this winter. Eventually I decided there was no reason in fearing something that I couldn't see and probably wasn't even there.
A few grouse freaked Topaz and I out and they ruffled near the trail, sounding loud and strange so closely to us. While we were running the gravel road 18 deer crossed in front of us, what a sight!
As daylight began to dawn the sky began to run a gorgeous rose/purple. The snow had a pink reflection upon it. Beautiful!
The hours ticked by and not another soul was on the trail. I couldn't believe I didn't see tracks from anyone else. It was a lovely day and no one was out in the woods enjoying it. Lucky me!
Topaz began to roll in the snow as the temperature warmed into the high teens, chewing on the snow and chasing after the rabbits. I was able to get him to take in some water each time we went back to the car.
We left the trail and ran some of the gravel road, now covered in snow and good for snowshoeing; out across the lake and back.
51.8 miles, 2 gallons of water, 11 gels and a 2 Cappuccino Optimum Nutrition protein shakes later we headed back home. Me for a hot shower and Topaz to curl up near the fireplace.
I'm tired..I believe I will sleep well :)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Out Exploring
This morning while Topaz and I were heading out to the trail I had something in mind, in addition to snowshoeing for a few hours. As the boys will be gone next Saturday day into Sunday, I wanted to scope out a prospect for a 50 mile run next week. I was hoping to find someplace to run through the Refuge where I wouldn't have to run upon snowshoes for 9 hours.
We ran our regular loop for 8 miles and then ventured off to a deer trail that was pretty slick with ice. Lots of ice. My snowshoes weren't gripping very well, it was cold, 3F and I just wanted to see some gravel. I looked at my Refuge map and figured we should eventually come to a non maintained gravel fire road. Sure enough, a few more miles of ice and I could see the gravel road. Woohoo! What a sight for 'tired of snowshoeing every day' eyes. I ditched my snowshoes at the side of the path and ran upon the gravel, whooping it up, scaring the bejeezus out of Topaz as I screeched with glee. Look, no snowshoes! I'm running..fast..I can feel it in my hamstrings..nice! It was wonderful.
The map tells me this gravel road is 25 miles in length. It eventually ends at the bank of the St Francis River which meanders all throughout the area. Perfect for next weeks 50 mile run.
I put my snowshoes back on and we hit a trail I hadn't been on before that was covered with snow, no ice. A few more miles back to the Blue Hill Trail, back to the ice and back to the car.
Next week I'll try the gravel road sans snowshoes. Of course if we have ice and snow before then I can take screws to the shoes and run 50 miles of road into Big Lake, around town and home. Ack.
We ran our regular loop for 8 miles and then ventured off to a deer trail that was pretty slick with ice. Lots of ice. My snowshoes weren't gripping very well, it was cold, 3F and I just wanted to see some gravel. I looked at my Refuge map and figured we should eventually come to a non maintained gravel fire road. Sure enough, a few more miles of ice and I could see the gravel road. Woohoo! What a sight for 'tired of snowshoeing every day' eyes. I ditched my snowshoes at the side of the path and ran upon the gravel, whooping it up, scaring the bejeezus out of Topaz as I screeched with glee. Look, no snowshoes! I'm running..fast..I can feel it in my hamstrings..nice! It was wonderful.
The map tells me this gravel road is 25 miles in length. It eventually ends at the bank of the St Francis River which meanders all throughout the area. Perfect for next weeks 50 mile run.
I put my snowshoes back on and we hit a trail I hadn't been on before that was covered with snow, no ice. A few more miles back to the Blue Hill Trail, back to the ice and back to the car.
Next week I'll try the gravel road sans snowshoes. Of course if we have ice and snow before then I can take screws to the shoes and run 50 miles of road into Big Lake, around town and home. Ack.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Red, Pink and Girlie
I love Valentine's Day. I love the Red, the Pink, the Lace, the Velvet, Crystals, Diamonds..oh, the Chocolate. Yes, all capital letters, all wonderful images that come to mind when I think of Valentine's Day.
I even wanted to name our Ragdoll cats Comet and Cupid. The boys wouldn't allow Cupid. They figured Comet was OK. I instead named then Toffee and Truffles .. names of Godiva Chocolate. I have already come to the conclusion that I am addicted to sugar..
This morning Topaz and I headed off to the trail early, in the darkness. I wanted to get home in time to make the Valentine breakfast of heart shaped waffles served with strawberries. This year I used a new waffle recipe: Yeasted Belgian Waffles. A recipe with yeast and maple syrup. The batter only needed to rest for 3 hours to overnight. I mixed it up before I left the house and whalla..20 miles of snowshoeing later it was ready to pour into the Belgian waffler. The boys woke up to the fantastic scent of waffles. They loved the waffles. I had a bite and declared them delicious.
The boys and I spent the day together. I decided that because they would be snowboarding from 3-12PM tonight I'd run errands/gym after I brought them to the church to catch their bus. We had a great day; we played a game of Scrabble, which Tyler is way to good and always beats us and a game of Dominoes which Troy won. Caught up on laundry and house cleaning. Mixed together a batch of Oatmeal Toasting Bread; three loaves of which I am baking now.
Instead of making the Waldorf Astoria Red Cake which I made for Tyler's birthday and Christmas I made a butterscotch caramel cashew bar. The recipe is from the Sweet Melissa Baking Book another recipe book where I want to make every recipe, although I added the chocolate ganache finish for the top. The butterscotch sauce is amazingly good-and very easy to make. The base layer is like a shortbread; butter and sugar-no eggs. Topped with butterscotch chips, Karo syrup and cashews..then I added the ganache. Perfect!
After a day of baking and hanging out at home I brought the boys to the church and then went to the gym for a quick 2 mile treadmill run warmup and 65 minutes of bicep/tricep. I was glad when I came to the last tricep extension because I could not bang out another one. My triceps were beginning to cramp! Crazy. My head was banging to Lamb of God, Ozzie and Megadeath. Another 2 mile run on the treadmill and time to come home.
The house is quiet..Steve has been in Duluth..I think I'll take a hot bath, light a few candles and watch my Perfect Posing for Bodybuilding DVD :)
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
I even wanted to name our Ragdoll cats Comet and Cupid. The boys wouldn't allow Cupid. They figured Comet was OK. I instead named then Toffee and Truffles .. names of Godiva Chocolate. I have already come to the conclusion that I am addicted to sugar..
This morning Topaz and I headed off to the trail early, in the darkness. I wanted to get home in time to make the Valentine breakfast of heart shaped waffles served with strawberries. This year I used a new waffle recipe: Yeasted Belgian Waffles. A recipe with yeast and maple syrup. The batter only needed to rest for 3 hours to overnight. I mixed it up before I left the house and whalla..20 miles of snowshoeing later it was ready to pour into the Belgian waffler. The boys woke up to the fantastic scent of waffles. They loved the waffles. I had a bite and declared them delicious.
The boys and I spent the day together. I decided that because they would be snowboarding from 3-12PM tonight I'd run errands/gym after I brought them to the church to catch their bus. We had a great day; we played a game of Scrabble, which Tyler is way to good and always beats us and a game of Dominoes which Troy won. Caught up on laundry and house cleaning. Mixed together a batch of Oatmeal Toasting Bread; three loaves of which I am baking now.
Instead of making the Waldorf Astoria Red Cake which I made for Tyler's birthday and Christmas I made a butterscotch caramel cashew bar. The recipe is from the Sweet Melissa Baking Book another recipe book where I want to make every recipe, although I added the chocolate ganache finish for the top. The butterscotch sauce is amazingly good-and very easy to make. The base layer is like a shortbread; butter and sugar-no eggs. Topped with butterscotch chips, Karo syrup and cashews..then I added the ganache. Perfect!
After a day of baking and hanging out at home I brought the boys to the church and then went to the gym for a quick 2 mile treadmill run warmup and 65 minutes of bicep/tricep. I was glad when I came to the last tricep extension because I could not bang out another one. My triceps were beginning to cramp! Crazy. My head was banging to Lamb of God, Ozzie and Megadeath. Another 2 mile run on the treadmill and time to come home.
The house is quiet..Steve has been in Duluth..I think I'll take a hot bath, light a few candles and watch my Perfect Posing for Bodybuilding DVD :)
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
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