well, that was a little rough

Today was 7 miles!

I was worried starting out though. This is has been a very long week and Friday was an action-packed day. I feel like I've been fighting off a cold and I didn't get much sleep.....whine whine whine. So I didn't know how the run was going to go.

It ended up being good though. In the middle stretch I actually felt great. I also felt good about determining that my current pace is about a 10 minute mile. It's been hard to judge (my pedometer's not very good and I keep forgetting to look at my watch during the long runs). I ran today's seven miles in 68 minutes!

But I think there's a nap somewhere this afternoon for me -- I still feel a cold waiting to emerge...

three stooges or three musketeers?

Bound for the San Diego marathon
.....Pete, Bob and me!

it was a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

5 miles! Long enough for a water stop!

In contrast to last week's inclement weather workout, today was brilliantly sunny and clear. It was cold still but once you get going you appreciate the coolness.

Running feels good. I really like the combination of sometimes running alone and sometimes with others. I find that when Dan or the mentors run with me it kicks my pace up a little bit but still in a comfortable way. When I run alone I put on my headphones. Today, Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life come on which is terrible as a running song but matched the sunny gorgeousness of a saturday morning at Pt. Defiance.

well that was soggy

This morning was our second team run - 4.5 miles (a little bit longer than I'm used to). Our location was scheduled to be at Pt.Defiance but when I got there, a gate was locked to the area I was going. Cars circled up as we began to gather. Apparently branches and other things had fallen to make that area unsafe and it was still blowing and raining pretty hard. The decision was made to have today be an "optional" run but down by the waterfront instead.

I decided that I had already gotten out of my warm Saturday morning bed and I was going to run. We caravanned over to the new location and got to it. Once I was moving, I was warm and my clothes do a pretty good job in these conditions. And there were people to talk to which made it more cheery.

The distance was a little longer but at some point you hit a rhythm and it does feel like you could just keep going and going (let's see if I'm still saying that for the 12+ mile runs). The stormy-looking sound was beautiful!

p.s. Pete and Bob also got their runs in.....

Have I got a deal for you!

People often wonder about fundraising - "but how much does she really want me to give, anyway?" Well, I can't really answer the question of what is right or good for you to give. And honestly - every contribution will be appreciated by me and by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. But here's my idea of a deal. If you, or a group of people, donate $52.40 (only $2 a mile!), I'll make you a batch of homemade cookies. Chocolate chip or snickerdoodles. If you donate $100 or more, I'll make Nanaimo Bars OR another special order dessert of your choice! Find six other people, everyone contribute $8 -- in return you've supported a great cause, cheered on my personal goal and you GET COOKIES!!

To quote Homer Simpson - "Cookies....arghlarghlarghlarghlargh."