Day 177: Wed Feb 5th -

Day One Hundred Seventy-seven: 
The sky so blue... the ground so white.... 

the air SO COLD!

Ran without my BCF (best canine friend) today. :(

His back paw appeared to be bothering him as he has a slight limp after yesterdays run. So he stayed home, cozy on his bed. He didn't seem too bothered about not going, rather he seemed quite content to stay put, just glancing in my direction as I put on my shoes and headed out the door.

It was beautiful again outside. The air was crisp and cold.  The trail was not as slippery since it received a couple of inches of fresh snow yesterday that covered the icy areas, well.. most of them.  It was a hard work out plowing my feet through the snow in sections that were not already stomped on, though after a while I was not shivering anymore and that was nice, even took my gloves off. 

Spring is on the horizon. I look forward to seeing flowers, tree blossoms and green.  Winter has its beauty to be sure, however it is wearing out its welcome.

Stay warm!

Day 115: Thurs Dec 5th - "It's a marshmallow world..."

Day One Hundred-fifteen:    "It's a marshmallow world..." 

As silly as it may sound, listening to Dean Martin Christmas album on my mp3 while running in 9 degree temperatures, helps me forgot how bitter cold it is.  I find it impossible to be in a bad mood listening to him sing Marshmellow World.  It lightens my (careful) footfalls across the frozen ice and snow carpeting the roads and feels like dancing.

I can't resist branching off and sinking again in the snow path above the usual rocky trail, it's so pretty and peaceful.  No cars, no people.... just me, the snow, footprints of numerous animals who live in this little forest hideaway scurrying about and Marshmellow World. 

I challenge you.

Try listening to this song and not feel happy

      (or crave some sort of warming cocktail). 

 Happy frosty holidays :)

Day 114: Wed Dec 4th - Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Day One Hundred-fourteen:

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Pretty, icy and cold.  It was 11 degrees (according to my phone app) this morning. 
Running is a funny thing. It's somewhat like a box of unmarked chocolates that you eat a piece from each morning....you don't know exactly what you're gonna get.
I never know when I am going to feel like a warrior or when I am going to feel like a weenie.
I'm happy to report that today was a warrior kind of morning. I ran by myself, making Jax stay home as there were too many sharp ice fragments on the road along with loads of salt. Running by myself was a nice change however. I received a few funny looks from people scraping ice and snow off their cars, or driving to work. A couple waved and smiled.  The trail, which had disappeared into a sea of white fluff, was like running through frozen snow quicksand, but it worked my butt off even harder than normal and that felt great!   Stay warm!

Day 113: Tues Dec 3rd - "Oh the weather outside is frightful..."

Day One Hundred-thirteen -

"Oh the weather outside is frightful...."

 

 

Beautiful run, but a bit on the chilly side. ;)   

Jax was psyched!  I let him take off on the trail and he pranced and jumped around in the snow like a puppy seeing it for the first time. Sprinting ahead, burying his nose in the fresh snow, shaking off his fur, sliding around the icy spots and sprinting ahead once again. So fun!  I love fresh snow.  Not only is it peaceful and pretty to look at, fresh snow has good traction to run on.  Certainly a lot less slippery than the slush, ice or parts on the road.  Though I might need to waterproof my shoes... they were soaked by the time we made it back home. I wonder if they make Ugg running shoes??!  They should!  

 

 

Jax looking down the trail. I wonder what he is thinking?  



Day 101: Thurs Nov 21st - Holy Batman it's Cold!

Day One Hundred-One: Holy Batman it's cold!

Property of the county water company.
I have no idea what it used to be.

I don't know Batman, nor if he's holy, but I do know that it was pretty cold this morning running in sleet / rain / snow with only shorts, long sleeve tech shirt and (luckily) a pair of gloves I found.
It had been so mild lately that I failed to really check the weather, which is unusual for me, being the self-proclaimed weather nerd that I am.
My hair has also seen better days pre the 100 days before I started on this adventure. Now it's all about getting up early, getting kids ready, getting out the door, making the most of every minute out on my run and getting back just in time to shower, throw on work clothes, mango/kale smoothie and out the door with my still wet hair up in a ponytail.  In fact, when I actually styled my hair for the funeral this past weekend, I was stunned to see how much longer it had grown.  I almost didn't recognize myself.

Day 85: Tues Nov 5th - Snowy Cold

Day Eighty-five: Snowy cold and new phone app.

 

It is definitely November. Snowy and cold this morning. Though the sidewalks were quite slippery, the road had good traction. The trail was nice as the snow lightly covered over the usual rocky terrain and added a softness to each footfall.  Jax loved it.  I had to keep reminding him to slow down. I think he wanted to sprint off and play in the snowy goodness of the new season.

 

I downloaded a new phone photo app I wanted to try out... hence the new fun type picture.

I think it came out quite nicely.

 

Day 71: Tues Oct 22nd - Poor Snake

Day Seventy-one:  Cold blues, poor snake and more sunshine.

 

Still feeling blah... damn cold, but I'm better off than this poor guy.  

Not exactly an inspirational type photo... but it's not every day you nearly step on a recently run over snake. yuck. 
Jax was very interested in sniffing his guts. 

On  occasion I am lucky enough to see a live snake basking on warm rocks, a fox running from brush to brush, deer and other animal tracks frequently leaving clues in the dirt and sand. I love to catch a glimpse of the diverse wildlife along the trails, sadly a glimpse is all I get and *poof*... they are gone before I am able to get my camera out.  

Back to the deceased snake. It's a bummer when I find an animal that faced a sudden demise. I would usually never take a gross photo, but today. I did. 


Quite appropriate for the near Halloween holiday. Boo! 

                                                     The sunshine is beautiful outside.   

Day 70: Mon Oct 21st - Seventy Sniffles

Day Seventy:  Seventy Sniffles

Yay 70!.. Boo sniffles :(  I hate to admit I am starting to fight some kind of evil nasty.  My nose and head are feeling blah. As for today's run, despite the sniffles, it was good, if a little chilly. I cannot get enough of the bold gift of colors given to us by nature. I'm at awe with each turn on the trail and find I could take photos all day.  Time to grab some zinc, make a super smoothie and then drink some hot tea. Girls are back in school after an active 4 day Autumn break. Our race is this Saturday, though we still haven't decided on what our costumes will be...?   Any ideas?

 

Day 65: Wed Oct 16th - Frozen Leaves and Thorns

Day Sixty-five:  Frozen leaves, thorns and an ouch.

 

Frost covered most things this morning, including the thorns Jax's feet seem to be highly attracted to.  The thorns are plaguing him more lately. As if the little buggers come out of hiding in the frozen ground and seek his warm paw bed to attach to, bringing us abruptly to a halt. Again and again, the routine is whip lash from the dead  stop mid-stride (as if I'm that fast.. ha!), affected paw up in the air, stretching the hamstrings as I bend and flick off the evil prickly thing and then off we go again... only to another HALT!!              Stop... Repeat. *sigh*

 

My ouch is actually more concerning as the right side of my right foot has been aching badly the past two days. I worry about developing a stress facture, as frankly, that would be a pain to deal with right now. While I run, it doesn't hurt as much once I'm warmed up, but if I land on that side, due to the uneven trails, it is instant pain.  Afterwards it is a dull ache all day.

I wrap it, ice it, ibuprofen it and the biggest feat of all, is ignore it. 

 

Any ideas on how to help, prevent and heal this area? (besides not running of course... as that isn't an option.. foolish as it may be ;)

 





 

Day 64: Tues Oct 15th - "Inspire" Uplifting Graffiti

Day Sixty-four: Uplifting graffiti and frozen hands

One word: Inspire.  Seen newly spray painted on the side of the building located along the horse trail. It got me thinking. My Mp3 died a few minutes before, so I ran in silence when I glanced at the word....'Inspire' and took the below photo.             A good time for self-reflection and a question:
What inspires you? What do you inspire?   Think about it today, I know I will.

(also, my hands were  FREEZING!)

Day 53: Fri Oct 4th - Mrs Miss-Match

Day Fifty-three:
                                                 SOMETIMES......

 

....SLEET HAPPENS

 

 

Brrrrr..... it was a chilly 36 degrees outside this morning (according to my outdoor temp gage) and it felt like it. Luckily, I found a miss-match pair of gloves to wear, though I probably looked a bit ridiculous wearing funky gloves, black shorts, long sleeve running shirt, bright blue Mizuno shoes, green hat, and a fluorescent vest.  A colorful, miss-match, cold weather run.... but still a great 'sleety' morning :)

                                                

 

Day 46: Fri Sept 27th - Panorama Blue

Day Forty-six:  The view of the skyline at the top of the trail before I descend.  Cool and very crisp morning. Here you can see the battle between the stormy clouds vs. early sunshine competing for majority in the sky. You can also see ,somewhat is the distance, the snowy tippy tops of the Rockies. It was 41 degrees according to my outdoor temperature gage, which I think might be my favorite running temperature.  In-between 40-50 degrees is ideal for me to run in. Even though it is chilly to begin, it is neither too hot or too cold while running. It's perfect.  

(here are closeups from the panorama above)

Day 44: Wed Sept 25th - The Fire Before the Storm

Day Forty-four: "The Fire Before the Storm".  I'm pretty sure that is a book title, or at least it should be.  This sunrise was absolutely gorgeous. Again, the photo doesn't do it justice, but the sunrise was beautiful while it lasted.  We have 2-3 days of rain and cold coming our way, along with snow in the mountains and possibly foothills (if we are lucky).  I know, I know.... it is a bit early for snow, but the first snowfall is always exciting. I can be patient however. This morning was absolutely perfect.  It was cool, not humid and other than Jax refusing to go around a pile of what I am assuming to be fox diarrhea, it was a morning that reaffirms why I run everyday.  As for the paw to poo...... "SPLAT"... Jax back foot hit dead center in the middle of a large pile of shit, and the worst kind of poop. I even exclaimed briefly "You dumb dog!" when he refused to go around on the path. My tone was funny in nature, or so I thought until I got a glare from someone walking along the path. Oh well.... it wasn't THEIR dog who just coated his foot with runny green goo. To top it off the river was virtually dry and not helpful in my effort to clean up his paw.  *sigh*.
Here is the photo of the sunrise.    Good thing I took a picture of the sunrise as opposed to the paw.... Gross!!

Day 43: Tues Sept 24th - Colors of Autumn

Day Forty-three:
After a few lighter days of running it felt good to have a longer run this morning.  Over the weekend I felt that my body (and feet) was screaming at me to take it easy. So I listened. While still running, I ran a bit slower and shorter. I also gave Jax a few days off. 
Today we rocked it!  My feet felt light and my legs fast.  
The temperature was chilly at first (48 degrees) but perfect.  The colors of Autumn are popping up everywhere. The glorious yellows, deep reds in contrast with the remaining dark greens are beautiful. Today is supposed to be a hotter day, 87... but there is a storm-a-comin'!  :)  Yay! I love stormy weather.
 

Day 39: Fri Sept 20th - Slow and Steady

Day Thirty-nine: "Slow and steady.......slow and steady......"  was the theme of the morning.  Quite a chilly but refreshing start to the day.  The moon was full and slowly sinking West as the sun was rising over the mountain tops on the opposite side. The full moon was so pretty I tried taking a photo, but it kept dancing away my phone camera frame and all my photos came out blurry.  So I took a picture of this old gnarly tree instead. This tired old tree wasn't up for dancing. 

 

 

 



 

Day 38: Thurs Sept 19th - Winter is Coming

Day Thirty-eight: "Winter is coming".....Eh!  Enough of this nonsense! Though the first frost of the year was rather pretty and a bit surprising, (45 degrees this morning) it is a bit too early for my taste. Why won't the weather listen to me?  I supposed I need to go with the flow of the weather, however, I get nervous that Autumn will be gone before I know it and the winter chill and inversions will take it's place until late Spring.  
Running was nice. It was kind of a strange run. Jax seemed rather energetic and antsy. His head turned at every noise on the trial. Then strangely, rising up from the path, the horse pasture with 8-10 horses in it started neighing rambunctiously, all at once, crazy like.  I was too far away to see what was going on with them as I have never heard them get excited all at the same time.  It was almost like there was a nervousness in the air that I wasn't quite catching, but only witnessing. I wish a bit of the energy would have caught hold of my feet, then perhaps I could have ran a little bit faster. My legs and feet were Gumby-like today.
Now here I sit, feeling the chill in my office, sipping my cold energy drink since I'm too lazy to make coffee. I tell myself that I won't drink the damn things, but some days I cave.  Now I think my fingers are turning purple.

 “Nothing burns like the cold.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones