Day 268 and 269: Wed and Thurs May 8th -

Day 268-269 -

I love love LOVE this weather. Rainy, stormy, cool air, clouds, and solitude....

 did I mention how much I love this weather and running in it! 

For me, as I was thinking about last night, running (primarily trial running) or hiking in nature, is the time when I feel like my truest self.  The real me. The place I feel strong, happy and alive. What makes it even better are the times I can bring Siena and Izzy along and watch them transform from an indoor kid to enjoying the amazing outdoor world around us, throwing rocks into the river, watching a fox, deciphering footprints in the dirt. The river is wild now with water, roaring loudly and cascading down the large rocks underneath the bridge I cross each morning when I run in my regular places.
 I look forward to this weekend and being able to venture out on some higher trails again, exploring and getting away.
.
Cool! I just heard a rumble outside. Thunder. Did I mentioned how much I love the rain!  Now it is hailing!

I'm sure this could be put much more eloquently, but the headache in my eyeballs is challenging my brain circuits.

Day 254: Wed April 23rd - River Runs... again

Day Two Hundred Fifty-four - River Runs...again

Oh, the glorious sound of the river roaring to life once again.  

It paces my feet and floods my ears with it's beautiful music. 

Ok, enough poetic crap. I love the river however. I love listening to the water rushing about. It has been bare to barely a trickle all year.  Last night we were pelted with rain and wind  as a cold front blew in. Today, on this crisp cool morning, the river came alive.

Day 225: Tues March 25th - Heel Schmeel

Day 225 - Heel Schmeel

I love these mountains... so majestic and beautiful.

It just figures that after a great long run yesterday, I wake up this morning with my right heel very achy. *sigh*
So  - it was slow and steady once again and rather short....ish.  Jax also seemed to want to take it easy.
On a good note, today is supposed to be the warmest day yet this year, 72 degrees. However, it will be short lived, tomorrow a cold front with valley rain and mountain snow will settle into the area for a few days, cooling it right back down. I enjoy the up and down springlike temperatures. I love rain and can't wait to hear a good thunderstorm! 


 

Day 204: Tues Mar 4th - Rocky Path

Day Two Hundred-four - it's a Rocky Path....watch out

This photo was actually taken the day before, it was much too dark earlier this morning, so my original photo ended up a dark gray blur. Right now I'm listening to the rain outside.  I wish I were running right now. The rain storm smells fresh and is quite lovely. I've enjoyed the warm Spring temperatures we've had lately, but I love a good rain storm. I feel for the seemingly endless freezing storms plaguing the East coast.

Day 199: Thurs Feb 27th - Life's little reminders

Day One Hundred Ninety-nine:  Life's little reminders

This yellow ribbon tied onto a tree in the middle of the brush has been here for a while. Not sure who tied it or the reason. Perhaps tagging the tree for removal (hopefully not) or marking the path 20 ft in?  Doesn't make sense.  Who knows. But it got me to thinking that we have little reminders all the time in our lives. Ways we tag thing to remember, tasks to be done or ways not to get lost. For me, I have a tendency to write on the back of my hand or arm with a pen in small print if there is something crucial I need to not forget. 
Other methods I've tried over the years simply has not guaranteed that I remembered what was important for me to not forget.  I'm rambling now.
One thing I will say is that I loved the bursts of wind this morning.  Though wind is traditionally not a favorite weather condition for many people to run or walk in, I don't mind it.  My favorite is when a storm is blowing in, which was the case this morning. You could smell the storm, impending rain and change in pressure. Now as I write this, it is pouring rain outside. 

"I love the rain, it washes memories off the sidewalk of life" ~ Play it again, Sam

Day 181 and 182: Preying is for the Birds.

Day 181 & 182: 
Preying is for the Birds

Running Sunday was nice and started with a misty type rain which later turned into a brief downpour and ended again with lighter rain drops again.  I attempted to take a photo while it was raining hard, but the photo came out as only a puddle of water. <----------------------------------------------------------------
 It wasn't very cold, which was nice as I was wearing shorts.

Monday's run was even more interesting as I spied this beautiful young Bald Eagle perching over the second loop of the trail.  At first I couldn't tell what kind of bird it was. I see smaller birds of prey regularly hunting, but this one from a distance stood out.  

So I ceased running briefly and walked up slowly... closer and closer taking photos each time in case she decided to fly away. I was quiet and calm as I didn't want to scare her. Instead she stared back at me, turning her head this way and that with one eye...watching and aware.  Jax was oblivious of her presence and instead was off smelling some bush, tree or turd.



Though my camera didn't take photos that highlight her true beauty and grace, she was much larger than it appears through my phone camera. She stayed still other than rotating her head quizzically, putting up with my gawking at her.  After a few photos I whistled for Jax and continued running.  
  

This photo I cropped to zoom in so you can see her slightly better.... 

 

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 78: Tues Oct 29th - Rainy Sunshine Coming Down

Day Seventy-eight: Rainy sunshine coming down.

Weather couldn't make up it's mind this morning. Between rain, cloudy, windy, calm and sunshine.
A mixed bag. Almost didn't bring Jax since I gave him a bath yesterday and he was so nice and clean smelling... instead of wet dog.  Funny enough, once I started getting my gear on, he got right up from his bed and went to the door. So he either needed to "go" (as in potty) or he wanted to go running... not sure, so took him anyway.  It was a nice, quick couple of miles at a good pace.

*my daily photo is not uploading :(  I will post as soon as I get it to work.

It was much cooler in person. (is cooler a word?) 

Day 62: Sun Oct 13th - Breaking Bad

Day Sixty-two:  Breaking Bad, beer and morning rain.
Rainy run, my favorite!  Seriously, it's true.. I love rain and running in it! Good thing I found a plastic bag in my jacket to seal up my phone as I wasn't quite prepared for the rain.  The one time I wasn't obsessively checking my weather phone app to see what to anticipate, it pours. I went out in my short sleeve running shirt, shorts and other gear in hand.  1/2 way on my route, rain started pouring down, but it was a mild temperature and lovely out. It was a fun surprise. 
Last night was unusual as I stayed up very late (for me), drank a few beers and watched the first four episodes season one of Breaking Bad (great show by the way), finally fell asleep after a restless time getting comfortable and dreamed a small snippet of a dream...that I was holding chemistry equipment, feeling confused about how to start a batch of meth to make money and I kept looking for Walter White (main character) to help me figure it out .  It was bizarre. 

Anyone watch Breaking Bad?  

   

Day 59: Thurs Oct 10th - I miss Seattle

Day Fifty-nine: 
If ever there was a morning that reminded me of Seattle, it was today. Misty rain, mild temperatures and a slight breeze accompanied me on my run. It was peaceful and quick paced.  Leaves are starting to cover the trail and the river had some flow to it today which created a nice rhythm as I ran past it.
I miss the Pacific Northwest.  
It is a 'wearing pajamas, fleece fuzzy socks, hot cup of coffee, reading the newspaper while listening to the rain outside my patio' kind of day...if only I didn't have to work :)
What is your favorite running / walking weather?