Day 231: Mon March 31st - Spring vs.Winter

 

Day Two Hundred Thirty-one - 
Spring vs. Winter

Magical

These looks like a large field of cottonballs.

Day 178: Thurs Feb 6th - Chaos is for the Dogs

Day One Hundred Seventy-eight: Chaos is for the Dogs

more ice and snow and more on the way.....

Chaos is for the Dogs... How so?  His name is Jax.  Having not run yesterday and doing little more than rest on his bed and eat, this morning he was absolutely FULL of energy.  Letting him off leash on the trail for a while had him acting like it was his best. day. ever! I think he saved up his energy from the day before and let all hell break loose running crazy around. Poor guy needs a back yard. I played chase with him while running, which was a fun way to increase my workout and test my lung capacity.  

I think I've become a little bit of a fixture running up and down the same hill on the way to the woods and trail. People wave to me as I go by and smile at Jax. Some call me crazy, some cheer me on if they see me out in bad weather while they are shoveling snow. It's fun.



I very much enjoy this crazy running streak more than I imagined I would. At least mentally, my body doesn't always agree or cooperate. I look forward (nearly)every day to that moment / feeling a mile into the run where I am no longer cold, my lungs and muscles are warmed up and I can ease into my pace. It feels natural and my mind melts away any frustrations / tensions. Even better is the feeling I have when I am back home after cruising down the hill, winded but feeling powerful and strong. I love it.

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 173: Sat Feb 1st - It's Snowing Colors

Day One Hundred Seventy-three: It's Snowing Colors

Whomever said winter colors were made solely of a mix between white, black and  grey... never saw the beauty of a storm sweeping past during a sunrise.



gorgeous untouched photo showing snow sweeping across the sky in the background.

Day 166: Sat Jan 25th - Broken Stairway = New Paths

Day One Hundred Sixty-six:  Broken Stairway = New Paths

Time to find a new path?

I love a good challenge.  Obstacles are just reminders to reevaluate, be creative and not be afraid to forge ahead in a new direction.  I'm ready for a new direction, though I don't know exactly what that means.  

I'm definitely excited to put winter behind me.  Looking forward to warmer temperatures and lighter running gear.

Day 151: Fri Jan 10th - An Ordinary Winter Day

Day One Hundred Fifty-One:
An Ordinary Winter Day


It's nearing mid-January. Holy smokes. Time -  I can't keep up with it.
Outside it was cold with the snow, slush, ice and slippery roads.  Run was good but just couldn't see anything unusual, interesting or inspiring to take a photo of. Either that or I've lost my creative / imaginative mind.   The mountains and being able to see them stand out is wonderful, but I've taken photos of them a bunch of times.  The snow is still white mostly, except where it's slushy, black, grimy and even worse... yellow.
The trees are still trees with empty branches. The road is still .... well the road and the trail still compact.  So... I gave up the photo for today. Yep.... my creativity is waning right now.
However, run was good and quick paced, though not long. This weekend I'll get some good runs in.
Maybe a good nights sleep will help recharge my tired brain.  Speaking of tired brain... coffee time.

I've love coffee.

Peaceout  

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 112: Mon Dec 2nd - Calm Before the Storm

Day One Hundred-twelve:          Calm Before the Storm.

Great run, calm mild morning. Change is coming soon (eeek!) We have a "major winter storm" approaching (according to The Weather Channel, national and local news programs).  Winter Storm Cleon is on it's way! This time tomorrow will 'potentially' result in a bitter cold and snow, lot's of snow. By the way, as much as I love weather and storms, I find it somewhat silly to name a snow storm. Just sayin'.
On one hand I look forward to the snow, change of season...... on the other... not so much. I've quite enjoyed the cool (but not too cold) temperatures while not having to worry about ice / slush and snow.  But regardless how much I resist, the weather is changing. So I will change my mindset and just "do snow".  In preparation I am washing my cold weather running gear in anticipation for tomorrow morning. And by 'winter running gear', what I mean is:  a pair of black thermal pants I wear over my shorts,  my long sleeve tech shirts which I double up on if needed, an old fleece vest,  thin gloves and fleece hat. It works. 
Not stylish, but it keeps me warm...kind of.             Bring on the snow! 

On another note. This sweet Christmas tree -------------------------------------------->
is mid-way on the trail. For the past few years (and possibly longer) a person (or family) has hiked down, skipped up the hill side opposite the trail and lovingly decorated this tree with ornaments, personalized notes and even with battery operated lights for night time. 
The first year I saw this tree it had a beloved pet stocking in the middle with a name on it (I forget the name but at the time I took a photo). Ever since that first time I saw it, I have pictured someone decorating that tree in their best friends memory.  Perhaps a beloved pet dog who used to hike with them through that very forest.  I can sense the love they must have for him/her, the memories they recall while hanging each streamer and bulb and how much they must miss them. Regardless of the real story behind this tree....  it brings a (somewhat sad) smile to my face and reminds me that our own furry best friends are here for such a short time and we must love and care for them as they undoubtedly and unconditionally love and care for us. Because if their loved pet was anything like our dog Jax, he has shown us nothing but joy, no matter our own moodiness.  He is always there to greet the day with his large butt / tail wag, enthusiasm for the moment and his pure love for his human family.... oh and his love (obsession) for food...., but that is another post. 

Day 94: Thurs Nov 14th - Lasy days of Autumn

Day Ninety-four:   Last days of Autumn, Winter is on it's way!

This has been a beautiful and long-ish Autumn.  Snow storm on the horizon. They say it will be here Saturday through Sunday with possible lake effect snow. 
Gone will be the 60 degree days that I have enjoyed tremendously.

Busy weekend planned with family, Grandmothers funeral and hanging out with Dad.

Grandmothers beautiful smile.
We will miss you.