Day 172: Fri Jan 31st - Speedy day

Day One Hundred Seventy-Two: Speedy day

this made me giggle

Didn't get a photo taken today. Had to rush out the door, ran my tail off and had to get back. Definitely a good speed workout tho. 
The bear photo above made me laugh. I sometimes envision what I would do in certain situations when I am out running. This is one of the wild scenarios I play in my mind, especially if I'm running in more of an isolated woodsy area.  
Which led me to wonder... what DO you do if a bear is chasing you. 
Google search #78, 369 

Here are some of the funny answers I read on Field and Stream:

"What do I do when I'm being chased by a bear..."

Top Rated

All Answers

from

hold your breath, turn around, take your time, aim and shoot it dead, dont miss or your toast

+3 Good Comment? 

from

Step one: Put your head between your legs
Step two: Kiss your a$$ goodbye

+4 Good Comment? 

from Drop your pack if you have one. This could be your best chance of distracting the bear. If you stay calm, it may get preoccupied with your pack, especially if it contains food and allow for a clean getaway. If the bear has already started chasing you and it’s you it’s after, I would revert to the previous two answers.
 +5 Good Comment?

from Throw it a jar of honey! That one in my kids Hundred Acre Woods books sure seemed to like it!

from

if its Brown,...lay down. If its black,...Fight back!
 

from

you dont have to out run the bear just the person you are with
 

Though this next one seems to have some pretty good suggestions:

from

1.) Carry bear pepper spray. Experts recommend that hikers in bear country carry with them bear pepper spray. Bear pepper spray is a highly concentrated capsaicin spray that creates a large cloud. This stuff will usually stop a bear in it’s tracks.
2.) Don’t run. When you run, the bear thinks you’re prey and will continue chasing you, so stand your ground. And don’t think you can out run a bear. Bears are fast. They can reach speeds of 30 mph.
3.) Drop to the ground in the fetal position and cover the back of your neck with your hands. If you don’t have pepper spray or the bear continues to charge even after the spray, this is your next best defense. Hit the ground immediately and curl into the fetal position.
4.) Play dead. Grizzlies will stop attacking when they feel there’s no longer a threat. If they think you’re dead, they won’t think you’re threatening. Once the bear is done tossing you around and leaves, continue to play dead. Grizzlies are known for waiting around to see if their victim will get back up.
Pepper Spray ...

Learned something new today.  Bring a friend who is slower than myself! However, this might not be easy. Everyone I know who runs... runs faster than I do!

Day 171: Thurs Jan 30th - Fox Hunt Diversion

While I was snapping this photo....

Day One Hundred Seventy-One:
Fox Hunt Diversion

A photo collage of Jax on the hunt mid-run.

Jax heard something scamper by......

A strong wiff of the air..

Fresh footsteps of what ran past us.

A scent. 

Must. Follow. It.

Raised Hackles.

 

After letting him enjoy his time smelling and tracking the scent... it was time to go. 

"JAX! Let's go!... come on..... "   Eventually he snapped out of his intense pursuit and  ran around in hyper ape shit mode as if  celebrating his good fortune.   

Funny dog.

Day 170: Wed Jan 29th - Where NOT to run.

Day One Hundred Seventy: Where NOT to run.

 NOT HERE.....

                              NOR HERE................................and definitely NOT HERE.

                                                this is iffy.... proceed with caution.

Trust me...I learned the hard way. This is what I ran on this morning thinking the trail dirt would be a bit more exposed. 
Ice is sneaky and not very runner friendly. It lies.
  Very ready for Spring!  :)
 

Day 167, 168 & 169: Tuesday Jan 28th - Glorious Sunrise(s)

Day 167, 168 & 169 - Glorious Sunrise(s) 

Nice weekend and Monday off work. The past few mornings have been beautiful!
Yesterday Jax and I braved the higher trails on my second favorite route which tends to be on the slippery side early in the morning, so with careful footfalls I was able to avoid a bruised bottom and broken limbs.  There were a few close calls as we crested the top of a particularly steep ridge.  I tried to use Jax to my advantage (his 4 paws and power can come in handy from time to time) and had him go up first, helping guide me up a bit while I got my footing situated, however this plan nearly backfired as he caught the whiff of some dogs marking and started back down... dragging me down what would have been a painful ice slide (about 15 ft down).  I yanked my arm grabbing the closest branch and was able to find a dry patch to dig my foot in to regain my balance.  After a quick growl from me and a rush of adrenaline, we headed back up to the top successfully.  I think I will wait for Spring before attempting that portion of the trail again.. lol

Speaking of spring, we have some rain coming our way and mountain snow.  Love it!

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 165: Fri Jan 24th - Frozen Hands

Day One Hundred Sixty-five:
 - Frozen Hands

Forgot my gloves this morning. Realized it early on but didn't want to turn back to get them. After the first mile I noticed my hands turned bright red almost matching my band-aid.

(I cut my thumb cooking last night). 

I can be pretty clumsy in the kitchen, however it is one of my favorite places to be.  You forget and don't appreciate all your thumbs do for you, even the most tediously small task, until you can't use them directly. Ouch!

Just a small cut... but ouch just the same.

I felt happy with how fast I ran this morning. Great clip there and back again, leaving me breathless but grateful the air was in the green! 

HIGH FIVE.. Today is Friday!!  Just be careful of my thumb.

 

Day 164 - Thurs Jan 23rd - Get me outta here!!

Nope... this isn't a photo of a mystical fog enveloping the land.

DAY 164 - Get me OUTTA here!!

<------------------------------  IT'S INSANE!!!

I said I would focus on the beautiful parts of my run.  But enough is enough.  The air is so thick you can taste it, leaving your throat dry, your nose and head stuffy and your asthma spray on empty. I long for the Northwest air, trees and green!

Climbing up on the foothills we were able to escape the most dense parts of the blucky valley.  Jax had a ball running off leash, slipping on ice and marking his territory throughout the trail. I did a bit of slipping as well. Probably not the best idea to run up here, but I'd rather risk a bruised bottom than run through that muck :)

Smile!

Day 160, 161, 162 and 163 Ups and Downs - life in 4 days...

Day 160, 161, 162 & 163

Ups and Downs - life in 4 days....

 

Well... once again I proved how challenging it is for me to write the blog while at home. My laggy laptop didn't help.  It was an up and down 4 days, challenged further by a bit of a bad stomach bug :(

Running was also up and down.  Some up days and some down days, but ran them all the same.  

On a positive note :)

Sunday was particularly beautiful. The river was completely frozen. Jax had fun running around the shallow ice areas, playing and jumping around like a child on too much sugar. We crunched around on the ice contemplating life and why area dog owners refuse to pick up their poo.  ggrrrrrrr

Monday through this morning the inversion was pretty yuck. Luckily I run early enough it doesn't seem as bad. However later in the day it is downright terrible. Good news! a mini wind storm is supposed to come by and clear some of it out tomorrow.

beauty vs. the beast of inversion

Day 159: Sat Jan 18th - Solitude

  Day One Hundred Fifty-nine:

Solitude 

I think it comes to no surprise to people who know me well that I am definitely not a social bug.  While I do enjoy an occasional get together, event or dinner, I overall prefer solitude.  Running gives me solitude. A place to be by myself. To have quiet from the busy world demands.  A place to reflect, to grow and to recharge.  This might be my favorite part about running itself.  Running can make me feel like I am running away from everyday life problems and stresses, without actually running away. It gives me an opportunity to re-gain perspective, peace and the solitude I seek. This solitude has helped me recover sanity, dissolve frustrations, let go of worry and open myself to understanding. 

Even if it is just for a few moments. 

Day 158: Fri Jan 17th - The Incredible Sinking Full Moon

Day One Hundred Fifty-eight:
The Incredible Sinking Full Moon

Again my phone camera doesn't do the full moon justice. 
I swear it looked 400% bigger and much more beautiful to my naked eye than it did through the lens of my phone.
It's funny how that works. The moon was so large and full that for a moment I stood still and took it in before attempting a photo. I didn't include the close up photos here as they were a disaster and look more like a photo attempted while chewing on some hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Marvelous run. I went to bed early last night and slept very well for a change.Today's run mirrored my nights sleep as it also left me feeling refreshed and alive.  I love that feeling.

Funny story: I was playing Skyrim (yep...I'm a nerd) with my older daughter on the xbox and she marveled at how truly beautiful the game graphics were. Siena commented that she thinks the graphics in the game are more beautiful than real life. I agreed that while they are very pretty, in my opinion, Skyrim is a far cry from how beautiful real nature and the world can be.
I told her she should go trail running with me again soon and she will see how beautiful outside can be. 
She gave me the eye rolling 'there-is-no-way-in-hell' look while slowly shaking her head. lol


However, Skyrim is quite beautiful for a virtual world. lol
  

Day 157: Thurs Jan 16th - Vacation from Slayer

Day One Hundred Fifty-seven:

Vacation from Slayer 

& My new name is Wheezy

Nope, in case you were wondering (and you probably weren't), the titles above are not up and coming movies premereing at the Sundance Film festival this weekend. My oxygen deprived brain made them up.
I could really use a vacation about now.  Somewhere warm-ish and beachy.  I'd like to try my luck with some great white sharks, surfing, building sandcastles with my girls and dodging jellyfish.  Especially now that the dreaded inversion is settling back into the valley and this morning I forgot my inhaler  *wheeeeeeeze*

As for Slayer.... some rocker from the 80's must have been a fan?

 

Day 156: Wed Jan 15th - Snails Excitement

Power guy bear hugging pole.

Day One Hundred Fifty-six

Snails Excitement

Beautiful weather with hints of an upcoming spring (and defrosted dog poo.....yuck).  Jax ran so fast this morning I almost needed roller skates on to keep up with him. So full of energy and spunk.

Later during the day I was privileged to be able to witness and watch from my office window this giant crane put up a new transmission pole (I think that it what it is called) at a snails pace. It took hours and semi-blocking the road. So it was a quiet day but also quite fascinating.

 I have to admit I winced a few times watching and imagining freak accident scenarios....the cord snapping, power lines zapping and the pole crashing utop my building.... ouch. 

That would not have been a pretty sight. 

Good thing it wasn't me up there or that is precisely what would have happened.  

Day 152, 153, 154 and 155 Tues Jan 14th - Superhero Slugs

Day 152, 153,154 & 155

Some days a Superhero.....some days a slug.

In hindsight I should have made my blog a weekly venture while still running every day.
Who would have thought that running every day would be easier than maintaining a silly daily blog??!


Ran Saturday, Sunday, Monday and this morning. 
It's safe to say that two of those four days I had great runs -  feeling strong, light footed and happy while the other two days I felt like I had taken Nyquil, feeling very sluggish and tired.  The truth is, it is harder for me to find the time during the weekends to write a blip about my runs / photo than it is during the work week.  I'm not a great 'relaxing' type of person, so when I am home I buzz around picking projects to complete, running errands, cooking and hanging out with my little family doing fun things. Speaking of projects, we accomplished much the past few days. Super-power organized the house, bagged up a dozen bags of nonsense, clothes and toys for donation and said farewell. There is definitely something cathartic about getting rid of 'stuff', especially good intentioned junk that we hang on to just in case we need it and finding years later that we really didn't. I love organizing and getting rid of unnecessary things. It makes life feel lighter.
However, as accomplished as a power weekend of cleaning and organizing makes me feel, I really need to learn to just relax. Just be. Just sit and do nothing. I don't know why that is so hard for me to do!   Even now, while yawning and stretching my sore neck and shoulders, I find myself thinking of what should be on my next TO DO list.... good grief. 

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 150: Thurs Jan 9th - Rockstar

Day One Hundred Fifty:

I'm a Rockstar! 

Not really - but Rockstar the energy drink company made it even more challenging for me in my goal to abstain from the ever convenient energy drinks in place of coffee (sometimes). The new Sparkling energy drink is super yummy, zero calories and sugar and not too sweet.  I had one today after my hard run this morning.  Though I know they are not good for me... *sigh*

 

Day 149: Wed Jan 8th - Snowflakes on lashes

Day One Hundred Forty-nine:

"Snowflakes they stay on my nose and eyelashes.."
( now you are singing the song in your mind - you're welcome  :)

This morning was one of those mornings. Mornings where I ask myself - what the hell am I doing??
Not necessarily about running but life in general.  Funny enough, when I start to feel that way I purposely  push myself to run faster until I'm strongly out of breath and my brain shuts off... then I have peace. I find that if I tire my body, it quiets my mind. Soon after heading out the front door in the light snow storm it worked... I snapped off my flustered mind and simply focused on the zillion little snowflakes that were landing on my lashes. The million blinks my eyes made trying to free themselves from the cold snow. It felt good to my tired eyes. One we got to the hillside where the snow is deep, Jax went ape shit jumping in and out of the banks.   I threw snowballs up for him which he caught in his mouth with impressive precision.
He looked so happy.  I'm only half kidding when I say that I sometimes wish I were a dog. 
At least for a day.



Day 148: Tues Jan 7th - Frozen Crickets

Day One Hundred Forty-eight:

Frozen Crickets

5:30 a.m. run this morning =  peaceful. 

  It was very dark, but I loved it.

 

Day 147: Mon Jan 6th - Blue Monday

Day One Hundred Forty-seven:  Blue Monday

 

Apparently today is called "Blue Monday".

For various reasons it is considered the most depressing day of the year.

This I learned on the ever so reliable news channel.  (((rolling eyes)))

 

This is my interpretation of Blue Monday.

 

Breathe.... in... out.  The air is perfect, crisp and clear.

 

 

Day 146: Sun Jan 5th - Sighs of Sunshine

Day One Hundred Forty-six: 

Sighs of sunshine on a good run.

 

 

Can't you tell I don't love having pictures of me taken.
Just look at that expression.... *sigh*

Day 145: Sat Jan 6th - Surprise Snow

Day One Hundred Forty-five:

Surprise Snow

Thought it would only dust the valley.... nope!  Had to shovel the property... then ran after work.
At least the air is clearing :)

*** this post is very late.... been very busy and life chaos. :)