Friends Old and New

This morning I really was not feeling it.   The combination of speed work yesterday and a late night with friends last night, made skipping out on a run and sleeping in sound very tempting.  I forced myself to get up and meet the group but if I didn't have a group run I probably would have listened to the blerch (See the Oatmeal: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running) and skipped it.

Here's the morning huddle in the cold 23 degree morning, I'm the bandit on the end breathing through my buff to keep warm.  Everyone was stomping and swing legs and jumping up and down to keep muscles warm before the run today.  What a difference from my Tuesday's night run in Lotta Breeze Capris (Skirt Sports of course!) and a long sleeve shirt.  Today we are back to winter layers! Living in Michigan means embracing the odd seasonal yo-yo of is it warm or cold today.

Don't get me wrong, I love the snow and snow sports and living in Michigan. Winter weather can create some amazingly beautiful sunrises that I wouldn't be awake to appreciate if I were not getting up for a run..  Thank You Toni Reese for this lovely shot!

I had the good fortune to run with someone new this morning who kept me motivated to keep my pace up with good conversation about our family's love of music.  We both had our classical music education from old Bugs Bunny cartoons as most american children of our generation did.  Thank you Chuck Jones animator and director of Bugs Bunny.

Today's run was a short and sweet 4 miles to save my legs for tomorrow's long run on trails.   I said goodbye to my companion at the turn around. (Sadly I suck and don't remember his name, maybe Mike? I will need to ask at the next group run.)  As I was heading back I ran across other friends getting a later start and just heading out.  All of them waved and we shouted out encouragement.  Hi fives exchanged across the path with "I know You" shouted back and forth as we passed. 

There is a girls scout song that goes "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold".  Today's run was silver and gold, silver snow, golden sun, and silver friends with golden smiles!

Wet and Wonderful

Today's run is brought to you by the letter W for wet, as it rained pretty steady most the morning.  Happy to report that I stayed warm and mostly dry with my Running Lab Craft jacket, which repelled the rain nicely.  I finally sat down and took some time to check the Running Lab Half marathon training plan and adjust for the two weeks additional time until the Trail Half in April.  Looks like I am mostly still on track and this week's 7 miles was very doable.  (I was worried I needed to do 8 or 9 and my knee wasn't up for it yet.)
It was an introspective 7 miles both because I have to write a Bio for my Running Lab ambassadorship and because I was back on Island Lake Blue trail for the first time since last fall.  I found my head full of memories of times with friends at Island Lake which used to be a weekly run for me.  I admit to procrastinating on the bio.  Maybe it's impostor syndrome and comparing myself to other runners who have been running most their lives, I really don't know why I'm so nervous about writing a bio. 
There I was reaching all the familiar Landmarks of Blue trail and feeling awesome just to be on the soft trail again after months of icy, messy, ankle biting trails.  My head was full of memories of when I first started running and the friends I've made along the way.  Some cheerful, some full of advice, most of them positive that no matter how far I was planning on going I could make it.  This trail feels like home to me and even on a gloomy rainy day it is a joy to be there. 

7 Years ago when I started running I was jogging 1 min, walking 2 min through the cemetery park in Howell.  I never imagined that first mile of being able to jog without rest would turn into 3 then 4 and eventually lead to half marathons, marathons, and even a 50k.  If I went back in time and told myself how far I would eventually go, that far away me would have laughed, I would not have believed it.  Even though many of my runs are solitary and much needed "me" time.  I have found many wonderful like minded friends along the way.  I have also really enjoyed volunteering and lending support to other runners at races and other running events.  Now here I am 7 years later an Ambassador for Skirt Sports and Running Lab.  Now I just need someone to sponsor my races! 

Into the woods I go, to loose my mind and find my soul.

Lessons on The Trail

I missed running yesterday due to visiting and games with the family.  We did have a very cold and icy hike out to the lake with our new nephew puppy Elwood.  Who is quite adorable with the usual amount of troublesome that puppies can be.

You can't see the snow starting to fall in this shot, but it was snowing all afternoon and through the night bringing a fresh layer of 4 - 6 inches of powder to the trails.  Big thanks to my husband and sister Jen for shoveling the driveway so I could get out to PJ Hoffmaster for a run.  Also Huge thanks to sister Brenda for the toe warmers, without which I could not have run in the cold deep snow.

In an attempt to keep my phone battery from dying in the cold, I shoved my phone down my tights hoping it would stay warm next to my skin.  As I ran it gradually worked it's way down my thigh and settled near my calf.  I figured as long as it didn't fall out of my pants I was OK.   

The snow was deep and cold and beautiful.  All of the trees had a thick coating of snow on the branches and the whole woods was untouched and glowing white.  It is challenging running through the untouched snow, but so exciting being the first one on the trail.  I did have to backtrack a few times as it was not always easy to see where the trail is under that thick blanket.  There was a point when I doubled back and I tried the same trail a second time. I came to what looked like a bridge on it's side, then realized they were stairs, and was happy for a sign I was on the right path.  

When I finally made it to the lake I tried to take my phone out and discovered I couldn't pull it out of the bottom of my pant leg.  I had to pull my pants down to retrieve my phone and was happy there was no one else on the trail with me. Sadly I only got one shot before my battery died.

You can just barely see the lake through the trees.  Heading back it was a little easier to just follow my own footprints and I could pick up pace a bit.  I reached a trail crossing and spotted a second set of footprints headed down another trail leading away from the lake, oh crap!  I am so relieved whoever it was ran away from the lake instead of taking the lake path...I could have been caught with my pants down.  Steve says that would have been "em-Bare-assing"!  No kidding!

It was somewhat tempting to tack on the last 2 mile to make the training 6 miles, but I remembered a friend's advice on taking into account effort, this 4 miles took about the time that 6ish would take me. I was definitely feeling it was enough by the time I reached the car, and needed to sit and recover for a bit before driving home.

Lessons from the trail:

1. Pack extra foot warmers...have back ups in the car, purse, gym bag and suitcase.

2. You are never as alone or isolated as you think you are, always consider someone might be watching.

3. Keep in mind the amount of effort for colder conditions and running through deep snow.  Don't push it!  4 miles can feel like 6 or 8 in the right conditions.

Happy Trails my friends, stay safe and warm out there!

Lakelands Run

This morning's jaunt with Running Lab at Lakelands was an introspective treat.  Lakelands is a fast and flat rail trail and I found my pace was slower than midpack but faster than back of the pack; this pretty much gave me the dark predawn to myself. Also I forgot my watch today which meant I had no way to check that I was keeping a consistent pace and how far I had gone.  It all factored into the surreal feeling of being alone in the dark with no idea how how far to go.  I just tried to focus on foot falls and counting my breaths.  A lovely meditative time. 
At the turn around I passed and cheered on the back of the pack. I found myself going slower on the way back, so decided to do Fartlecks and pick up pace to reach certain goals like a downed tree ahead or the road crossing; Then let myself slow for 40 paces.  No watch makes these games more interesting.  My feet were starting to hurt from the pavement so I switched to running on the gravel at the side of the path, which helped immensely. For future reference the side of Lakelands is nice flat gravel and no cambered edge, very run-able and more comfortable than the pavement. 
As I  reached the second to last road crossing I was passed by a couple of other women and their pace was fast enough I didn't feel like pushing myself to keep up.  Then a third runner caught up to me and I was not going to let her pass.  I picked up pace, then she picked up pace, then I picked up pace and the two of us had a nicely matched stride as we approached the last road crossing.  We caught up to the other couple ahead who had slowed to a walk.  I cleared my throat and one of them jumped and yelped.  She heard my feet in the gravel and thought my throat clearing was the snort of a horse.  She thought a horse was coming up fast behind her.  I couldn't stop laughing at the startled look on her face...does this mean I can enter the Clydesdale division? 
Selfie with my Dawn Sister!

Greeting the Dawn

I happen to have today off and was excited at the thought of a run to greet the sun after Solstice (The longest night of the year.)
My daydreams of running through the dark and into the blazing glory of a sunrise were not to be.  the freezing rain held off but the gloomy overcast morning was more of a gradually seeping in of the light.
It was still a lovely time spent outside and enjoying the sound of my feet hitting the ground, my breath in my ears, and the birds waking up to the new morning.  I had new to me shoes to try out and the intermittent snow/slush and ice at the side of the Lakeland Trail was a good spot to try them.  Surprisingly even with 2 layers of socks the Solomon trail shoes fit fine, no pinching or rubbing of toes and the impressive lugs worked well on everything but ice. 
I came across this cute tree someone had decorated and decided it was a good turn around point.

It was not the blazing glory from my Solstice run 2 years ago...

But I am reminded of a snippet from a song from Sondheim's Into the Woods ..

"Oh if life were made of moments

Even now and then a bad one--

But if life were made of moments,

Then you'd never know you had one"

Merry Solstice my friends! 

Let It Snow!

Many people I know bemoan and complain about winter and the snow.  A coworker said to me the other day "Quit talking about that evil" when I cheerfully remarked it was finally snowing.  I get that many people hate the troubles the snow brings; such as cold, bad traffic, difficulty getting anywhere, and slippery sidewalks to name a few.  I think too many people become very sedentary in winter as it's tempting to bundle up and stay in once the white stuff falls.

I wish they could experience the snow from my perspective.  I woke up to a beautiful, white, crisp, and peaceful world.  With the snow still coming down just hard enough to make things fun but not sleety or bad enough for it to be a difficult run.  I was so excited to have the day off and be able to meet friends for a romp through the snowy woods.   It's not too cold if you wear the right layers, and keep moving, and hand and toe warmers definitely help.  I had a great time exploring Stinchfield's trails with the help of Jason.  Nice tall pine sections were serene and quiet in the snowfall.  Lots of hills!  These trails are a good hill workout and it didn't take much effort to stay warm. 

We found the infamous old car abandoned in the middle of the woods.  No one seems to know how it got there, but it's fun to speculate.

 I myself used to hate the cold weather and had knees that would ache in the cold.  Moving can help, I no longer have achy knees in the winter since I started running.  And you don't have to run to enjoy the winter. You might enjoy hiking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, sledding; Heck I even have friends who still Kayak in the winter.  There is a great big winter wonderland out there waiting to be enjoyed.  My friends and I chatted about the change of seasons and how  the woods can be a completely different place covered in a serene blanket of snow.    I used to hate winter, and it is now my favorite season.

Let It Snow!!!

Dawn Sisters Again

It's been several weeks since I have been able to run, first because of a sprained ankle, then feeling under the weather which snowballed into a  bad cold.  Finally after several weeks I was able to get back to the trails.  I find we have transitioned back into cold, dark fall mornings and head lamp running season. 
Sadly I have not spent much time unpacking our bedroom and the den and most of the winter running gear seems to be missing.  I also couldn't find our headlamps and had to settle for a moderately bright flashlight.   I did luckily have a new pair of electric hand warmers to try out! 

Side Note review of Celestron hand warmers:  They are a little bulky but I could mostly ignore the extra weight. I couldn't carry my handheld water bottle with them but I could manage the flashlight. Bonus they are rechargeable, yay renewable energy! The best feature?  It was easy to turn them off and on without taking off my gloves.  I am very happy with how they kept my hands warm enough that I did not develop any chilblains today.





I was able to join my Dawn running sister Leslie for the first time in months. 
The miles flew by as we shared stories of our summer adventures, she's been killing the long miles and completed her first 50k!!  We also talked of  training plans and races for next years running season, could there be a 50 miler or 100k in the works for next year?!?

There is something about starting out in the dark and watching the light gradually seep back into the world.  When you are surrounded by the dark woods and you are focused on a narrow spot of light on the trail ahead, it is a great time for introspection.   Fall seems like a time of reflection as evidenced by some of today's pictures on the trail. ( More thoughts in a later post)

We are both still recovering and the five mile slow roll together was a perfect way to start the day.  Bring on the winter training plans!  I have really missed being on the trails with friends and hope to make this a weekly habit.

I stopped and caught this one on the way home.  I think I got some funny looks from people driving  by who did not have time to stop and admire the scene.