Catching up

Because it's been, you know, crazy busy! :)
Tuesday after school I totally dragged the kids and all three dogs out for a walk.  It wasnt cold and we went up a trail I have always wanted to go up; of course we could not GO anywhere once up there, since it was just a blueberry field with no paths off...there was a little path off and we followed it for awhile through a very pretty mossy woods but the kids were worried we would get lost and I was a little watchful because it WAS hunting season and none of us had any hunter orange on or anything; so we only went a little way and then back to the field :)

 It was super nice and we did get about 2 miles of walking in. Then it was way dark and the kids thought we were going to get killed so off to home we went. After the kids were ready for bed I put in Yoga X and Annika and I did some; I put her to bed but she would not stay so I only got through an hour of it (the hardest hour) and then I had to stay with her. 

Wednesday was a busy day with classes that went on forever and a lab exam that went even longer than forever; it was not an active day for me at all! ;)  The last day of November was very windy, rainy, and nasty ;)

Enter December.  The first day of December was much nicer than November left us.  :) Not warm but much nicer! I grabbed an hour at the end of the day for a run; the littles had no school so they were with their father and after lab I changed and went out into the fading sun for a run around town; ended with 9.6 km in about an hour.  Friday was also a nice day albeit busy; despite the sun and warmer weather I somehow managed to leave my run until it was almost dark; I left from home and ran to a more lit sidewalk in Bible Hill and then through town where I met Scott and he drove me home :)  another 9.6 km again in about an hour.  It was SO cold when I was finished; despite the fact that it was actually +6 C which isnt too cold; it was humid (read: damp) and wind was in my face at the end and I ended up super cold. Stripped my clothes off and put on Scott's sweater to warm up for drive home. That will teach me to not pack some clothes in his car next time.

Saturday morning I was up and out bright and early for hockey; a nice busy scrimmage that left me reallllly tired. the rest of the day revolved around picking up kids for hockey, a little teeeeensy bit of shopping, getting home at almost dark, laundry, and watching hockey before sleep.  No run in. Need a rest day I guess.

Sunday is always so busy but CRAZY busy this weekend.  I was awake and needed a long run (Sunday isnt the day for this but no soccer this week so I went) I got up and did 7.8 km 47:11 before breakfast; then I took Annika to her hockey game; they played like crap lol.  No excuses this game.  After the game I took Annika to her grandmother's for drama while Scott took Holly away for a hockey game and I ran from town to home; another 8.2 km 52:30  all before noon!  Split long run which I hoped would make me less tired.

I did laundry and messed with the internet (it was out) and had some lunch then it was time to go to hockey. this was NOT a fun game; I do not like that team.  I got a goal and we lost the game and if I could say ah well it was fun then that would be good but it wasnt much fun.  SIGH.

After a quick shower and supper Scott and Holly and Taylor were out the door; Taylor to her band concert set up and Scott and Holly to her hockey game. Then Annika and I followed for HER hockey game; we did a huge pump-up in the dressing room and the hockey players actually started working harder for the puck and playing their positions and they BEAT a team they have been losing to most of the year. Yeah, this working hard stuff really DOES work (quote).  I wish I had been there; I left after the first period to get to Taylor's concert on time (which I was) and afterwards it was time to get home. 

Super busy Sunday :)

Now it is Monday and I feel very tired LOL. But it's sunny out and a run must be had at some point today LOL!  Because tomorrow might not be as nice and Wednesday is cold rain!



Over 1600 km for the year

Can't forget that yesterday's run made a total of over1600 km for the year so far. That means that in These last 2 days of November and all of December I only need to run 200 more to meet my goal of 1800 for the year. OH yes and Im not running today. I could do it. I went over 200 km twice this year, and once I was THIS CLOSE.  Its not impossible. Maybe if I start doing some long runs again...2 a week should do it lol.

Tuesday Rest Day

I woke up Monday morning feeling less yeah LESS rested than I was when I went to sleep the night before.  I did not sleep well and when Scott's alarm went off at 5 am I didnt get back to sleep :( I figure burning over 1300 calories throughout Sunday can just be a big draw on your energies!
Once I finally concluded I had been stood up for lunch, I grabbed a snack and went for my run.  It was without a doubt the worst run I have taken in ages. I was dead right from the start. I mean, dragging tree branches for legs rotten.  No matter how I tried to improve my leg turnover, there was no response. I figured since I was going a little shorter (Thinking 5-6 km) I would do some speed intervals HA they were sad sad little intervals. Crept along warmed up for about a km then did 200 m faster 200 m jog for 4 km.  I THINK I did 11 intervals but I lost count. I actually walked once (it was the big hill) because I figured I could walk faster than run.  Oh I walked again later because the roadside had washed out and then been filled and plowed and it was just a mess so I walked.  So I walked twice. I wanted to do another mile to kinda cool out so I went out on a side road then I just kept going and added 3 more km on to make it 8 crappy, miserable km. In the wind. SO slow....52:30 was time. It was dismal.
Ah well it can only go up from there.

After work I had to take one Cranky, nasty little Annika to hockey practice; I almost went alone and left her in bed but I would have been crankier doing that so eventually she got herself into the car and we went to practice; another hour on skates where we did power skating; some Bearcats joined us which was neat for the kids and some of them actually worked hard.  Annika had a headache and she didnt put tonnes of effort into her skates but at least she did the drills as well as she thought she should and then we went home; after supper (creamed peas on toast...I eat too much bread) we all had an early to bed.

Today is my day of rest. Relative of course. Im not going to run. I think I will get the kids to go for a walk.  I saw the Osteopath this morning and she doesnt want me to run on her days so I will just rest. :) And walk. And maybe do yoga. She suspects among other things that my pelvis may not be moving normally due to adhesions from a C/Section 13+ years ago, added to a tailbone broken twice and general weirdness; and we are still working on my knee which is not painful everyrun, just some of them nowadays.  LOL Which is certainly better than September when it actually stopped me from running on hills.

End of a very busy weekend

So relieved to finally be in bed; wish we could have a longer night.  The kids were up super late tonight and I expect after their full weekend they are going to be very cranky tomorrow morning!

Clean up from Wednesday/Thursday's storm was fun; Lots of snow and it was heavy and wet! I hope this is not a sign of the winter to come!

Friday was a chilly day but warmed up to above freezing by the end of the day when Dara and I pulled out for a longer run.  We had time so we just kept going until dark and 10.4 km were passed in 1:06:16.  It was a more relaxed run with slower speed.  It was a little chilly to have done our run around town, we went a completely different way than usual.  This time of year it can be really hard to stop for stop lights and stuff with chill coming on very quickly.  I usually hate to even stop for a walk break when its this cold so times are going to be slowing down quite a lot. I expect the weather to start having some irritating effects on my running for the next...5 months or so. :( I am so dreading these short days  and cold temps; it's almost enough to make me want to give up running :(

Saturday morning was Holly's 11th Birthday; we were all up early and out of the house; I had hockey at 7 am and so did Holly; So we were off to different rinks, Scott with Holly and Annika came with me because she had a game at Debert an hour after me.  Played a good scrimmage game for 50 minutes then took Annika to her game; they played well but the wheels fell off at the end of the game and they lost.  They played well until near the end.

After hockey games we cleaned up and headed to the Valley; B and SIL are moving and we thought we should try to help/lend moral support when we could. Once hockey was over we actually had the rest of the day free; that doesnt happen a lot!  So we took advantage and went for a road trip! We stopped in Bayers Lake on the way at Old Navy where we didnt really find anything.  On to the Valley; visited with the family and Had some birthday cake for Holly's 11th!

 It was nice to see the boys and their parents. We got home very late and the kids slept in a little on Sunday morning. They went to Drama and I went for a run. It was not too cold today!  It was above freezing again and weakly sunny!  It was nicer than I expected and I took a longer route.  I have other things planned today; still could not resist the chance to run.  I figured that since our hockey game should be a blowout anyway, what difference could it make if I was a little more tired than usual?  10.4 km in 1:05:30 (stopped to look at some deer lol) on the hilly 10 k loop. 
After a quick lunch I was off to hockey which thanks to some spares was not the blowout I expected but rather we won; our first win this year! 50 Intense minutes!
Got a little bit of rest this afternoon after hockey; then a quick supper and off to more hockey games; Annika and Holly played at the same time in different rinks; I took Annika and left immediately after her game to go to my soccer game;  Again her team played well but they almost blew it completely; they had a comeback to get within a point thanks to one player's hat trick and lost by only one point.  It was a good game.  One of their most exciting games.
Soccer game was interesting; the team we played was very good and has played together for years, summer and winter. You could tell they did by how well they seemed to know where they were going to be and they were set up so well.  They scored early and then again later; we had one goal; the keeper was going to get the ball but I rushed her and she kicked it right into my chest and it bounced and headed for the net; I followed and made sure it was in; :) So we got one goal and didnt blow out that game either.  My second soccer goal was thanks to error on keeper's part.

End of one totally busy weekend!

The Day After Yesterday

We survived the first snow of the year. It actually DID get very nasty!  We got at least a foot of heavy wet snow; luckily my trusty little CRV had no troubles driving on the unplowed roads to get me home safely :) We tucked in for the night and watched the snow.

The morning after (that was yesterday) we were slow to get around. I hopped out of bed and showered and got ready for the day; all before they announced School closures...so I looked out and sure enough we were snowed in; snow up to the garage door, road not plowed.  Scott took many hours clearing the driveway but by noon road was still not plowed; at least I could then get the car out and through the snowy road to work.  But It was damp and sidewalks are back to their nasty uncleared state (likely for next 6 months SIGH) and I just could not get myself out for the much needed run!  :(

After supper Annika had hockey practice; an hour of skating made me feel a little better.  We focused a lot on power skating and on shooting; it was quite fun!  Bed time came fairly early due to

Friday morning hockey practice with Holly! It is so hard to get organized for this one :( We have to get to school/work right after which makes it complicated. We try to get ready the night before but it is so hard LOL!

Holly wanted to get to school on time so we left practice early; only half an hour of skating this morning! But it is still a nice way to start the day!  I have planned a run for after this morning's class but it's still snowy out and cold so Im just not looking forward to it! It is hard to compete in a Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge when this weather just makes me want to curl up and sleep; how can I run as much as someone in a warm climate who is comfortably running for hours? UGH It's challenging :(:(:(

Will see how it goes :)

Photos

My cutiepies

Amazing fall weather; home!

Annika climbing a tree downed in the rainy flood storm

First snowstorm 2011/2012. We got our run in before it got this bad :):) 

I'm Baaack!

Already! bet ya thought I couldnt do it; 2 days in a row? Go me!

Because I am trying to do a better job keeping up and because I dont want to have to write an entire booklong post every single time I do sit down here, and so that I can get a post done in less than 4 days, I am determined to at least write every second day. Or every second workout? Will see :D:D:D

Yesterday was bloody freezing! and really just because I am not ready to give up my lovely fall weather yet! And I might not have to;

Despite this awesome weather we are experiencing AS I TYPE (I love technology) we are supposed to get back up to the high single POSITIVE temps this weekend like 9 and 8 C!  So even tho my kids have been picked up early from school today (by their dad not me; Im stuck at work) due to a snow storm ;) this is not what we have to put up with forever. At least 2 more days of not freezing to death are going to be mine!

Yesterday was bloody Freezing (ummm dejavue?) but it was Bright and Sunny and we had a spectacular chilly run.  Something about the sun makes it all better. And there is still some strength in the sun right now; it's not gone all weak and sad and with little heat; I can still feel some heat when I stand in the sun (not in the wind) and let it shine on me. I love the sun.  And we enjoyed it as long as possible yesterday; 8.55 km in 53:47 awesome minutes before we had to go back into the building and be responsible employees.  We did some road running and less trail so it was more like winter running SIGH.  Brr. We ran near the high school (at noon) sigh and the students we had to pass were so rude!  I mean, do you have to walk 4 across and block the sidewalk AND the grass? Where would you like me to go? And then to glare at me when we say excuse me we need to like exist here? Ugh.

Today we were expecting this snow, like a foot of it (where are my damned snowshoes now)? and therefore we planned to go before it's expected 12 noon arrival. This snow storm has nothing in common with ME or mine...it was 2 hours early LOL. Ah well, we headed out into the snowy brightness and had a lovely albeit a little slippery run around the 5 km loop and including the trail we got in 6.7 km in 42:34 which pace wise sucks but what can ya do with the first real snow of the year?  Fall on ice? naw.  So we slowed down. Too bad the cars aren't....so many reports of cars and trucks off the road, accidents I hope are not going to actually hurt anyone but will cost insurance companies plenty.  Ugh more.  You would think no one knew winter was coming.  It comes every single year.

Ah well. Listening to the cancellations:)