Run for Fun!

I think the Dixie Chicks said it best when they said
"Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready to run
All I'm ready to do is have some fun"

Sometimes running is not so fun, like last Thursday... with a high temperature of 97, six miles was not something to enjoy, but something to do and get out of the way. But I did it, and with a stellar high of 96, today looks like a repeat.

Friday night, on the other hand, was amazing! I had sooo much fun! My friend Ken was celebrating his birthday with an all-night trail run. I've run at night, and I've run some trails, but I've never run trails at night, so this was quite a new experience for me - one I hope to repeat soon, and often!

While I didn't actually run all night, I did run until around midnight when we took a break for some pizza and homemade cheesecake (compliments of Ken's wife!) I got in a little over 8 miles, broke in my new trail shoes, and managed to trip and stumble about 50 times, but contrary to a rumour floating around on Trail Zombie's blog, I never actually fell - and that is NOT my bloody, hairy knee!!

I pulled into my driveway at 2 am, managed to toss and turn and get maybe an hour sleep before I got up and headed out to meet my road group for another 4 miles! What a day!

I met some great people and I hope to have the opportunity to run with them again - of course, I'm sure I was holding them back, so they may not feel the same way about me!!

So anyway, here are some pics from the festivities... Thanks Ken!

In front - Ken. In back (L-R) - Me, Johnny, Glenn, Arnold, Brian, Roman, Kathy, and Bill

I don't actually remember us taking this picture... hmm...

But I do remember this one...

Brian, Arnold, Bee-Sting Bob (??? I just write what I'm told), Glenn, Bill, Me, and Ken

Takin' a break

FOOD!!! Yum!!

Pizza, Watermelon, Homemade Cheesecake with strawberry sauce!

Me and Kathy

Saturday morning - my new 'do

Weekend Update

Since I had plans to do a race on Saturday morning, I opted to do my long run (8 miles) on Thursday night instead of Saturday. So about 8 pm I headed out with Kathy, Ken, and Roman. I got to see some new sights and even visit the center of the universe! More and more I am starting to enjoy night runs... it is just a different experience. Not something I would ever do alone, but with some friends I felt okay. It was also the first time in a while that I was able to do all of my miles together and at my own pace. Since I am generally training with a group of beginners, my runs are usually dedicated to their pace/distance - but I love seeing their progress each week!

Saturday, I went with Roman, Sloan, Steve, and a few of their friends to the Porter Peach Classic. The town was so tiny that we had to make 2 loops around it for the 5K! It was a lot of fun and I even won 2nd place in my age group - and set a new PR of 27:15. And Sloan, who is pregnant and due in 10 weeks got 2nd place in the racewalk division! Way to go Sloan!! I don't know everyone's results right off, but all-in-all our little group did really well! My only complaint was that the girl who beat me for 1st place was only ahead of me by 24 lousy seconds!

Nothing else real exciting - just a normal weekend of hanging out at home and going to church.

And now, I am sitting in a yucky, smoky bar with my hubby, his best friend who is in town from Singapore, and a few of their other friends. They're playing Golden Tee and I'm trying to give them some space. Mostly I'm just here to drive Randy home. He doesn't get to see these guys very often and it's not usually a pretty site when he does!

Hopefully I can get copies of the pics from Thursday and Saturday on here in the next day or two - haven't figured out how to do that from my cell phone yet.

So that's all I've got for now. I guess I'll just sit here and silently hope that I'll be home before 11!

Happy Anniversary To Me!!

Yesterday, in honor or our 3rd anniversary, my wonderful hubby sent me this beautiful bouquet! It was comeplety unexpected because he's never sent me flowers before - usually he buys them and brings them home to me. I'm such a lucky girl!!

Still not sleeping

Well... It's about 4am and time to get up - except I never did go to sleep :-(

I did, however, watch Clueless, Ella Enchanted, and half of 101 Dalmations. I've also eaten breakfast and I'm dressed and ready to go run. Not exactly my ideal evening, but I guess this is what they mean by "power nap!" I'm just glad I don't have anything going on after my run because I have a feeling that I'm going to come home and crash.

But for now, I'm going to watch a bit more of this dalmation movie before I go fill up my car and hit the road.

Trying to get some sleep...

I'm laying in bed trying to "wind down" so I can get some sleep, but I don't see it happening any time soon - so I'm blogging.



Last night I had a great 5 mile run. I didn't pay attention to my time, but I know I was running harder than usual. By the time I got home, my legs were more sore than they have been in a LONG time. Apparently I didn't sleep very well because I felt like I was dragging all day. There were moments when I thought I could have fallen asleep at my desk! I didn't - but I could have. Randy was out playing golf when I got home, and it was nice to have the couch to myself for a bit. I thought I had found something interesting to watch, but I don't remember what it was so I must have dozed off pretty quickly!! After a little nap, I felt like a new person - but now I can't sleep and I have to get up in four-and-a-half hours.



I really hate having to get up so early on Saturday mornings, but I really do enjoy the peace and solitude during my run. Don't get me wrong - I love running with the group and chatting, but Saturdays are different. Even with the group, I feel like I can be alone with my thoughts. People are still waking up and have a lot less to say than the weekday afternoon runs. And since I seem to have so much to think about lately, I really cherish my quiet time - away from the distractions of work, my computer, my cell phone, the TV, housework, pets - I feel like I can really sort things out and unclutter my brain a bit. So if you see me out on the trail and I seem preoccupied, please don't take it personally! And don't hesitate to interrupt my thoughts - I'm almost always open to chat, it just takes me a little while to wake up!

Happy 4th!!

Blah Blah Blah

Well... since I'm getting tired of visiting the RunnersWorld Tulsa blog and seeing that I last updated my own blog over a week ago, I figured I should post something.

Not a whole lot of anything interesting going on...

Saturday I went and ran with my training groups early in the A.M. and then went home and took a long nap. Lounged around the house watching TV until it was time to go to The Full Moon for a 30th birthday party for one of Randy's friends. I had planned on trying to meet some friends for a night run after the party, but after a dirty martini (and a half) I was ready to go to bed.

Sunday was Church and brunch at First Watch. More relaxing around the house.

Yesterday, after work we attempted to go to a screening of Hancock. They had distributed WAY too many passes, so we didn't make it in. They told everyone that there would be another screening at 9:30 and that in the meantime we were free to go to any other movie we wanted. So we saw "Wanted". Bad Ass movie!! It was actually pretty funny. I would definitely watch it again. Since Randy has to get up for work super early, we opted to skip the 9:30 showing of Hancock and we just went home. We know some people that did make it in to see it though, and they highly recommend it. Maybe we'll try to go see that one soon.

I've had a busy day at work today, and I'm looking forward to my run in about an hour. I got some new shorts at Target that I want to try out!!

Later!