PERFECT WEATHER

What a beautiful day we are having. The temperature this morning was hovering around 68 with a nice breeze coming from the North. This made the perfect weather for running. Everything I'd been struggling with these last few weeks felt so easy today. It's amazing how things can change so quickly. I did 5 miles and it felt good. Tomorrow is the race adn I'm hoping conditions will be the same as this morning.

BIG THANK YOU

Today was a good mail day, I received the top I won from Kim. Love the color, love the fit. Will use it on Friday for boot camp. Thanks Kim.

I went out this morning for a short run/walk of 3.33 miles. I tried a new way that had more shade and also a killer hill. When I started out I ran into my neighbor who was coming back from a 2hour walk. She said I was going out too late, that it was too hot. She was right about that. Our temperature today is going to hit 100, this is the end of September where is the cooler weather?
Even Amy in Belgium is experiencing warm weather. I know I shouldn't complain because soon I will be waiting for it to warm up so I can go run so I guess I'll just enjoy these last few days of summer.

I REMEMBER

Halloween decorations are going up in the neighborhood. The temperatures are still in the 90's so it's a bit hard to think about cool weather activities. However if you go in any of the stores you'll find not only Halloween decorations but Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Monday was boot camp. We were out in the parking lot doing lots of sprints, dragging the sled and using the big band. When we finished I was dripping with sweat. Sometimes I think why the hell am I doing all this. Then I remember, it's to keep me healthy. It's to keep my bones strong. It's to make me live longer.

Yesterday was coffee with my friend. We sat outside and talked forever. Later in the day I had a hair appointment which I badly needed. I told my hair dresser he was going to need a bucket of hair color for me. It has been six weeks since I last went. Too long. I was not able to get my run in but will try to make it up this week.

WEEKEND UPDATE

This is one of my favorite pictures taken in Walden, CO. We were out cutting wood, now that's a work out.





Saturday I took off and rested. There was no working out or running. The only thing I did do was make an apple pie for my husband. I think he deserved it.





Today I went out to run, had 7-8 miles on my schedule. It was warm and I was doing more walking than running. I finally turned and headed back for home. I did 5 miles which is more than I did on Thursday. Miles for the week were 14.65.


One nice thing that happened this weekend, I won a work out top from Kim at http://ilaxstudio.com. Thanks Kim for the great giveaway.

HAPPY FALL

Summer is officially over except that tomorrow the temperatures are suppose to get back in the 90's, but today it was 59 when I left for boot camp. The perfect weather for working out outside. There were lots of new people so she paired us up new with old to do the deck of cards. I got Michelle and it was her first time at boot camp however she has trained with Heidi. We were each given a deck of cards and started drawing. Our first card up was the Joker and that was 100 Kettle ball swings. The rest of the suits were as follows:

Kings 10 box jumps. We never got this card
Queens 10 Burpies
Jacks 10 frog jumps
Ace run 1 lap
Spades plank rows
Diamonds box squats
Clubs thrusters
Hearts sit ups

We were slower than the others but managed to get through about 25 cards. Nice work out to end the week on.

HAPPINESS IS ...

seeing the turtles back in the creek after the long hot summer. I don't know where they went but it's nice to see them back. It would be nice to see my running back but for some reason I am struggling with it. Today I went out and tried the run 3 minutes walk 3 minutes. This seemed to work. I also ran on my trail, it's not long but it is a dirt trail and I think running on it helps the core get stronger.

Yesterday was boot camp and we once again were in the parking lot. There were 8 of us and we were partnered up We ran carrying a weighted ball, did reverse lunges, V sit ups, squats with kettle ball, wall sits and push ups.

FEELING IT

Notice how the sun takes longer to come up in the mornings and there is a hint of fall in the air. It is perfect weather for running. Yesterday I went out for my long run and ended up doing 9.19 miles only because I turned right instead of left.

This morning my legs were feeling it from the run and I had boot camp. It was another gorgeous day and she had us outside. We were running sprints, dragging the sled, using the band and tossing the ball as we moved sideways down the parking lot. Now my legs are really feeling it.

RACE REPORT

Christy and I had done this race two years ago, so I thought I knew the course. What I didin't know was last year they changed it which resulted in a lot more hills to be running up. The weather was a mild 74 with clouds. That I was thankful for. Today I was hoping for a nice easy run, I knew my time would be in the 40 minute range.

The race takes place in Lewisville near the Grand Theater. We took off and Christy went out ahead of me. I caught up with her at one of the hills and then passed her. This race seemed long, maybe because of the new course. I walked and ran and finally turned the corner for the finish.

This is the front of the Grand Theater


A sculpture

Facing East towards the town with the sun just coming up.

I took first place with a time of 41:14 and received a gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods for $50. for being the oldest woman running. Age does have it's benefits. Christy got a gift card to a local nursery for $15. so we both were winners today.

SLOW LIKE HONEY

So Monday I had the rest of my fitness test for boot camp. I had to run a mile. My time was slow, slow like honey coming out of a jar. I guess this is the price you pay for missing a month of workouts.

After testing we were all given a deck of cards and then were on our own. Again I struggled with the burpies and frog jump. There is something about the up and down of these that bothers me. I can manage a few and then start to feel dizzy. I cut the jump roping from 100 to 75, come on I'm just starting back. The rest of the exercises I was okay with.

I missed my run today but will make it up on Saturday when I do a 5K race. Our temperature is back in the 100's and it was too warm to go out. We have passed the previous record set in the 80's for the longest days over a hundred. So far we are at 70 days over.

NO APPLE PIE

September always makes me want to buy apples and start baking, however since my husband and I both need to lose weight there will be no apple pies in my house.

This week was rough trying to get back into my exercise and running mode. Here's how it went:

Monday I did the elliptical at LA Fitness in Atlanta. Did the weight lose program which was around 30 minutes. It was Katy's idea to go and work out since I would be riding in a car for 5 hours, thanks Katy.
Tuesday I did 2 miles on the treadmill at the hotel. Lucky for me the exercise room was across from our room so I had no excuses not to do it.
Wednesday I was extremely tired, had to get up early as my husband had a Dr.'s appointment. I took the day off.
Thursday went out in the neighborhood and ran/walked over 4 miles.
Friday, this was hard, made myself go back to boot camp. I lucked out since it was fitness week we had a shorter boot camp.
Saturday, I couldn't move. OMG. My shoulders were sore, my sides were sore and my legs didn't want to move. I did nothing.
Sunday I had a run scheduled and decided to take a long route. Finished with over 7 miles. Woo hoo! I feel great, no sore legs.

SEPTEMBER TRIP

Well I'm home from our road trip. We arrived in North Carolina on the 28th to spend some time with my sister and friends.

The house was set off the road nestled in among the trees. There was a big deck on the back that faced the lake.

We headed to Lake Lure to have dinner. This is where a lot of the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. There is even a plaque on one of the golf holes .

One day my husband and I hiked to the waterfalls that was in the movie The Last of the Mohican's. I was a bit disappointed because it was just a trickle and if you've seen the movie you know what it was really like. But we enjoyed our hike.

We also took one morning to climb to the top of Chimney Rock, I say climb because it was 472 steps to the top.

Another day we drove to Asheville and had lunch at the Grove Park Inn. Enjoying the view from the outdoor terrace, I had peach soup and a fried green tomato BLT.

We took time to drive to the National Park. I wanted to get a stamp for my National Parks passport book.

Soon it was time to say good-bye and head for Atlanta to visit my daughter and her family. Riley was playing soccer in a tournament and we were looking forward to watching her games.

Her soccer skills have really improved from the last time we saw her play. Her throw-ins are awesome.

We had a nice visit with Katy and her family. Now it's time to get back to running and going to boot camp.