Run in the Sun

Miles today: 5.75

Miles this week: 21.7
Miles in 2010: 238.3

Today made me feel like the kids in this picture. I LOVE sunny, warm days, Vitamin D, and a good afternoon run. I love running in the afternoon better than any other time of day...way better than morning and some better than evening.

Anyway, I only had to work until 3:00 today, which was awesome because I never have afternoons off. I dressed for a run, left work, and headed over to Lynchburg College to run. I ran my Sandusky Loop from the summer with Stacey. Missed her while I was running, but at least I felt good this time.

Last time I ran this loop was in January after I fell and busted up my knee. It hurt really bad and felt like it was going to explode, so I'm glad that's over with. I ran pretty smooth, felt strong coming up Fort Avenue and even up Greenwood Drive and Thomas Road.

Speaking of busting up my knee. It's definitely a good thing that wedding dresses are long. Otherwise, I'd have a big nasty scar to cover up for this wedding. Gross.

After my run, I did some shopping and then headed home so that Gregg and I could go to my sister's for mom's spaghetti. YUMM-O!

Dinner was super delish. I kind of miss sitting at my mom's dinner table to enjoy her cooking. It was good to have her in Lynchburg.

Oh, I've been trying to do the reader question alert thing, but not that many people respond. Am I really that boring? Here's today's question:

READER QUESTION ALERT!!!

If Gregg and I have a free "Gregg and Heather 5K" the morning of our wedding, would it be neat to invite anyone to come, even if they're not invited to the wedding? Would you come, readers?

Yo, write me a comment, ok?

Grass!?

Miles today: 2.3

Miles this week: 12.8

Miles in 2010: 182.5

Today's run was short and sweet. I ran down Rivermont after work, fell and caught myself with both hands, kept running a bit, and then turned around and came back. I am happy that today was 50 degrees or so and that a lot of snow melted.

I kind of forgot what grass looked like. I can't wait until spring. I don't mind running in snow and ice...I don't mind icicles in my eyelashes...I don't even mind wearing a hundred layers of clothing. But I'm sick of the cold. I'm sick of cold, biting wind. I'll be happy when we have 3 consistent 50 degree days in a row. Soon...so soon.

Do You Really Need Snowshoes in Lynchburg?

Miles today: 4.8

Miles this week: 18.5

Miles in 2010: 137.3

I still can't believe that we've had 15 + 14 + 4 inches of snow in Lynchburg in the past two months!

Right now it's raining ice outside and I'm just glad that I had someone to run with this afternoon.

We closed the store a little early because of the roads, and just before Chris was getting ready to leave, I asked if he needed a ride home (he ran to work). He said no, that he was going to run back, and I suggested that I run with him, being that I hadn't run yet today. He was all for it...and initially we were just going to run a mile to his house and then I would have come back alone...but then we got to talking and decided to run all the way to the end of Peakland.

I was pumped. Why?

A. I never ran with Chris before.
B. It was snowing and I love running in the snow.
C. We closed the store early, so my run would be in daylight.

I kept warning Chris how slow I would be and that he needed to be ready for it, but he said he didn't mind, so we went on our way.

Basically, the roads were covered with slush and the sidewalks were covered with snow, so anywhere we tried to run was messy.

It was fun to run with Chris because we got to talk about things we don't normally...just about running in general.

I was hoping to stop by his house after the run to have some hot chocolate with Lori, his wife, and Noah, Kristen, and Ben, his three kids, but his road wasn't very plowed, so I dropped him at the corner and made my way home...

Thanks for running, Chris! It was splendid.

I. Am. Tired.

Miles today: 2.4

Miles this week: 13.7

Miles in 2010: 132.5

Today's run was just a quick one...I'm tired. My. Ankles. Are. Exhausted. That means that I ran 2 miles...up and back down Rivermont.

Part of the problem is that it's much harder work to run in the snow/slush than it is to run on the regular road/sidewalk.

I am not complaining because I actually love snow running, etc...but I just feel like it's harder on my body--a more difficult workout...

I guess I should be thankful because even though I haven't worn pants this week, just shorts and capris, I haven't fallen on my bad gruesome knee, so that's a good thing. Jeff told me to keep it moist under a band-aid, and so did my sis, so I suppose for it to heal properly, I should listen...

But here we are at Friday, and here's the snowcast:

wish me luck on tomorrow and Saturday and probably Sunday's runs!

Icicle Eyelashes

Miles today: 5.3

Miles this week: 23.4

Miles in 2010: 114.1

I didn't believe it was going to snow.

I kept looking at the radar and it looked like the precipitation was going to stay right to the south of us.

Gregg didn't think it was going to snow either...but by the time I went to bed last night, it had started to snow. I still was a bit skeptical about how much snow was going to fall, so I went to bed with a very small anticipation of snow in the morning.

When Gregg woke me up around 7:00am, he had already been outside to shovel! I was surprised to look out the window to see 4 inches on the ground already...but I knew I had to run at 7:30, so I dragged myself out of bed, put on a hundred layers, including my magenta Smartwool beanie and Gregg and I drove out to Peakland United Methodist to meet his buddies.

I didn't have a running buddy this morning, so I ran by myself from the church out to Riverside Runners and back. This is what it looked like outside at the start:

As I started running down Peakland, the snow was blowing hard right into my face and pretty quickly the snow that landed on my eyelashes was turning into icicles.

I made it out to Riverside Runners and took another picture:

On the way back down Rivermont Avenue, I ran into a few cars that didn't want to move over for me, which was pretty rude, considering I know they had to see me...I was dressed all in black against a thick, white background. But, I made it back safely, finished about 5 miles, and grabbed my camera so I could get some more shots of the guys and our adventures.

Here's Jeff, Danny (with a snowman beard), Gregg, and Brian:

Gregg and I after we finished:

 And we all stopped at Starbucks to warm up with a hot beverage...here's Gregg and I after we dried off a bit:

 We had a great run and it probably snowed another 3 inches while we were out. Hope ya'll enjoyed the snow day!

Meet me at the Greek Church

Miles today: 4
Miles in 2010: 78.2

today I had to go to work early to meet with ASICS and see the fall 2010 apparel/accessories line...being that I don't usually work until 10am, the 9:00am start for the day was a little early for me.

so, of course, I didn't wake up early and run beforehand like I should've, and plus, the weather was crappy this morning...

so I worked all day until almost 6:30 and then had to run after work. Gregg offered to meet me at the Greek Church at Blackwater, so that made the fact that there was freezing rain/sleet coming down a little easier to take since I had to run through it.

it's funny how the Greek Church gets so much publicity being right next to the main entrance of the Blackwater Creek Trail...I wonder if the church people mind all the traffic in their backyard...it's just become a saying of mine..."wanna meet at the Greek Church?" and it's funny, because it never means that you're going to church...it always means your going for a run, bike ride, or walk...

but if you said, "Hey, meet me at Holy Cross or Thomas Road" you'd know that it wasn't for a run...it'd be to go to church...I just think that's funny.

we just ran an easy out 2, back 2 on the paved path...felt good and it didn't even feel that cold out...the freezing rain wasn't coming down hard, so I didn't get too wet.

it wasn't completely dark out, which made it nice to run in the dark because the sky was a strange orange hue...kinda glowy...and you almost didn't even need a headlamp.

but anyway...another run in the books. spaghetti for dinner. mmm.

beautiful day...little time for running

Miles today: 2

Miles in 2010: 51.4

today is Friday.

it's also the 15th of the month of January.

that means it's payday!

the weather is the most beautiful it's been in about 4 weeks. that qualified for a super busy day at work and even a round of football throwing with my boss, Jeff, and colleague, Shelley this afternoon. she took these pictures. you can visit her over at it's balsamic, her photo-a-day blog.

it also qualified for deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.

SO, unfortunately, that meant that today's work day, though it was to end at 6:00pm, went until 8:30pm and I didn't get my run in until post-work. ugh.

but i have an amazing fiancé who doesn't mind waiting for me after work for an hour to finish work that took an extra hour so that i have someone to run with. he's a sweetie.

short day. rest day. since I already had a long day. sayonara.