So this morning my friend Dan asked me if I would like to go caving today. I in my pre 4 mile run sleepy stupor agreed. I should tell you I really didn't know anything about caving so I really was blindly agreeing, I had no idea what to expect.
I went out ran my 4 miles very slowly I will add but hey I finished it and in a tiny way I kinda enjoyed it. Especially when I passed the sweet smelling honeysuckle that covers the trail.
**dear blogger I hate you at the moment. why wont you let me post pictures??***
I quit. I will try to finish this post another day when blogger decides to cooperate and let me post pictures.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Memorial Weekend
Memorial weekend I was supposed to go camping and climbing or canoeing...anyway that didnt happen. What did happen was a fun weekend driving around missouri trying to find a place that was nice to stay at and still had camp sites available. I honestly am not 100% sure where I actually ended up. I do know it was primitive camping as it was at the trailhead of a horse/hiking trail. The trail was called devils backbone and it was pretty neat (I think it is somewhere in the Mark Twain forest). The hike was maybe 4 miles long but once we got to the devils backbone (its a place where the trail is maybe 7 feet in width and a huge steep drop off on either side) my friend and I decided to go searching for rock..to climb :) We headed off trail and down the steep hill. It had rained the night before so the hill was slippery and with the steep incline that spelled dangerous especially when you are clumsy like I am. It ended up being a fun adventure no one got hurt and we eventually made it back to the original trail. My dog was happy because she loves being in the forest, she was also covered in ticks which her mother (me) was not so happy about. I failed to really take any pictures which is very odd for me, but I did see this crazy worm (millipede?)
In looking through the pictures to find that picture I realized I forgot to tell you about my turtle friend...he was cute and I liked him. I had to sit still for a long time for him to stop being shy so I could get a pic of him. Daphne gave him a good sniffing over to make sure he wasnt a bomb, that could have been why he was so shy about coming out of his shell.
here he is coming out of his shell
I also realized in looking through the pictures I forgot to mention this neat old water mill we discovered along the way. Here are some pics of it.
In looking through the pictures to find that picture I realized I forgot to tell you about my turtle friend...he was cute and I liked him. I had to sit still for a long time for him to stop being shy so I could get a pic of him. Daphne gave him a good sniffing over to make sure he wasnt a bomb, that could have been why he was so shy about coming out of his shell.
here he is coming out of his shell
I also realized in looking through the pictures I forgot to mention this neat old water mill we discovered along the way. Here are some pics of it.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
5-20-2010 training run 2 miler
I set out on today's run and knew the trail would be flooded if I went north of Sequiota so I decided to go south instead to get my full distance in. I took Daphne along with me because she loves to run and its just as good for her as it is for me. The south part of the trail isn't nearly as scenic but I still enjoy it. I had barely begun to run when I went through a lining of big majestic trees that grow alongside the stream. The sight of them is familiar and comfortable and one of my favorite parts of the whole trail, unfortunately it lasts less that .1 mile. Anyway as soon as I found myself in the shade of the trees I also found myself bathing in the smell of fresh wild honeysuckle. The smell was delicate but intense and so fabulous I couldn't help but smile and decide today's run would be a great one. I ended up running a little over a mile of todays run broken up into a .5 segment and a .7 segment. That makes me happy because my stamina and endurance is already improving, in just a weeks time! Did I mention the weather was gorgeous for my whole run? Not to cold not to hot just perfect!
5-18-2010 training run 2 miler
Today I headed out for a 2 mile training run. I honestly wasn't feeling real well my stomach was giving me some issues that made it uncomfortable to run, which meant I did a lot of walking. A mile out and back was the plan so I headed out north of sequiota park. The tunnel at battlefield was flooded so my distance was cut short. In the end I had a disappointing run that wasn't even the distance I set out for. Its ok though, not every run will be wonderful, problem free, and enjoyable so I will take it and look forward to my next run.
5-15-2010 food, party and climbing
So one of my friends graduated from college WOO HOO Jess!! We all decided to celebrate so they ordered 2 kegs of beer (YUCK!!) and I helped in the kitchen making a ton of delicious food! Lets see if I can remember everything we made....mushrooms stuffed with cream cheese and bacon, a 5 layer chip dip (with homeade guaco in there yum!), scallops, big beautiful shrimp, carne de sada (slowly cooked and seasoned meat thrown into soft shell tacos), homeade spinach artichoke dip, boob cake....wow I know I am forgetting several things but as you can see we did it right! After I was done helping in the kitchen I headed out for some mingling and climbing on the backyard bouldering wall. It was somewhat humorous or scary watching people who knew nothing about climbing playing on the wall after several drinks eeks! In the end I ate until I couldnt move and climbed until tears were coming out of my fingertips. It was a good night and fun was had by all!
The next day however was a nightmare cleaning up the mess, I really think we dirtied every dish in the kitchen!
The next day however was a nightmare cleaning up the mess, I really think we dirtied every dish in the kitchen!
5-15-2010 run with Joyce 3 miler
Today I met up with a lovely lady Joyce who had been a co-worker of mine several years ago. I had sent her a message just a day or two before asking if she wanted to join me in training for another 25k trail run and she decided to go for it. Since it was her first time out we went the pace that felt comfortable for her while still pushing her limits a little. She did 2 miles with me and it was wonderful catching up with her and not to mention she did great for coming off of months of no excercise due to a foot injury and not only that her first run (at least since playing chase when her kids were little...if I were to guess). No matter Joyce did awesome and she is a determined and optimistic individual! I know she will reach whatever goals she sets and I look forward to crossing the finish line with her along the way.
The last mile I did alone and it was nice. I managed to run for a half mile straight before stopping to walk which is pretty impressive for me since I just hopped back into training this week. On my last half mile I passed Brad Pitts brother (or at least I am pretty sure it was him, I know he lives in springfield and by golly this guy looked like the Pitt we have all seen in the media). Moving on, right at the end of my run I saw some baby geese all cute and small and fuzzy with their baby feathers. I thought about running to the car to grab my phone and get a picture of them but it was looking rainy and the mother geese didnt seem very friendly so I passed.
The run was finished but the rest of my day was just as much of a whirlwind.
The last mile I did alone and it was nice. I managed to run for a half mile straight before stopping to walk which is pretty impressive for me since I just hopped back into training this week. On my last half mile I passed Brad Pitts brother (or at least I am pretty sure it was him, I know he lives in springfield and by golly this guy looked like the Pitt we have all seen in the media). Moving on, right at the end of my run I saw some baby geese all cute and small and fuzzy with their baby feathers. I thought about running to the car to grab my phone and get a picture of them but it was looking rainy and the mother geese didnt seem very friendly so I passed.
The run was finished but the rest of my day was just as much of a whirlwind.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Lets run....time to train
So last year I trained for a 25k trail run. I did the majority of my training on the Ozark Greenways trail that runs through sequiota park here in springfield. Its a paved path which sucks for someone training for a trail run but hey its beautiful and feels a lot safer. Well I decided I wanted to start training for another 25k this year and finally this week got around to going out running I got in 2 miles (I think, not sure if my gps was right) on tuesday and I got in almost 2 today. I would have got my full 2 in today except the path was flooded over and I had my dog with me so I didnt want her getting in the car soaked, anyway I turned around before the 1 mile mark so I ended up with a little less than 2 miles. Oh well at least I got out there and committed the time to the training and right now that is just about as important as doing it. I did take some pictures to share with you because I do think it is a beautiful trail with lots to offer! Now lets see if I can figure out how to get those pictures off of my phone. *elevator music* So my good friend Chris Green just called and helped me figure out how to get the pictures off my phone. Ok so now here are the pictures
So at one point in the trail you go under this railroad track. I dont know why but I have always liked it and it makes me think of a simpler time in American history.
Here is my running buddy she can do up to 4 miles but that is pretty much her limit. Even though her legs are a fraction of the length of mine she still drags me along, proof that I run super slow. In the pictures she is giving me the "hey Mom why did we stop" look. She was ready to go and I was stopping to take pictures. Oh well I am not one of those die hard serious runners. I will never be the one racing as fast as I can to the finish line. To me running is about spending time in nature and allowing my mind the opportunity to ponder things, some of importance some of none. Either way I think it is healthy to let our minds wander from time to time. I do think I have come to some of my greatest realizations while out for a run. They usually stop me dead in my tracks and I end up standing there for a moment dazed and thanking God.
When we ran through Sequiota park we were nearly attacked by the many geese that take residence there. Seems to be a good place to live since the water is there and multiple families visit daily with servings of delectable stale bread. Anyway the geese were in an uproar over Daphne and honestly I dont know what Daphne was thinking with all the honking going on but she did slow down her pace and drag a little. Sequiota is actually a really nice park, it has 2 different play areas for kids swing slides the works, it has a small pond well stocked with the geese of course and even some cool caves and rock for climbing. The question now is why havent I climbed there....that is a good question. Perhaps another day and when that day comes I will post pictures of that!
Just south of the park is one of my favorite stretches of the trail. It is nicely shaded with trees and always a good 5 degrees cooler than the rest of the trail due to the beautiful babbling brook that runs along side the trail closely. There have been times I have stopped for a sit and just lost myself watching the water bubble and babble its way gently downstream.
This section of trail also has my favorite tree on the whole trail. It has these amazing roots that are exposed right on the water front they are tangly and beautiful and strong. This is where I will usually stop for a sit and I rest on one of the strong roots right at the waters edge. Its beautiful and raw and powerful and pure and amazingly lovely.
Todays run didnt go as I had planned but the running I did felt good. My pace felt strong, steady and easy enough. The sights sounds and smells reminded me of when I was training for my first 25k and those memories made me happy and ready to commit to the challenge again. You should get another post on Saturday (I should be out for a 3 mile run then), If you dont get a post then grab the nearest cast iron skillet and come after me. Get out in nature and enjoy! Find some of that peace!
So at one point in the trail you go under this railroad track. I dont know why but I have always liked it and it makes me think of a simpler time in American history.
Here is my running buddy she can do up to 4 miles but that is pretty much her limit. Even though her legs are a fraction of the length of mine she still drags me along, proof that I run super slow. In the pictures she is giving me the "hey Mom why did we stop" look. She was ready to go and I was stopping to take pictures. Oh well I am not one of those die hard serious runners. I will never be the one racing as fast as I can to the finish line. To me running is about spending time in nature and allowing my mind the opportunity to ponder things, some of importance some of none. Either way I think it is healthy to let our minds wander from time to time. I do think I have come to some of my greatest realizations while out for a run. They usually stop me dead in my tracks and I end up standing there for a moment dazed and thanking God.
When we ran through Sequiota park we were nearly attacked by the many geese that take residence there. Seems to be a good place to live since the water is there and multiple families visit daily with servings of delectable stale bread. Anyway the geese were in an uproar over Daphne and honestly I dont know what Daphne was thinking with all the honking going on but she did slow down her pace and drag a little. Sequiota is actually a really nice park, it has 2 different play areas for kids swing slides the works, it has a small pond well stocked with the geese of course and even some cool caves and rock for climbing. The question now is why havent I climbed there....that is a good question. Perhaps another day and when that day comes I will post pictures of that!
Just south of the park is one of my favorite stretches of the trail. It is nicely shaded with trees and always a good 5 degrees cooler than the rest of the trail due to the beautiful babbling brook that runs along side the trail closely. There have been times I have stopped for a sit and just lost myself watching the water bubble and babble its way gently downstream.
This section of trail also has my favorite tree on the whole trail. It has these amazing roots that are exposed right on the water front they are tangly and beautiful and strong. This is where I will usually stop for a sit and I rest on one of the strong roots right at the waters edge. Its beautiful and raw and powerful and pure and amazingly lovely.
Todays run didnt go as I had planned but the running I did felt good. My pace felt strong, steady and easy enough. The sights sounds and smells reminded me of when I was training for my first 25k and those memories made me happy and ready to commit to the challenge again. You should get another post on Saturday (I should be out for a 3 mile run then), If you dont get a post then grab the nearest cast iron skillet and come after me. Get out in nature and enjoy! Find some of that peace!
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