So I’ve been running around our development pre-dawn as I normally do. It is dark here, and a little scary, and I can’t quite shaking the idea of a gator by the side of the road.

I’ve seen other runners, too, and they seem non-plussed about the alligators, so I haven’t been too, too worried. I take a flashlight and flash it on the ground in spots where it is really dark. I listen, and I’m cautious, and I keep out a good eye.

So this morning I ran 14 miles. It was a good run, and while I’m not sure what my time was per mile I think I am picking up my pace. It has picked up some during shorter runs so I hope that it is carrying over.

I saw a few people while out, stopped at the marina for a glance at the sun coming up over the water, and got home about 7:30 when the family was eating breakfast.

Around lunchtime I drove the girls to Publix for some groceries and what did we see by the pond on the way out of the development? An alligator!

Everyone has been ‘laughing’ at me a bit when I mention my nervousness about seeing a gator while running, but now that I have actually seen one perhaps they will understand my trepidation!

So he was by the pond, and that was by the opening of the development, and that is not a path I take.

Yet now I’m nervous.

Anyone know what wards off gators?!

Happy running!

I did 12 miles today.

It was beautiful but cold as hell.

I left the house without my hat and, afraid to wake the family, braved it. I stopped at CVS to see if they sold beanie hats-I had $5 for a bottle of water but knew that even if I ran 22 miles today I wouldn’t need more than my two bottles I always carry with me.

It was too cold to drink.

My nose hairs froze.

My freaking power bar froze! In order to eat it, I had to stick part of it in my mouth and let the heat of my saliva warm it enough to break it off, then chew it!

It was cold . . .

Oh, and by the way, CVS doesn’t sell beanies.

But the run was good. I enjoy the cold, so I liked it.

I went a new way today and ended up by the marsh when the sun was coming up. For those of you that don’t know about marshes,  during dawn and dusk the animals come alive. They squawk and screech and shake and eat and swim and flap and flutter. It is an amazing time to be out and alive and, well, running.

I saw porpoises today in the inlet, just as the sun was peaking over the water. I miss seeing mountains in the horizon but honestly the sunrises here, and the sunsets, are truly amazing. Just one look at Spanish moss covering giant oaks, and herons and ducks and all the other wildlife, is enough to stop my heart for a minute. Here is sunset in our backyard:

So while I froze, it was truly a magnificent run. I have two options now that we are moving to our new house tomorrow; Drive 20 minutes to this area to run on Saturdays when I do my long runs or remain where we are living.

Where we are living is beautiful, but it is dark. And loud. And kind of, well, scary! The animals make all kinds of noises (we are on the marsh), and there are no street lights, so when the sun goes down it is pitch black.

I think I’ll drive to the beach. Though it is also fairly dark, there are light spots, and I know it now from running it the last few weeks. I enjoy it here, and I can park my car by Starbucks and stop for a coffee and bagel when I am done.

I have to count the days, but I am getting close to Disney. I ran 12 today, will do 14 or so next Saturday. Then I need to drop back for a week and then do 16 and 18. I don’t have enough time to drop back and do 20 and then stay lower for two weeks, so I think I’m going to have to reconfigure!

Now, off to sleep! Hope all of your weekend runs were good ones!

So yesterday was moving day. We got our stuff back! Yay! It was all put into the house, and my husband and I spent the rest of the day putting stuff away, painting and cleaning up . . . oh, and fixing a leak!

This morning I did a 4 mile run, then we went out to the house. There, in the garage, I found them: My weights!

AAAH!

I picked them up and started to do some bicep curls. The girls thought I was crazy. It has been about a week and a half since I have touched a weight. Yes, I can do push ups, but honey it just isn’t the same! I love those darn weights!

I am missing my extra cardio but it will come, I see the end of this exercise setback in sight and it feels so good! Almost as good as those weights lol.

I did have a good run, though it was extremely cold this morning! I ran in my hat and long leggings, and I will do a short run tomorrow wearing the same. I think it was in the 30s. I loved it: I love running in the cold weather. Give me cold over hot anyday!

Now, I have stuff to do, (like watch Brad Pitt’s interview on Oprah, ha ha). Hope all of your runs today were good ones!

So I did it: I ran ten  miles this morning in our new town, on the area where I will be doing my long miles. Right now I am staying here, so it was get up and go out the door after eating a hard boiled egg and getting dressed.

From now on, though, I will be living about ten miles away, so I will be eating while driving to the spot where I will begin my run. Which, by the way, will be in a parking lot beside Starbucks! I’m so excited; I can finish up my long run and have a Starbucks all on a Saturday morning, yoo hoo!

Anyway, the morning was humid as heck. I am not used to that; we’ve been in the west for six years, so I can run for two hours and barely break a sweat. Here, ten minutes into the run I was wet.

I took off my shirt and ran in my sports bra, remembering with each step something I once read: “Come on girls, it’s a BRA, not a SHIRT!”

Too bad-it was too damn hot to really care about that!

The first few miles were rough; my legs felt like lead, and I questioned my choice of pre-run hard boiled egg, which was stuck in my throat. But the rest of the run went well. I stopped at a convenience store for a bottle of water and a bathroom break around mile 7.

At mile 8, I looked up in the sky-just before the rain really started to pour-and saw a double rainbow! The top was the darkest, and then a fainter rainbow directly beneath. I’m hoping that means good luck, as the floor guy really did not do a good job on our floors-at least the first try-and has to redo them tonight and tomorrow.

At mile 9 the sky opened up and for the last mile I ran in the rain. I love running in the rain. I know some people hate it, but I just love the freshness and coolness and cleanness. I got some strange looks. The waiters at IHOP gaped as I strolled by. I don’t care. Give me a ten miler in the rain and I will take it anyday.

I hope I can survive this humidity. It is cold out now. Wish I were running in the morning! The only thing better than rain running, to me, is running in the cold!

Hope your Saturday runs were good ones!

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s long run. It will be a ten miler, and the first longer run (over 6) that I’ve done in two weeks! I’d like to go further but am afraid to injure myself. I was up to 13 before we moved, so we will see how tomorrow goes. I have to get up to 20 since the Disney marathon is in about two months!

The move is going well. We should get our furniture moved into the new home on Tuesday of next week and we will follow on Wednesday. Right now they are cleaning up and doing the floors, which were slightly ruined by the old owners.

My four year old is having a difficult time. She really misses her friends, so today while her sister napped we wrote some letters. It was sad to hear her say things like how much she missed them and wanted to go back there. I hope that once she gets settled in her new school she will be happy again!
Now , my issue: Swimming.

We have a pool in our new home, but of course we aren’t going to heat it and it is already cold. So, I have at least four months or so of cold water. Do I buy a wet suit, which I need for tris anyway, now, and swim in it until it warms up, or do I pay a lot of money to go to the one gym in town that has childcare (to the tune of eighty per month!) Thinking it would be way more cost effective to buy the wetsuit and swim while the kids take naptime each day (or on my swim days) . . . any thoughts? I mean, how cold can it really be in one of those suits (I know, stupid question, eh!?) Would I adjust? Do I buy a full suit or just a shorts and shirt suit? I could use it in the future when I start doing tris. I want my first one to be early this spring. I don’t know . . . thoughts?

Have a great run tomorrow! I am looking forward to mine, and can’t wait to lace up tomorrow morning bright and early!

I just love to run in new places! I think it is my favorite part of running.

This morning I ran around our temporary housing quarters. Now, since we are going from a job that provided a work car to one that does not, we now have to purchase a new car (or a used car, which is the way we are leaning) for my husband to use to get to and from work.

In the meantime, the girls and I will be without transportation once he begins his new job-tomorrow.

Luckily our temporary housing (which we will remain in for one week) is near a few things, like a few restaurants with play areas (not that I want the girls to eat fast food-I’m strictly against it-but we can get yogurts there). The place is near a grocery store, and I’m so iun luck because it is very close to a Starbucks!

Those were the only things I new it was by-until this morning’s run.

I went five miles, and on the way back got a little lost. Just a little. I knew where I was, kind of. But then I discovered this cute little shopping village filled with stores, restaurants and a bookstore! It’s within walking distance of the condo, so I can take the girls there during the day. I can’t wait to get into that bookstore! Bookstores are to me what I imagine Neiman Marcus is to a clothes shopper-just pure heaven!

I’m frustrated becasue along the way I have not been able to work out the amount I typically do. No biking, no swimming, few weights. I’ve run longer runs more frequently to make up for it, but still want my weights! i didn’t realize how much I enjoyed lifting until this trip. The one time I hit a really great gym was in New Orleans at the Sheraton. Little did I know, until our bill arrived, they charged me $10 for that gym visit! I told my husband I wouldn’t have gone if I had known prior to, but in all honesty I would have. I needed my crunches on the stability ball and my weights like a junkie needs crack, I think!

So, today we are off to pick out paint for the girls’ bedrooms, to get the home’s locks changed and to let the floor guy in so he can repair some damaged wood. We found out we have harp (my mom says it is heart but husband swears he said harp) pine floors. They are the knotty wood type, I love them. The previous owners did some damage trying to sheen them, so we are having that taken up and then having the house buffed.

I am going to attach pictures later today. Happy Running, Friends! Here is a shot of the girls and me in New Orleans, along our trip, as well as a few others of our cross country adventure!

I am sorry that i haven’t checked in lately!

We are on the road, in San Antonio right now.

The trip has gone like this: Friday night, Halloween in our old neighborhood.

Saturday morning, 5 1/2 hours to Phoenix.

Saturday night from 7Pm to 2 AM the girls threw up over and over and over again.

Sunday we drove to New Mexico. The girls threw up only once (the little one) but the big one had a fever.

Monday, on to Texas. Girls feeling better, only one throw up the little one again – and no fever.

Tuesday, everyone felt okay. not great, but okay.

Today, Wednesday, my husband got it. He’s been throwing up for a few hours.

Between driving and riding and cleaning up after sick little girls, this mom is tired! I have managed to sneak in a few quick runs and workouts, though. I’ll post more later, but here is the funny one of the day.

Today I ran for forty minutes while everyone slept (or tried to). I ran down through the River Walk area in San Antonio and wound up at the Alamo. It was so cool! There, where I didn’t expect it, was the freaking Alamo! This is why I love running outdoors in new places-you see so many cool things.

ANyway, I decided to run through the Alamo. I mean, how cool is that, running through the freaking  Alamo? When all of a sudden I heard, “MISS!” I turned around face to face with a guard, who informed me that you can’t run in the Alamo.

For some reason, that struck me as insanely funny. Perhaps it is the craziness of this trip, with everyone getting sick, or the fact that I haven’t slept super well. But whatever it was, I cracked up and then apologized.

The guard said, “About half a mile or so down the road is a great place to run, if you want to go there.” And he gave me directions.

I can say this, people in Texas have been super polite!

I didn’t go where he told me since I was at the end of my run, but instead headed back to the hotel, where everyone was awake-no one had slept-and husband was complaining that he might be sick. The girls and I ate down at the little manager’s dinner. Free chicken, salad and wine! woo hoo!

The trip is going okay, I will write much more later, despite the fact that everyone has the flu. We have seen some beautiful country, and I Just wish that we had seen it under better circumstances. This could truly have been a most spectacular trip had we all felt well and up for it.

Happy Running!