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I had a great run running back in Eastport on Route 190 past Split Rock. On my return trip I ran south end before returning to the Motel East. I got in 10.98 mile/ it was high tide with many waterfowl flying about. This is perhaps the most scenic place in the world to run. God Bless!

I Haven't Seen You Since Summer

I ran the figure 8 plus 3 x Apple Court for 9 miles. I haven't done this route since August I wanted a change of pace and this route supplied it. Little traffic and beautiful scenery. My next run may be in Maine when I visit my parents with my daughters. A decent week considering the fact that I didn't really feel like being out there any of the workouts except for today. God is so good! A great year of training. God Bless!!

Back on Longwood

I did 9 miles today. Had the feel of winter. Nice workout.

Christmas Run

It had snowed the night before-- just a dusting. I got up at 5:50 am,with no one stirring. All of my kids except for Ericka were elsewhere so things were a bit quieter and subdued. I did 8 x .3 mile hill repeats with equal recovery. I did well on these quiet Christmas streets. All totaled 6.5 miles. Merry Christmas--Jesus is the reason for the season!

Back to the Hills--again!

I just am not looking forward to the longer runs right now! I can get up for .3 mile efforts right now.So another total of 6.5miles with 8 x .3 mile hill repeats. So my grind Arlem out walking-- told me he has even tired-- know the feeling. Also, met another runner named Chuch--and he's on my street. Church tonight! Yay!!! God Bless!

Back at It

I did the Randall Loop this morning,running back at the usual pace after a week of repeats. It was a mild 55 and light rain. I am able to get more sleep with it being vacation time. I had a busy weekend of working to get our new church building ready for the first service on Christmas Eve. I'm excited to see what God is going to do. God Bless!

Saturday Make-Up

I got up and out early to make up for a missed Thursday Run. I knew the day would be a busy one, but I was pleased to get 8 x .3 mile hill repeats again. Total of 6.5 miles! God Bless-- got this entry in on Sunday!

The Christmas Shuffle

 I actually heard my alarm this morning--although I seriously considered staying in bed. Well,habit got the best of me and I meandered downstairs to get my running stuff on. The temp was a rosy 30 degrees. I did my hill repeat workout again for a total of 6.5 miles,but the real work is the 8 x .3 mile repeats.  The thing I like about this workout right now is the time that it saves.
  Today is the last day of school before Christmas break. I am kind of tired,but a pleasant type of fatigue.Looking forward to a break and seeing my daughters. Most of all,I am thankful to God for sending Jesus--the true meaning of Christmas!

I Must Have Been Tired

I woke up an hour and fifteen minutes past my alarm. I guess it's just my body telling me that I need a break--it did make me kind of angry though. Looking at past blogs this seems to be something that happens a lot this time of year before Christmas Break. I may run just four days this week--I'll just have to see how much energy I have. Life is just busy now and tiring--oh well,blessed anyway and always.

Reminiscent of Eastport

 Today the roads were glazed over with snow and ice.  The ice had enough rough spots that I could get traction on my 8 x .3 mile hill repeats--with warm-up and cool-down 6.5 miles. It seemed back in Eastport that snow and bad weather meant speed work of some sort. I was reading old blogs on sonriserunning.blogspot.com yesterday and relived some of the old days for a few moments. I am reminded that no matter how good or bad things were in my life, that my workouts have been a constant--for that,I have been truly blessed.
    I have been fortunate to have lived in places that have been conducive with good training.  The streets this morning were very quiet,with the sandtruck coming by mid-run to provide decent traction. Speed isn't the focus,but rather just trying to run faster than normal and the hill provides the resistance. I'm glad that I made the switch to this workout for the week. My friend Andy gave me many good ideas in workouts over the years and I have borrowed most of these workouts.
    I have been so busy that really I have not had much time for reflection.  I will say that no matter how tough times have been, the Christmas season has always been a blessed time of year for me. I'm not sure where this road of life will take me,but I know that my Lord is always there with me providing for me aqll the grace and mercy that I need. God Bless!

Head to the Hills

 I did a total of 6.5 miles of 8 times .3 mile hill repeats. I plan on using this workout for the week. This workout gets the work in quicker allowing me to run fewer miles--and most importantly,lets me sleep in . I sometimes get into a mindset that works for me at aa certain time--hill repeats is the mindset this grueling week at work. Being an ex-middle distance runner means my mentality is geared to intervals. God Bless!

A Change of Venue

Today I decided to change things up with my energy draining and the days getting longer. I caught a mild cold in addition. My plan is to cut the volume this week--so I am doing 8 x .3 mile repeats with equal recovery. The warm-up and ,cool down and intervals all mount up to 6.5 miles. Felt decent today with a bit of soreness. The best part is that I never am more than 8 tenths of a mile from home. It was a beautiful,cool and windy late fall workout. Have a blessed day!

Slowly going down the Tubes

My energy is slowly melting away as the school year marches on to Christmas.  I think I will cut back to three easier days next week doing the figure 8 loop. This loop involves shorter running intervals and more walking. Plus it's very quiet on those streets.  Coming down with right now a mild cold. Glad that I have two off running days coming up. Has definitely been a colder December this year so far. The little snow that we got on Monday and Tuesday has stayed--at least on our part of the island. I did 8.46 yesterday and 8.41 today.  It's funny how dodging traffic can add distance to a run since both days were run on the same route. I've seen lots of deer lately.  Have a blessed day all!

Cold but Better

 8.94 miles on the Randall Loop this morning. Winter is here,unofficially anyway. I felt better with a better night's sleep. Nice relaxing evening with no afterschool. The streets were quiet and the scenery beautiful. Have a blessed day!

Not Feeling It

Since Thanksgiving vacation I have been a bundle of fatigue.  I mean my workouts are going well,I'm just feeling a bit behind in everything else.  I'm too stubborn to slack on my workouts hanging in there until Christmas vacation when I can sleep in a bit and not be so rushed. I did the Longwood Loop again for 9.01 miles. I ran four minutes faster today even though I knew for sure that I was more tired. The secret was that from just past mile five to just past mile 2 there was a runner who began his workout and ran approximately 2 miles of the route until he was picked up by a friend in the car. I had the edge on him the whole way,even though I wasn't even sure if he was still there,but I sensed that he was there and kept up a decent pace. At the end of his run ,all of a sudden I was aware that he was there and he pulled up and then passed me. I stayed just off his shoulder until he picked up the pace and pulled ahead by just under 10 yards with what I realized then was his finishing kick. I shoulk his hand and then kept running. If it weren't for him I would not have run nearly as well. I was pleased at the end to see that I had run a decent time for me. I saw several deer running around as well as a dead opossum.  Have a blessed day!

The Good Feeling of Winter

 I woke up this morning expecting miserable winter weather--which is a bit exciting to me being from Maine and having run in all sorts of winter weather including days of sub-zero weather.  It was 30 degrees with freezing rain.  I was stiff and not smooth this morning,but the joy of running with  snow on the ground made up for this lack of zip in my legs.  The Longwood loop was quiet this morning with a breeze out of the east bringing in a light film of frozen drizzle.   I'm just going to try to get the work in and not worry too much about the speed these next couple of weeks before and during vacation. Eastern Long Island is beautiful and provides enough winter weather and wildlife to suit me.My mind does reminisce almost every day of all my beautiful runs back in Eastport,Maine. Did 9.0 miles on the nose this morning. Have a blessed day!

Damp,Foggy, and Mild

It was 54 degrees this drizzly Friday morning!  I was feeling a bit tired(the theme of this week)and stiff this morning. I did my standard 2 times Middle Country and back plus the figure 8 loop for 8.47 miles. The pizza I ate last night was starting to get to my stomach a bit--lactose intolerance stinks sometimes.  Well,overall I am pleased at how this week shaped up--5 decent workouts and not really feeling it.  Looking forward to a couple of planned rest days before Lord willing I'm back at it next week.  I am liking the Runtastic app on my phone.  Have a blessed day!

Spring in Fall

 Today's temperature was a mild 52 degrees with some fog and drizzle. This has been a strange week of feeling tired,yet I've had some decent workouts.  Today I did the Randall loop which today was 8.95 miles. I got out the door a little over 5 minutes later than usual --noticed that this five minutes meant more cars out and around--slightly annoying.  Looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday. Tomorrow I will attempt to do my old standby Ridge,Raynor, and Woodlot plus--always subject to change.  Being apart from my three youngest daughters never gets any easier,but I am blessed to call them mine. Have a blessed day! 

Nice Run on Longwood

I didn't necessarily feel the strongest this morning, but I did run a decent time and felt good in spite of a lack of butt-kicking energy. I did get a decent nights sleep last night which I'm sure was helpful--as well as not teaching after-school. I went to Jace's winter concert held in the fall of course. Jace did a great job of course. I love the early morning,having the streets all to myself--enjoying this beautiful part of Long Island. In this Christmas season I will be thankful for all the blessings that the Lord has brought into my life. Each Christmas has been different from the other,but God's blessings and the love of my family have been the constants. Nice 9.02 miles at 26 degrees!

The Great Figure 8!

 I did 8.42 miles this morning on the Ridge,Raynor,Woodlot plus two times Rt. 25 and back. This is route that I run when I need peace and quiet. I saw a few deer darting around this morning. It's so dark again--at least we have street lights. Blessed run even though I was tired.

Back Home

Back in Ridge again running my familiar routes. It's nice to be home, but at the same time there is an emptiness without my three youngest daughters. I had a great three plus days with them, but then there is that sadness that occurs when we part ways. Today's run was totally in the dark but done with the aid of the street lamps that don't exist at my parent's house. Ran a nice 8.93 miles on Randall Road. Have a blessed day!