Just me and my dog and the road

When I lace up my shoes, and leash up Harley and head out the door...it is just me and him.  He doesn't judge my running style, if my clothes match, if I'm walking or running.  He is just happy to be out there and trying to catch the occasional frog without me looking...I mean really what dog tries to eat a frog?!?  Harley dog...that's who.
He is happy whether we go out for 2 miles or 6...although anything longer he isn't so happy, but is a happy tired doggy.
The road doesn't judge...it doesn't care how I look or what I think about when I'm running.  It is just happy to have someone on it.  It doesn't care if I'm figuring out different pathologies in my head, or singing along with my ipod.  It doesn't care what I wear or if I'm having a bad day.  It is just there waiting.
Some days I feel as though the road and Harley are all I have, besides my family of course...nothing can replace them :)  But the road and Harley might possibly be my best friends besides Ty and Addie and all that is getting me through PA school when I feel completely isolated from the world due to studying.
Some may say that being on the road is isolating, but not when the road can feel what I feel and appreciate all the pathogens and treatments and diseases filling my head.  It lets me dump them on it.
And then I get to come home to a sloppy kiss from Harley and the biggest hugs from Addie and Addie saying she is proud of me and wanting to hear all about my run.

Dear Jillian

Dear Jillian Michaels
Thank you for kicking my ass on days that I can't fit in a run and have eaten lots of chocolate and sugar.
Love,
My Thighs

Why do bad runs happen?

So yesterday I was all pumped up to do my first back to back long run weekends.  I woke up, ate some toast, put on my running clothes, leashed up my dog...went outside....and.....
It was raining.......
Normally I would turn around head back inside but I was determined....I only lasted 2.5 miles but at least it was something.  I couldn't find a rhythm...couldn't get into...the whole time I just wanted to go home and give up.
Today...I slightly redeemed myself...I waited for Ty to get home.  He was later than expected because of traffic so it was darker than I would have liked...but I was determined to go.  So I leashed up Harley and out the door we went.  The next thing I know I ran 5 miles without stopping to walk!!  Only stopping for Harley to do his thing...I don't know if I have ever run that far without stopping to walk at all.  I walked .1 miles and then ran the next .9 to finish off 6 miles.
Topped it off with a piece of chocolate pudding pie :)

Today I discovered....

Today I discovered that not only have I fallen in love with running....I may have become obsessed.  It has been a rough week although I only had 1 test in school I haven't been feeling very well.  I managed to get in a great 6 mile run and was feeling really good but then quickly made excuses to not run the rest of the week.  So now I am feeling lazy, unmotivated, and really starting to freak out about Goofy.  WHAT WAS I THINKING???  However, in all my free time all I do is look up races to run.  If only I could race with out training...probably not a very good idea.
But then we decided to go to Florida Mall for family night...and I discovered the greatest sight for sore running eyes...a running store in the mall!!!  Needless to say, I cheered up almost immediately and could have spent all my money, but instead started making a list for Christmas :)
And tomorrow...I will be running 10 miles and on Sunday I will be running 15 miles.  It is time to stop the excuses and step it up!!!!

Wine and Dine

Last night I completed my second half marathon ever...and my second half marathon at Disney World.  This race presented several challenges..it was a night race...it didn't even start until 10:00pm!!!  I was tired before it started because we did the Halloween 5K at Disney that morning and Addie didn't take a nap all day.  You know what it means when the munchkin doesn't nap...mommy doesn't nap either.  Oh well...adrenaline got me through :)  The second problem was between PA school and moving, I haven't trained for this race.  I did 6 miles a few weeks and that was the longest run in a few months before running 13.1.
The first 4 miles felt great...then I think I left my hamstring in Animal Kingdom.  I ended up walking quite a bit but was keeping under the Disney pace so I wasn't worried about getting swept up.  I knew I wasn't going to make my goal time so I stopped and got pictures with all the characters :)
Definitaly need to step up the training to get ready for Goofy...so while I sit here with ice on my hamstring, waiting for Ty to come home and help me stretch...I've planned my november training schedule.  It is going to be tough to find the time for the runs with three tests a week, but luckily the weather is starting to cool off (by Florida standards...other people still consider 80 warm) so I'll be able to run after school and then study instead of having to wait until it is dark.  Also going to try to do Jillian Michaels 30 day shred everyday before school.  We'll see if I am walking by the end of this week.  I hope so :)
Here are some pictures from the races yesterday: