I know that I can’t be the only adult person I know, who, after a long day at work comes home and think of the easiest thing to eat for dinner and cap it with a nice cold beer. I often find myself writing with my Angry Orchard next to me, after having a dinner of a bowl of Honey Nut Chex. Tonight wasn’t too different than that, I had come home tired after a long day at work. It didn’t bother me to be there longer than normal, it was beyond my control. Got home after picking up the youngest from my parents house. She was already fed and as soon as we got home, she tells me the she’s going to bed because she’s so tired. I go into my room and find my husband sleeping so soundly. He was cute all snuggled up in the blanket. The dog only wanted on to the bed to sleep next to him. Me, I wanted wings and beer. I settled for waffles. Kashi Glute Free Original Waffles with butter and homemade peach raspberry jam… but not too much, if needed, I could have picked them up and ate them like toast. And now, I’m sitting here, after my chores are done, having my beer. At this point, I find myself to be lucky because it’s a cider so it tastes like apple juice, so it’s not like having a beer made from hops for breakfast, though, if I could, I would still drink it. Newcastle was my favorite beer for many years.

I didn’t run today, however, I was glad to have gotten out yesterday as well as Wednesday. Yesterday I was able to take the dog to the outdoor classroom for a short loop around the learning area. I didn’t have enough light to make it the full 6 miles without having my flashing lights on me and the dog. Well, the dog’s harness is a LightHound, so it does glow and keep her lite up while we run. Anyhow, it was also the longest run since the marathon. I am still shocked how long it’s taking me to feel fully recovered. I am sure that if I forced myself to get up and go run in the morning, I would start feeling better, so, I am going to get up in the morning and do the full 6 miles of the trails. At least I hope we can get to the trails without a ton of mud. As much as I like the mud to hike in, I don’t like it to try to run in as I have slipped and pulled a muscle before and while I should be more adventurous, I don’t like not being able to run at all from being injured.

I find that while I love the afternoon runs, I don’t like how many other dogs and dog owners we come across. I have been charged far more times while running with the dog in the afternoon and the evening. I think it has to do with the fact that more people are more likely to be out in their yards doing maintenance, or out with their own animals than in the morning. I like that about the morning. I don’t tend to see many other runners with animals, nor do I see animals chilling on the front porches of houses. Most homes I pass are still clocked in darkness. It’s lovely. It’s beautiful to see the sun come up while running. I like doing trails in the morning for this reason. It’s like a dream being in the forest in the morning when life is coming out of the night time slumbers. The light comes through the branches of the tress overhead shining it’s light on the stream that runs along the footpath. I can’t think of a better place to hang out at way too early in the morning 🙂

Wednesday’s run wasn’t a fun one. I was tired and sore and upset and had much on my mind. Heavy stuff for me, and that was hard. However, after getting my short distance of a mile and half done, I was able to sit and listen and focus, meditate facing the afternoon sun. I don’t know why, but, I love to sit in the sun and close my eyes and just listen to my most favorite song, a friend made me a CD, it was homemade, it’s different songs put into one continuous stream of tones that make me feel like I’m spinning, oddly enough, a song within this song is called Whirrling Dervish. Which is even more interesting if you think about a whirling dervish was s group a people who were followers of the poet Rumi and they would spin, an it was called a Whirling Dervish. Just some fun facts… at least I hope I remembered that correctly. If I didn’t, I am truly sorry. I read it once, it was in the beginning of the book The Essential Rumi. The cover of this book is the same photo of the cover of the album of the song Whirling Dervish… so much cool if you of it…. Where was i…. Oh yes, spinning.. I sat and thought about the stuff from the day and decided to let it all go. Let go of the stress of it and it was going to be ok. Whatever the outcome.

The dog wanted to go further than I did on Wednesday. It’s all good, I just didn’t really want to. I wanted to run forever and not deal with it, but, it wasn’t a good time to push my miles. I haven’t been as active as I normally am, and I don’t want to end up with shin splints or stress fractures by adding too many miles too fast again, so, I am going slowly. Maybe I will only do the loop for the morning. It’s 4.5 miles. It’s a good idea to go backwards!! Yes!! That way we can add the loop at the outdoor classroom which will get our miles up to 5.25 miles. Not too shabby. But a good route… or not. I never know until I get out there and I go with all the factors for running… Weather is the most important, but, every once in a while, I get that feeling that I need to not be out there, I don’t ignore it. If something feels off, I will stop the run and go home and not run at all until that feeling is gone. The dog isn’t always happy about that, but, I feel like for what ever reason I feel like that, at least I’m still alive and well to be able to make the decision.

I feel pretty good, I think it’s time for me to turn in. I will run tomorrow, I have no doubt. It’s going to be wonderful.. even if it’s not the best.. it’s going to be best 🙂