Beautiful, busy week

I've been busy writing short papers for two of my classes, studying for tests in the other two and doing volunteer work for the League of Older Americans Meals on Wheels program (a requirement of one of my classes).....doesn't leave much time for blogging! Did a 8 mile run/walk at the cove this past Wednesday and ran the Apple Valley 5k today
- bettered my time by ~2 minutes! This race is a fun cross country course around the perimeter of the apple orchard and the tshirts are always wonderful.
I drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway back home and enjoys the fading fall colors and the brisk weather.


Just can't imagine living anywhere else....have decided to not do the More Marathon March 2007 but have registered for the 20 mile Uwharrie Run in February 2007 - closer and I'm liking the longer distance trail runs more than the long road runs. The Uwharrie is a well supported run with a reasonable finish time limit - the great unknown is North Carolina mountain weather in February!

Fall run/walk

Beautiful day for a 8 mile run/walk at the cove.....now on to work at 3p.

Cool Weather Blues

I'm trying to adjust to the cooler weather .... meanwhile, my hibiscus in the corner of the dining area brings a little warm weather to me as I study ...

Cold Weather is here!

Windy, cold weather with the possibility of snow flurries in the surrounding mountains - with a hard frost likely tonight I pulled the lettuce from my little lettuce patch.
Spent the rest of the day after class studying and knitting - my current project is cotton washclothes knitted on size 5 needles making them thick and tightly woven. These needles were the first ones I bought when I learned to knit in elementary school. I figure they are close to 40 years old - one is a little bent and the color is worn from the tips. My first project was a long gone hairband but I still have a sweater I knitted in middle school.
With this cooler weather I'll be back to the YMCA to run .... will still be outside on the less windy days. Cold weather has arrived...

Safety

Ran/walked the 3 mile course along the Roanoke River today. Several days ago a woman's body was found in the river adjoining this popular trail and the murder appears to be a homicide. My friends and I have agreed that we will continue to use this course as before but I do feel the need to review the safety precautions I take whenever I run. I never run outside at night no matter where I am and I don't use headphones when I run alone (I seldom use headphones when running with others either.) I speak to people as I approach them and I watch for people that speed up as I pass them or appear to slow down as I approach. I also have a loud whistle I try to remember to wear - will be more diligent about that now. I also vary the locations and times of my runs so there is no predictability in case someone is watching. Perhaps this sounds over cautious, but I don't think so. In my younger, naive days I was twice approached by men exposing themselves as I walked through parking lots - once at a local mall and once at the hospital. Years ago, I read Gavin de Becker's "The Gift of Fear" - I remember the observations and advice in this book clearly and shape my personal safety strategies accordingly. I strongly recommend this book to all.

Good Saturday...

Participated in the American Heart Association Heartwalk today at Explore Park - cool, clear day ideal for a brisk 3 mile walk. Leaves are turning and should be at their peak in the next week or so. Asked his mom if I could take a picture of this adorable little boy climbing on the rocks wearing a heart disease survivor red ball cap and a sign on this shirt "I'm walking for me!" He was born with a congenital heart defect and had surgery at University of Virginia - watching him play you would never know it!
Frost warning tonight so I cut the rest of my basil and picked lettuce ..... made a great dinner of fresh pesto and salad. Time to start a pot of soup in the crockpot!

The Rest of the Week....

Update on the cucuzza squash - able to save seeds to plant next year. The squash was just too hard to peel. I think it was overgrown and on it's way to a gourd state ...oh well, will see how the seeds do next year!



Did a 7 mile trail run on the McAfee's Knob trail the other day - the views were fantastic and the colors will be at their peak in a week or so. Meet 3 hikers through hiking the Appalachian trail ... what a wonderful trail to have so close by!
Ran the Womens' 5k today in cool, rain threatened weather. Did a PR on my 5k time!
No classes next week so time to catch up on chores, reading and school work....not bad at all.