First Week of School Finished

Ran ~5 miles along river yesterday after class, took a nap afterwards and worked 3p - 11p. In bed by 12:30 am, up by 5:30a to teach basic life suport review 7a - 4p, back home for a nap, cook dinner and spend a little time with husband, back to work tomorrow for 12 hours. Looking forward to a long, hard run Sunday...school is fine BTW

Sometimes I Wish I Were a Cat

Home from work at midnight last night, up at 6a to eat breakfast, read newspaper, do a load of laundry, attend class 8a - 9:15a, run 5 miles along river, back home to eat lunch, start load of dishes in dishwasher, fuss over feeling poorly husband, shower and dress and to work to teach 2p - 7p, stop at grocery store on way home, cook dinner....sometimes I wish...

Figuring It All Out...

First day of classes this morning then ran ~3 miles along the perimeter of downtown. My friend who owns a barber shop along my running loop will keep a bottle of water in her fridge for me - I told her to expect me most Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Telling people helps me keep the commitment to run!

Feels Like the End of Summer for Me...

Slept in this morning and then took a nap after lunch - recovery hard today after the 12 miles yesterday. Took some aspirin and drank extra fluids and finally the aches in the legs and feet subsided by midafternoon. The aches seemed normal fatigue type pain not injury pain but I listened to my body and had a slow start to the day. Once up and about went downtown to wander around and pick up some of the last peaches of this year's harvest.
Tomorrow I start back to school to study respiratory therapy - need a change after being a RN for 20 years. Classes in the morning and then working evening shift so will run after class. I'm up to the challenge to making it all work and keeping focused on the priorities in my life - my health, my husband and my running....it will work out.

Back to Serious Running

After three 12hour+ shifts at the hospital and one day to recover and catch up on chores I was ready for some serious running. The half marathon September 9 is looking mighty close! I started the morning meeting the women's training group organized by the Star City Striders in preparation for the annual Women's 5k run held the first of October. The group was about evenly split walkers, run/walkers, and runners. I joined the run/walk group to help mentor them and fell into conversation with a young women who had ran cross country in high school and wanted to start running again to improve her health. She set the pace and we ran/walked for ~2 miles and meet up with the rest of the group. The plan is to meet every Saturday morning at various sites and the goal is for everyone to finish the 5k at their own pace.



After finishing up there, I drove out to the reservoir to meet Linda and trail run. We run/walked 10 miles at a 15 minute/mile pace as the temperatures climbed into a rather uncomfortable mid 80s. We have two more long runs planned before September 9 and will do shorter runs together or separately as schedules permit. Many runners, hikers and bikers out today - both the cove and the greenway along the river are such treasures in the valley.

Key West Pics - Absolutely No Running Content!

Fabulous Key West sunsets - people stop whatever they're doing to head to the water to celebrate the end of another great day in paradise...

Hen and chicks scratching around for food near Mallory Square

Proof that I really did knit while poolside in Key West!

Back to Training for the Half Marathon

Meet Linda for a long fitness walk and catch up time since we haven't seen each other since I came back from vacation. A comfortable morning with temperatures in the 60s but quickly climbing into the 80s as we set out. Maintaining a fitness walk pace of 15 minutes/mile we traveled along the Roanoke River Greenway for 3 miles and then headed up Mill Mountain. Mill Mountain is a local landmark with a children's zoo and a huge neon star at the top therefore giving Roanoke the nickname "Star City of the South". The old road leading up the mountain is blocked to through traffic and several stately old homes are on the lower portion of the tree lined road.

One of the two archways on the road up the mountain - I remember riding up this road and through these archways as a child. The ride up was as exciting as the zoo to me when I was a child.

The star overlook is a must see for vistors to the area (there is a well maintained road leading to the zoo and star connecting to the Blue Ridge Parkway). This is also a popular destination for a romantic interlude.

Roanoke is a beautiful large town/small city located in a valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail are nearby. Jogging back down the mountain we discussed our upcoming half marathon(me)and marathon (Linda) at Douthat State Park in September . This is my first half marathon and my goal is to finish on my feet. We're claiming 9 miles for this fitness walk with some bursts of running. Serious trail running coming up this Saturday - stay tuned. I will spend the rest of the afternoon labeling some books for my other passion Bookcrossing !!