I’d Decided…

… a few weeks ago that perhaps it was time that I invest in a mountain bike – or to put it bluntly – something with a few gears.

DASH is a wonderful friend and I’m not going to be getting rid of him anytime soon – but it was time to man up and find another bike.

I’ve been looking around on line – comparative shopping.

I actually went out on Saturday and found THE MOUNTAIN BIKE I was going to purchase.  But it was raining and I wasn’t feeling it.

What’s the point of buying a new bike that you can’t immediately take for a ride on the trail?

Exactly.

Besides, I knew Sunday was going to be 80 degrees and sunny.

After church and dinner with Mom, purchase I did.

3.35 MILES LATER – was a good maiden voyage on “Mountain MAN”.

Monday?

NEW. SEAT.

If I can walk from the car to the store…

I’m All For Choices…

… and sometimes it’s the easy ones I regret the most.

I wasn’t in the mood to run this morning. I woke up early – then I fell back asleep.

My body was tired because of the 10.27 MILES OF TRAIL RIDING I did yesterday.

But like I said the OTHER DAY, if I’m going to tell people that I’m a runner, I’ve got to RUN.

I tried to explain to a friend the other evening – I often talk about how much I love running.  Please don’t get me wrong – I do love it.  Mostly after I’ve finished running.  It’s not easy in the ‘middle’ of the run – a lot of times I’m miserable.  It’s still hard – most times, hardest of all to get out the door and do it.

What I’ve learned about myself during the times I’ve ‘soldiered’ on thru the run – translates to anything LIFE throws at me.  I’m not afraid of the ‘Valley of the Shadow of Death’ – because I know I’m never alone ‘Surely, Goodness and Mercy’ are my pacers.

I’ve committed to it, I’ve at least got to try.

Today was 2.04 MILES OF TRYING.

I’m okay with that…

I Don’t Think…

… there was a full moon this week – but there was ALL KINDS of craziness out on the WASHINGTON COUNTY PANHANDLE TRAIL section.

I rode 10.27 MILES in less than an hour.  For DASH and me – that’s pretty amazing.

It was such a beautiful day and after a cold start to the week – I knew I needed to take advantage of the weather.

Here’s the craziness – while I was riding, I came up behind a woman who looked like she was pushing a baby stroller, not unusual.  Turns out it was a kiddie stroller that was modified with a clothes basket to hold her dog.

Right?  That dog was lovin’ it!

I also saw a bunch of cars parked in a lot near CATANEY AIRPORT – turns out they were flying miniature model helicopters!!

Then, when I got back to McDonald Junction – I saw a guy who was walking his dog AND PLAYING HIS GUITAR.  He was serenading his dog while he walked on the trail.

Oh the joy of people watching!

I love riding the Panhandle Trail – just rustic enough that you forget you’re not far from civilization.

I Figure…

… if you’re going to tell your doctors that you’re a runner?

You’d better get out there and do some running.

Just sayin’.

After an absolutely MISERABLY SLOW RUN on Saturday, I figured it was time to put up AND shut up.

I also made a rash decision when I was setting my runkeeper app – to turn on the 5/1 [5 mins running – 1 min walking] training and see what happens.

Know what? [Of course you do, you’re the interwebz!]

I was able to run a faster pace running the intervals than I am running continuously.

So there you are: 1.82 MILES OF FAST-ER-NESS. 

I think you know that this means that I am going to abort my plan TO RUN THE ENTIRE 5K WITH NO WALKING.  I mean – why fix something that ain’t broke?

Exactly.

I’m Just Gonna Say…

…it wasn’t my BEST run – but it was a run.

WHICH IS BETTER THAN NO RUN AT ALL

And with two really good friends.

That’s all that mattered.

New Month…

... new motto.

This is Holy Week. Busiest of the year for church musicians.  Add in all the other things I need to do, car inspection, rehearsal for NOT ANOTHER NUN SHOW, learning lines and music for said show… blah blah blah.  Everyone gets it.

But, my goal is to stay on track for the PITTSBURGH MARATHON 5k on Saturday, May 5th. 

Thirty-Three days, babee!

I rocked out a solid 1.54 MILES WITH NO WALKING.

I’m happy to say, sub 13 minute mile.

Passed my target for March’s 30 mile challenge by 8.5 miles. Those bike rides really helped to kick that mileage up.

Here’s to another 30 miles in April!

No Slackin’…