Another Windy Day

This weekend was a ridiculous food extravaganza, starting Friday night and ending Sunday night, interrupted only by an 8 mile run on Saturday morning. So today, the plan was for a bit of "detox" with a lot of fruits and veggies on the menu and definitely a run. After a morning of errands and a bit of work, Snowman and I headed out this afternoon to the Commons for a run. Although it was 52 degrees, it was incredibly windy, with some serious gusts kicking up all day long. We first looped around the field before heading onto the Commons trails, and were pleasantly surprised to find the trails almost totally devoid of snow/ice and pretty dry. Once we got into the woods, we were protected from the wind and it was quite nice. We got in 6 miles in exactly an hour, and once again, it was good to run with Snowman and chat as we ran along.

In keeping with the plan, tonight was a healthy dinner of salad and Moroccan Roasted Veggies over brown rice, but it was followed up with huge bowls of delicious ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery so we may have canceled all the "detox" out! Ah well... Pregnancy might as well have a few benefits :-)

Muddy Bradley Palmer Run

We headed down to Snowman's parents place last night for the weekend, with the idea of getting over to Bradley Palmer State Park this morning for a run. The second part of the plan was to get Snowman's sister, Meghan, out on the trails for us. The only problem was that this morning dawned not clear, sunny and warm, but dreary, raw and 40 degrees. Meghan was not excited. We tried to persuade her that it would be a good for her, and would be a fun adventure. She was convinced we were trying to kill her :-) Still, we managed to get her in the car with us, and we were off.

It was cool and windy at the start as we headed down the "accessible trail" along the river. It was interesting to run this section, as the last time we were here, it was snow and ice covered! We kept the pace nice and mellow, and chatted as we ran along. We hit some of the nice single track along the river, went through the fields, and continued on around the park, stomping through some good mud puddles along the way.









Before we knew it, we had run more than 3 miles, and with Meghan feeling good, we headed back out into the park on the paved road to do one more loop.

We got back to the car the second time around with the Garmin reading 5 miles and around 57 minutes. Meghan decided to call it day, and I headed back out with Snowman on the Fat Ass course to get in a few more miles.

At 7 miles, I took a cut off back to the road and headed back to the car. I had really wanted to get in 10 miles, but 8 miles in 1:29:10 was OK too. I felt good the whole way, and it was lots of fun to be out in the woods with Snowman and Meghan!

Flora and fauna notes: Saw two Downy Woodpeckers, lots of chickadees, and a few tufted titmice and red breasted nuthatches at the feeders by the outhouse. In the swampy areas, the skunk cabbage was showing its head, and there were some cheery daffodils blooming in the grassy areas.

Frosty

I headed out at 6:45 am and the sun was just poking its head up above the treeline. It was 31 degrees and things were a little frosty. Frosty car windshields. Frosty grass. Frosty and frozen sand on the powerlines. I keep thinking every cool morning is going to be the last one until fall, but not quite yet, I guess. Still it was a nice morning to be out. Crisp and clear. I only did 3 miles, but they felt good.

We're headed to MA tonight for a weekend with Snowman's family. Part of the plan is to get his sister Meghan out on the trails with us for a few miles at Bradley Palmer. Should be fun!

Commons Run

I was surprised to see the thermometer reading 34 degrees this morning. Once again, it was back to tights for this morning's run. I went over to the Commons and headed out. As Snowman said yesterday, Monday's rain definitely washed away more of the snow. It also saturated the ground and the snow/ice that is left, which combined with the cooler temps made for some frozen mud and really slick ice! I wasn't feeling quite as peppy as I was on Monday's road run, but as always, it was nice to be out in the sun, running in the woods.

Flora and fauna notes: Three pairs of mallards between the two ponds, as well as a flyover Cormorant. Scared up a few turkeys out at the end of the Commons. Man, are they big birds!

Feeling Better

I hope I am not jinxing myself in saying this, but I have been feeling better the past few days. Not as tired. Not as queasy. More energetic. "They" say that a lot of what I've been feeling in this first trimester should now be passing, and that I'm moving into the best part of the pregnancy. I'm not sure what to make of the fact that I should feel good for only three of the nine months, but I am glad to have had a few days of feeling back to more of my normal self and hope that it will continue!

Snowman had to head up to work this morning, and with the day to myself, I decided to take advantage of the sunny morning to get in a run. The weather forecast for the rest of the week does not look all that promising, so I wanted to get out and enjoy the sun while I had the chance! I decided to do something slightly different, so I drove to the Pennelville fields, parked the car and started my run from there. This way, I would get in a nice 5 mile loop that included heading down to Simpson's Point. Back in the "normal" days, I wouldn't have thought twice about doing the 9 mile loop out to the point from Bowdoin, and then running 10 miles as I am planning to do on Saturday while we're down in Massachusetts, but as I am trying to focus on getting in some good exercise without going crazy, I thought 5 was a better option.

So, I headed out and enjoyed the run and the sun. It was a bit windier and cooler than I thought, but I was still plenty comfortable in my shorts and long sleeve shirt. The sun on the water down at Simpson's Point was beautiful and I was feeling good. I finished off the 5 miles in 46:00, or 9:15 pace, which again, back in the day wouldn't have been anything much to talk about, but I was really happy to see that I could keep up a slightly quicker pace without having my heart rate go wild. Yes, it was on the roads. And yes, the loop was pretty much completely flat. But whatever, I'll take it! It was great to be out and have a good run in the sunshine.

Flora and fauna notes: There was plenty of birds out flitting around and singing away, but the highlight was an American Kestral seen along the Pennelville fields. First of the season for me! The bird was up on the telephone wires, and as I got closer, he flew a ways down the wire away from me, only to settle in and then do the same thing as I came closer again. I always wonder why birds do this. But regardless, it afforded me a few extra minutes of observation. What a beautiful bird!

Sunny Afternoon

Snowman joined me this afternoon for a run in the Commons. It was nice to have some company, and he was content to run along at my pace (read: slowly). I started off in shorts, short-sleeve shirt and my pink sleeves, but after a mile, I tucked the sleeves into the side of my shorts. Temps were in the 50s and it was great to be out! A bit of wind, but the sun was nice and warm. We were happy to find that much of the Commons is now snow and ice free (80% or so), although as expected there are still some good stretches remaining in the shade. It felt good to run on the bare ground!

We had a nice time running along and chatting away, finishing up with 5.25 miles at 10:28 pace. (I did say slowly, didn't I?!) And now we are relaxing on the couch after a yummy meal of homemade black bean burgers and both sweet potato and regular fries. Yum!

Time To Fess Up!

You may, or may not, have been wondering about my recent postings. I've missed out on a bunch of fun long runs with the Trail Monsters. Many of my runs have been short, and slow. I haven't been talking about upcoming races. What gives? Well, I think I have a pretty good excuse but I wasn't quite ready to reveal it until now. So here it is... I'm pregnant!

Yup, me, pregnant. Holy crap! Crazy, isn't it?

It is a bit odd to put that phrase out into cyberspace for all the world (or all of my few loyal readers) to see. And truly, it is a funny thing, this "being pregnant". I don't think you'd notice by looking at me (yet!). But I feel it. I've been really tired. I've been a bit nauseous. I've had indigestion. I've been seriously hungry. My runs have slowed considerably, although part of that is by design, as I'm trying to keep the little one healthy and that means I can't be exerting myself too much. Although, even that, I realize, is subjective. There is much information/advice (often conflicting) available on the subject of exercising while pregnant, but it appears that doctors have, for the most part, embraced the fact that an active, healthy mother-to-be means a healthy baby, and most recommend keeping up your activity level during pregnancy, barring complications.

So, as I've always been a runner, I can continue to run, but should take it easy, listen to my body, drink lots of fluids, not overheat, etc. All of this means go slow. Not that I'm a speed demon by any stretch :-) Still, running 10-minute miles on the road is a bit depressing... Yes, I know, I should think how lucky I am to be running at all. And I am! I do feel lucky. I feel happy to be healthy and active. But part of me still thinks it is sad to be running at such a plodding pace. And I will only get slower, I'm sure. Ah well. Hopefully I will come back with serious speed once the little one has arrived! Hey, a girl can dream anyway, right?! :-)

And, of course, this latest development puts a crimp in my plans to do some ultrarunning this year! :-) If I'm trying to take it easy out there, I can't be pushing myself in a race, and while I'm hoping to keep up with my 9 to 10 mile "long" runs, being out for hours and hours just doesn't seem to be in the cards. But, I am still planning to run a few races. I will just be at the back of the pack, and certainly won't be counting on any PR times :-) Although we've decided to skip the Merrimack River Trail Run for various reasons, I'm planning to join Snowman at the Muddy Moose Race later in April. However I'll be running the 4 mile course whereas Snowman will run the 14 miler. And while it's a "no" to running the 50k at Pinelands on Memorial Day weekend, I'm still planning to run the 25k. It will simply involve a fair amount of walking up the hills and stopping to eat and drink at all the aid stations. But that will likely be it.

Toning back my running and my goals has been (and is) a bit rough. I am not patient. I want to be tough. I want to keep up with Snowman. I have always been able to run, for myself. And now, it is not just about me. But I am trying to accept this, and to realize that being pregnant is not a permanent situation. Yes, 9 months seems like a long time. But in the scheme of things, it isn't. So, I am attempting to take a deep breath, enjoy running while I can, and be accepting of the fact that 2009 is not going to be a banner running year. And that, really, is OK. So, after Pinelands, I will be supporting Snowman in his quest to run a 50 miler before the little one arrives, and don't plan on any more races. (Ian, this means you have at least one volunteer at all the Bradbury races! :-) )

Well, there you go... that is the news. Part of me is scared out of my wits, but the rest of me is smiling and excited about the upcoming adventure. Things are changing, that's for sure!

We heard the little one's heart beat earlier this week at the doctor's, which I must admit almost made me cry. It was beating like a crazy maniac, which I guess is normal at this stage, since it's so tiny (...the size of a prune, according to the book. A prune?! I mean, come on, couldn't they have chosen a better fruit!) As for the details, I'm currently 12 weeks along, with an estimated due date of October 14th. This means, if all goes according to plan, the little one will be our 10 year anniversary baby :-)

CRAZY!

Foggy and Soggy

Yesterday actually turned into a beautiful day, but alas, I did not get out to enjoy it. So, I was up and out the door this morning for a run in the fog instead. I headed across the street (again! I seem to be stuck on this loop...) for a 5 mile run. Once I got across Rt. 201 and onto the powerlines, the fog and light mist enveloped me and it was quiet. I felt good trucking along, and to mix things up just a bit, instead of adding the extra to make it a true 5 miler on at the end, I took the path out to the Cathance River Ecology Center in the middle of the run. I wanted to check out how the single track trails around the Center looked. And they looked pretty good - still some snow, definitely, but things are clearing out. There will be bare ground and a whole lot of mud to stomp through soon!

Short Run

Well, running in shorts didn't last long! Yesterday morning was cold (again), so I was back to my tights, at least for the time being :-) Got in a quick run before work. Didn't quite do so well this morning... all this dreary weather makes it hard for me to get out the door! Ah well. It looks like there is only a slight chance of light rain tomorrow morning so I'll plan to get out then.

In good spring-time news, the daffodils out front are starting to poke their heads out of the soil, and several of the plants out back are beginning to show their faces as well. Now we just need some sun and warm weather and things will begin to sprout!

Shorts!

First run of the season in shorts! Perhaps spring is really here. It was a beautiful afternoon - 50 degrees and sunny. A bit windy, but the wind was warm. Hurray! I headed out across the street and enjoyed running with no hat or gloves. I even rolled up my long-sleeve shirt. Felt wonderful.

The snow is mostly gone on the snowmobile trails, with the last remaining patches in the shade of the trees. I did hit a nice sinkhole on the way back, where the snow had just melted and the ground was still mush - this resulted in mud up to above my ankle :-)

No TMRFA for Me

I couldn't manage to swing taking two Saturdays off in a row from work, so yesterday morning I sent Snowman off alone to join up with the Trail Monster crew for Ian and Emma's "I've Been Married for 10 Years and My Wife Still Doesn't Have A" Fat Ass 50k. It was a dreary morning, damp and raw feeling with low fog and a misty drizzle falling. Once Snowman was out the door, I headed out across the street to get in a run before work.

I felt a bit off in the first few miles but finished off the loop feeling good. Despite the fog and mist, the birds were out in force - the juncoes, sparrows and chickadees flitting about at the edge of the woods, and the grackles, blue jays and crows calling loudly as I ran along. The powerlines are a mix of sand, bare rock, ice, slushy snow and one stretch that was a wonderful concoction of ankle-deep muck. Still, I can't complain, as it sounds like the conditions on the FA course at Bradbury were really tough and very messy! Snowman did awesome, getting in 27 miles, his longest run ever! Having gone beyond the marathon distance, he's now officially an ultra runner :-) Woohoo!

Quickie

Quickie run, that is :-) I didn't quite manage to get out of bed in time to run this morning before work, and it's supposed to rain tomorrow morning. So, if I wanted to get two more runs in this week, it would have to be tonight. I hurried home, had a quick snack, changed and headed out the door before I could change my mind and settle in to sit on the couch instead. The run was short and sweet, but at least I got out!

Windy

Although temps this afternoon were more seasonable, the wind was brutal. It felt more like mid-winter than spring out there. In an attempt to hide from said wind, I decided to head to the Commons for this afternoon's run. I parked at the field house and headed out. Some of the early single track, especially a stretch along a steep side hill, was glare ice - treacherous even in screw shoes. The rest of the run was a mix of packed snow in the shade, ice, mush, slush, mashed potatoes, ice with water on top and a bit of bare ground. The legs didn't have much turnover, but it was good to get out, even if it was at a slow pace.

In other news, we headed to Peak Performance in Portland this evening before dinner to replenish our stock of Hammer products. Gel, HEED and a new one to add to the rotation - Sustained Energy. Who was it that said running was an inexpensive sport?!

Cold and Windy 12

Lack of motivation, and perhaps a bit too much fun on Saturday night :-), meant we didn't get out to run as planned yesterday. So, this morning we headed to Bradbury to get in the scheduled 12 mile run. It was cold and windy, but as we headed up the Snowmobile Trail, I warmed right up. With the cold temps, the snow was pretty well packed in most spots, with a fair amount of ice, a few bare spots and some soft snow in the sun. Once we crossed the first road, the wind really picked up, making the last mile out less than pleasant. We turned around at the top of the field at exactly 4 miles and headed back in.

I was still feeling pretty good when we hit the parking lot, as we had kept the pace pretty mellow, so we continued on to do one lap of the Fat Ass course. I am bummed that I am going to be missing out on the FA excitement next week, but I must admit that I am not all that bummed to be missing this course :-) It is going to be a tough one! As we reached the summit, we took a quick break, and said hello to today's Hawk Watcher. With a strong wind blowing, it didn't sound like too many raptors had been spotted today, unfortunately. Then it was down the Tote Road, where I started to realize I was really getting hungry! This made for a bit of a slow slog up to the turn off for the Terrace Trail and the final descent. All in all, a good, if tiring, day out on the trails, and a good excuse to stop and get a big sandwich at Big Top on the way home :-)

Morse Mountain

After a yummy breakfast at Broadway Deli, we headed to Morse Mountain yesterday with Neal, Kendra, Doug, Lucy, Nate, Shannon and little Finley. Snowman wanted to get in a few more miles for the week, so he ran in, while the rest of us walked. Although it was a bright, sunny day, it was still a bit chilly, especially out on the beach! However, we weren't the only ones with the idea and the lot was pretty full. We saw lots of others out walking to and from the beach, with everyone trying to keep from slipping on the ice. I should have worn my screw shoes! Instead, I slid around with the rest of them :-) It was a great day to be out and fun to hang out with friends.