Vacation Week

Much like everything these last 12 months, February vacation week was a bit different than in the past. No camp for Sam and no fun gatherings with friends. However, we still did manage to have some fun and get out and play in the snow!

The forecast was calling for a snow/ice storm on Tuesday, so I took advantage of the Monday holiday and got out for a road run around town in the daylight. A calm, bright and calm morning. Still searching for TMR bingo squares and managed to tick off two of the elusive ones - bird(s) of prey and a wingprint in the snow. Fun! (8.0 miles)

After lunch, we met up with Anne and family for a xc ski over on the Kate Furbish trails. It was pretty much straight up chaos trying to ski with three kids and a dog, but we had a lot of laughs and it was a nice afternoon to be out. (2.0 miles xc skied)

Of course, the skiing was followed up with a stop at Gelato Fiasco before heading home 😉😋🍨

Tuesday it was back to work for Ryan and I, and with a bit of snow and then sleet, freezing rain and rain falling all day long, it was a quiet inside day for Sam. 

We go out for a walk on Wednesday on the powerlines in our spikes before lunchtime to watch the sun sparkle on the iced over trees. Wow, a crazy thick layer of ice had formed atop everything. Very pretty. (1.7 miles walked)

After lunch, Mom and Dad picked Sam up so that she could sleep over, and they headed out for a short, chilly walk down at Mitchell Field in Harpswell before stopping for, you guessed it, gelato 😆 and sushi take out for dinner - lucky girl! 

Sam brought over one of the puzzles she had received for Christmas and they finished it up in record time! 

Ryan and I were both crazy busy so our Wednesday afternoon was spent wrapping up work, but we did watch Oceans Eleven after dinner. Always fun. 

Thursday morning, I headed out on the powerlines for a run just as the sky was lightening. It was overcast with a weird flat light, and the snow and ice was very crunchy underfoot. Conditions were variable, but where the snow had been packed it was possible to run atop the thick iced over layer. (6.0 miles)

Then it was off to work until after lunchtime, when I met up with Sam, Mom and Dad so we could head over to Fielder's Choice for opening day! What's not to love about ice cream in mid-February?! Thank goodness they have a drive-through! 😂 Yum, their coffee oreo ice cream is so delish!

Friday morning, I headed out on the powerlines again, taking the trails out to the Gone Fishing network. Things were definitely more packed than on Thursday and conditions where the bikers had been out were pretty decent. Nice morning. (8.0 miles)

I spent the rest of the morning doing errands, grocery shopping and cleaning, and then after lunch, we headed out for a walk. It was snowing lightly, with big fluffy flakes falling atop the iced over snow. We walked out on the golf course and then around the Heath. It was slow going even in our spikes as the Heath had seen very little traffic and it was pretty uneven footing. Still, it was beautiful and nice to get out for a walk together. (2.1 miles walked)

Mom and Dad came over for take out pho for dinner - perfect for a snowy night! - and the snow kept falling lightly into the evening.

I knew things would be messy on Saturday morning and I wasn't sure how trail conditions would be, so chose to run around Highland Green for the morning miles. Roads and sidewalks were either snow covered or messy from traffic, although there was a short stretch within Highland Green itself where the grounds crew had actually leaf blown the sidewalks and they were clear, leaving interesting compressed snow prints on the pavement. (7.0 miles)

After my run, I headed to the farmer's market and did a few errands and then Ryan spent the rest of the morning putting up new shades in Sam's room, which was a bit more of a project than anticipated, but we did finally get out across the street for a walk on the powerlines and some fresh air in the late afternoon. (1.8 miles walked)

When it comes to my running, I've been lacking the desire for longer runs. And I think I've realized something. I've been feeling like my running is kind of flat, like I have no extra energy to give at the moment. But I think it is not that I am not motivated. It is simply that I am not feeling motivated to push myself. I'm still running 5 days a week, and averaging right around 40 miles a week. I just don't feel like doing more right now. Is that an excuse? I don't know, but it is how I feel. I know it's partly because, well, winter. And not to mention, we're coming on a year of the pandemic and damn, if that doesn't mess with our head, I don't know what will. I know too, deep down, that I'm thinking about my goal for the year, No Business, which is far enough way that it doesn't seem real, and it's far enough way geographically that I am not entirely sure it is going to happen (at least for me). I know people are traveling now and we are headed in the right direction with vaccinations, but I'm going to have to feel pretty comfortable about how things are going with the virus to get on a plane for that race. So, I know that part of me is unconvinced about the race actually happening for me, and therefore, subconsciously, I'm like well, why do I need to push myself right now? Plus, I figure training doesn't really need to start until April 1 anyway... or is that too just another excuse? Sigh. But, this is the reality (at least in my head), so I'm trying to cut myself a bit of slack for feeling sort of dreary.... and with that, yup, you guessed it, I did not run long on Sunday. I could have, maybe I should have, but no, my heart and head was not into it and so I didn't. 

However, Sunday was a beautiful day and I did get out for some miles. Left around 8:00 and ran out on the powerlines. Trail conditions were good, both on the snowmobile trails and Gone Fishing, and it was bright and sunshiney. (8.0 miles)

Temps had warmed up into the low 30s (!!) by the time we headed across the street for a walk. Sam was our leader and she has really turned into a strong walker. I hardly had to slow my own naturally quick walking pace at all the whole time. So much better than when she was 3 and a one mile walk would take an hour 😂 (2.8 miles walked)

Love this cool little rocky amphitheater that always ices over in the winter

Then it was home to cook up dinner! Mom and Dad came over and we enjoyed a bit of a faux Thanksgiving. Yum! Rotisserie chicken and packets of gravy for the win! Or at least for the ease of prep 😉 But really it was all quite delish, and Sam and Ryan baked up a pumpkin pie too. 😋

More Like Mid-Winter

It was Ryan's birthday on Monday, but it also was a fairly typical day with school and work to be done. We did all get out for a walk around the school block after lunch. Sidewalks were still snow-covered after Sunday night's snow and it was quite windy. (1.8 miles walked)

We had Mom and Dad over for "fancy" dinner to celebrate, or as fancy as we get anyway! Steak (and salmon for me), rice pilaf, roasted asparagus, beets and carrots, plus wine (and beer for Ryan and lemonade for Sam) followed up by the pie Sam and I made on Sunday. Yum! Happy Birthday, Ryan! 💗

Tuesday, miracle of all miracles, I actually did get up and out for a run! Stuck to the roads which were rather messy still. Tried to get 2 TMR bingo squares, but my frosted hair wasn't quite what Val was going for with hair-sickle. 😉 (6.0 miles)

Headlamp run

Frosted hair

Got out again on Wednesday morning, but as I was working from home, I didn't head out quite as early. Roads were in much better shape and it was quite chilly so I managed to get a proper eyelash-sickle for #tmrbingo. I came home totally frosted over. 😂 (6.0 miles)

Thursday was a no run, in office day. This is how I spend my days... lots of paper and all masked up. 😷

Friday, I decided to head over to Bradbury after I dropped Sam off at school. It was quite brisk out with "feels like -5" temps but bright and beautiful. Trails were quiet and the bikes had been out in force, making for good conditions, perfect for spikes. Ticked off a few more Bingo squares too. (8.1 miles)

Face along the trail

Dog on the trail

Did a few errands and then headed home for lunch and house cleaning. Ryan wanted to get out for some movement, so we took the long way to the middle school and picked Sam up at the end of the school day. (1.8 miles walked)

I realized I hadn't yet gotten a "sunrise on the trail" bingo square, so I decided I'd head out early on Saturday in the hopes of catching the sunrise along the powerlines. Sure enough, just caught the tail end of it as I crested the hill just past the end of the gravel road. Lovely. It was cold but very calm. The trails were quiet, just the crunch of snow underfoot, a few woodpeckers pecking and some birdsong. Didn't see anyone else out there. The powerlines were fine but the Gone Fishing trails were quite good and nice and packed. (8.1 miles)

Sam had her last ski lesson at 10:00, and then she went over to Mom and Dad's after lunch to make a cheesecake for Valentine's Day dinner. Yum! 😋 Since we had the afternoon free, Ryan and I decided to get out for a xc ski together. Since we hadn't gotten over to Crystal Spring Farm yet, we thought we'd check it out. While the field was decent, if a bit messy, the trails through the woods were simply a bit too thin, well packed and sketchy for me to really enjoy. I'm just not that confident on my skinny skis for those conditions and that type of trail. Still, it was a nice afternoon to be out, the sun was shining and it was good to spend some time with Ryan! Thanks, Mom and Dad! (2.3 miles xc skied)

Yesterday, I headed out around 7:30 for my long(er) run. I couldn't quite resist the trails, so I headed over into Highland Green and into the Cathance system. Despite the trails being officially closed, they've definitely had a fair amount of traffic although probably not quite as much as they would have if you could park at the trailheads. People had been out in boots and snowshoes and things were rather loosely packed. It was definitely slow going, but quite pretty along the river. 

On the farther reaches the system, the traffic noticeably decreased, so there was a bit of trudging here and there before I popped out and enjoyed a lovely mile or so on the nicely snow-packed back dirt road. From there, I wandered out onto the powerlines for a loop before heading home. They had been out rolling the snowmobile trails overnight so things were a bit soft but still not bad. A very quiet overcast morning. (12.0 miles)

After lunch we pondered where we should go for an afternoon walk and finally decided on the Cliff Trail, hoping it wouldn't be too busy and assuming it would be nice and packed. There were definitely other people out hiking but we had the "summit" to ourselves and only a few encounters with other groups along the way. And the trails were packed down like a highway. We wore our Hillsounds, which were perfect traction for some of the icier spots. We took our time and enjoyed the views along the Reach - the sea ice was really cool! - and with temps in the mid-20s and no wind, it was a really nice afternoon to be out exploring! (2.5 miles walked)

We headed over to Mom and Dad's for dinner and to enjoy the cheesecake that Sam and Mom had baked up on Saturday. Yum! A perfect Valentine's Day dessert! 💗😋

And just because they look so cute and calm... 😻 Ronnie and Gigi cuddling in front of the heater earlier this week.