Late October

Day got away from me on Tuesday, but I wanted to get in some movement for the day, so went out for a late night in the dark walk around the school block walk at 6:30 pm. (2.0 miles walked)

Did see a lovely double rainbow on the way home from work though!!

Then Wednesday was a foggy and dark run at 5:30 am on the Highland Green streets. (6.0 miles)

Nice afternoon for a run on Thursday, if a bit breezy. Legs felt very sluggish. Ran through the Bath cemeteries during Sam's swim practice. (6.0 miles)

Then after practice, it was over to Mom and Dad's for Indian food for dinner since Kristen was in town for Nancy's celebration of life this weekend. A yummy treat for dinner and a treat to have her in town too! 😊

Friday, I was rushing around attempting to get all the errands done so that I could pick Sam up at 2:00 from work and we could head down to MA for the event. This meant that I left myself a bit too small of a window for running to get in more than the minimum. Sigh. Headed out on the powerlines and then came back on the roads. Love the red leaves of the blueberry bushes at this time of year. (6.0 miles)

Ryan had been out of town all week and was meeting us out in Springfield, so Sam and I drove out with Mom, Dad and Kristen. There was a lot of traffic! Ugh! Made it in time to meet up with Ryan for dinner at 6:45 and then headed back to the hotel where we met up with family in the rather cheesy hotel bar. 

All of the Raymond sbilings were there, as were many of my cousins. Scott and Val had come in from CA, Geoff up from TN, Kristen from TX, Lillie from OR, Sarah and Tom, Susie, Theresa and Dave from ME like us, Sean, Marisa and the boys from France, Alex and Laura from CO. Larry had the full family support 💗 One of Nancy's friends said to me on Saturday night that it is obvious that we all like each other, and it's true. I know it's unusual these days, but there is a genuine love between all of us, even if we don't see each other all the time and despite different family circumstances. It was really great to see everyone, although for my introvert self it was also tiring 😉😜 Finally made it up to bed around 10:30 pm.

Decided to get up early for a run before the day started on Saturday. Headed out at 7:00 am as the sky was lightening from the hotel to wander the quiet suburban streets. Also ran through an abandoned business park, as I thought I could get through to another set of neighborhoods but all gated up. Eerie back there. One deer and one black squirrel. Lots of stops to look at the map. (6.1 miles)

The celebration life and subsequent gathering at Nancy's sister's house were really nice, but of course, the only photos I have from the day are of Susie, Kristen, Lillie, Sarah and I in the bathroom at the resturant. Scott took some more formal photos of the family so I'll probably have those eventually but still, this is it for now - classic 😆😆

We headed out at 7:00 am on Sunday as Ryan had to be at the airport by 2:00 pm in the afternoon for yet another work trip 😝😜 so after lunch and a bit of work, I headed out around 3:00 pm for a tired run down to the river and back. As already noted, it was great to see the extended family but also tiring. Didn't have the energy for more miles. (6.0 miles)

Fun with Friends

Monday was a holiday from work and school, so it was a relaxing day, which is always nice! Gotta love the long weekends! Plus it was a dreary, drizzly day, so it was just nice to not have to do much. I got out and sat on the couch relaxing and reading my book for a bit before spending a few hours at the computer before heading out for a run around 10:30. Ran on the roads and a few cart paths before heading down to the river. The foliage has been fairly muted this year but there have been some nice pops of color here and there, and it always seems to stand out more on a grey day like Monday. Overcast, windy and cool, with some rain in the final few miles. Legs were tired but I wanted to take advantage of the day off from work to get in a daylight run! (7.0 miles)

Tired after an 11 hour work day on Tuesday and my back was feeling a bit out of whack from who knows what (getting old sucks 😂😫😬🤪) so chose a walk on Wednesday morning before work just to get some movement. Nice out. (2.0 miles walked)

Thursday, I ran during swim practice. Windy and cold afternoon. Decided to loop around the cemeteries to hopefully stay out of the wind a bit. Only partially successful. Back still tight but felt good to move - just took it easy. (6.0 miles)

Friday, after a whole lot of plans and a few cancellations on my end due to work stuff, etc. I finally managed a Friday Brad run with Anne and Val! So fun to catch up! 😊 Bright and breezy with nice dry trails. (6.4 miles)

We got our flu and Covid shots after school, and while none of us had any major side effects, I was definitely feeling tired on Saturday, so I didn't rush out in the morning. Finally managed to get out around 10:45 am onto the powerlines. Ran into an ATV ride, must have been 40 of them. Needless to say, I altered my route back home. Nice morning, just meandering along. (9.0 miles)

After lunch, we picked up Abby and headed up to Rocky Ridge Orchard to meet up with Anne, Thistle and Kristen for some apple picking. It was a lovely afternoon and it is always just the best to see the girls together 💗 but there were literally no apples on the trees! We had a nice wander around the orchard, got some apple cider donuts and picked out a pumpkin, but no apples 😕🍎 Guess we were too late in the season! Then, after that, the girls headed to Kume for hibachi and sleepover at Anne's house. So good for them to hang out together! 

Another nice day on Sunday! Ran to the river and back and on the roads. Back has loosened up but left hip flexor is tight now. All connected I’m sure. Sigh. Gotta love it! 🤪 (11.6 miles)

After lunch, Ryan and I headed over to the Commons to meet up with Emily for a walk. Although I saw her at the TMR get together last weekend, it had been a while since all of us had hung out, and it was a great afternoon to get out in the woods! A fun walk and talk 😊 Also why is there a monument E but not A, B, C or D? 😆 (2.7 miles walked)

And just for fun, here's a fun photo from Eagles Day before Homecoming 😎 Look at all those red paint handprints!!! 

16 and 26 🎉

It is crazy how fast time flies! I swear as I get older, things move at warp speed. I can't believe that Sam turned 16 this week, that we sent in her driving log to set up her test for her license, that soon I won't be driving her around any longer. Or that somehow, Ryan and I have been together for 31 years and married for 26. CRAZY! 

Ryan was away this week through Thursday, and on Monday and Tuesday, the work treadmill was spinning a bit too fast so I didn’t manage to get out until Tuesday evening after dinner, and it was for a walk, not a run. Nice night but got dark fast. (2.6 miles walked)

Wednesday, I got out around 6:20 am, just as the sky was lightening. Ran on the roads and cart paths. Damp and overcast to start, with hard rain in the final two miles. (7.0 miles)

Thursday I got up early and was baking the strawberry cake Sam had requested by 5:30 am so that I could get it done before dropping her at school. Then it was back home for a 3 hour work training and getting a few other work things done in between running out to get big number balloons, vaccuuming, getting some laundry done and getting the cake frosted. Then finally, around 3:30, I headed out for a run on the powerlines. Nice, breezy, bright afternoon! A bit of a whirlwind but got it all done. Whew! (6.0 miles)

Ryan's plane actually arrived back in Portland on time (woohoo! so he picked up dinner on his way home and Mom and Dad joined us for a nice birthday celebration for our 16 year old 😍😎 Happy Birthday, kiddo, we love you! 💖💗

💗💗

Birthday sushi!

The cake sure did turn out pink!! 🎂🎂

Friday was a run into the sunrise at 6:20am, down to the river and back through town. Gloves and tights needed - brrr - only 29 degrees! But beautiful morning to be out! (8.0 miles)

Frosted leaves

Then it was back for a protein drink and leftover cake before I shuttled Sam and her friends down to the mall for a fun birthday outing. Truly, there should always be leftover cake to eat after morning runs! 😉😋

Four of them got the memo to smile at least 😂😂 Oh, Abby!

Later in the evening, Sam and Abby headed to the football game, and Ryan and I relaxed on the couch. Yes, it was our 26th anniversary, but Ryan has been gone so much, it was nice to just hang out at home for the evening together, and we've made plans to head up to Bar Harbor for a late anniversay weekend away later in the month so we aren't ignoring the day completely at least 😂😂

Headed out around 8:20 for a wander around town on Saturday. Another gorgeous October morning. (12.25 miles)

Sunday was the annual fall TMR run and celebration. Like last year, we headed up to Lost Valley, with one group doing the "race" course and one group doing The Bear loop which is going to be the loop for the 100 that TMR will be holding starting in 2027. It was another nice bright beautiful fall morning, and it is always good to get together with the TMR crew and chat and run and eat and hang out! We walked up to the top together (0.46 miles walked) and then I ran the race course with Emma for the 1:30 time allotted - it was great to catch up as we ran along! (6.4 miles) - plus the run back down to the bottom. (0.49 miles) A fun way to wrap up the weekend!

Thanks to KB for the photo!! 😊

October!

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." - L.M. Montgomery

Fall is such a lovely time of year. And yes, while the foliage is not the most spectacular this year, the cool air, warm sun and turning leaves make being outside so nice!

Wasn't feeling the best at the start of the week, so no walking and no running until Wednesday. Got out at 6:40 am for a run along the edge of the Heath. Nice morning. (6.0 miles)

Thursday was a 3:00 pm run up on the roads and through the cemetary from the Y during swim practice. Lovely out. (6.0 miles)

Friday, I needed to get some work done and a few things crossed off my list before we headed down to Massachusetts for the weekend, so it was a cram it in kind of 1:00 pm run. Another lovely fall day. One praying mantis seen! (6.0 miles)

We headed down around 3:30 pm and met up with Irene and Dana at Off the Vine for dinner., and a yummy pumpkin heifewiezen for me! 🍻 

Then it was back to their house for an early birthday celebration with strawberry rhubarb birthday pie for Sam and presents! 🎂😍😋

Saturday, I headed out around 8:30 for a run out through the Newbury marshes along the Parker River. Always a good loop to run when we are down visiting! Warm and muggy. (10.0 miles)

We spent the rest of the day relaxing, getting a bit of house stuff done with Irene and Dana and catching up, and then around 4:00, Ryan and I headed over to Neal and Kendra's house in Newburyport for dinner with them and Mike and Vicky. It was such a nice afternoon we had some hors d'oeuvres outside while watching the dogs zoom around the yard, and then went inside once the bugs came out for a yummy dinner and apple crisp for dessert. So nice to catch up and see the new house!! 

Ryan wanted to head back fairly early on Sunday as he had to get on a plane at 5:30 pm so I decided to run later in the afternoon. Probably a mistake as I was pretty wiped out by the time I got out the door at 2:30 pm after Sam and I had done some Target shopping and I got a few things done around the house. Did a wander down to the river and around Highland Green. (8.0 miles)

And for a fun, a few Homecoming pictures from the dance. Don't the girls look so pretty?!  😍

And to wrap up last month:

September:
145.53 miles run
17.76 miles walked
0.00 miles xc skiied
3x weights

YTD:
1,419.43 miles run
170.06 miles walked
3.34 miles xc skiied
31x weights