NEVER GIVE UP

I've done 4 Half Marathons. The last two were in October, which makes training running outside for me challenging. We are still hitting over 100 degrees in September in Austin, and running in humidity gives me a headache. I don't mind running on a treadmill, in fact I like it. I like seeing the mileage at any moment without having to pull out my phone. I don't know how to tell what my pace outside is, and I like that I can get up to 7.0 MPH on the treadmill for stretches of a quarter of a mile. I average over 10 minute miles outside.  However, running Half Marathons are better when you do some training outside. I decided to run my 2020 Half earlier in the year and found one in Friedrickburg, TX April 11, 2020. 

I am not just a runner. I love taking classes at the gym like Body Pump (weight training), and Body Combat (mixed martial arts, kickboxing). This time training I hit it heavy the beginning of February.  I usually run once on the treadmill mid week 6 miles, and a "long" outdoor run on Saturday. I do my classes 4 other days. 

So far all but one of my outdoor running has been at Lady Bird Lake. I usually start on the south side of the river (or as we in Austin call it, Town Lake), run west under I-35, toward MOPAC (which is about 4 miles), cross over the pedestrian bridge under MOPAC, then east to the Lamar pedestrian bridge, and cross back over to the south side of the river. It's about an 8 mile loop. 

 Besides the beautiful views, like turtles... 

...there is some good graffiti too. 

My runs have been great outside. I am getting faster. 

Then COVID-19 hit. The gym closed, and therefore my classes and treadmills got taken away. 

Last Wednesday I ran in my neighborhood. It was gross, I hate running sidewalks, but I did 6 miles. 

Then I got the news my Half Marathon was cancelled, as to be expected. Well, kind of. The "Outlaw" Half has been cancelled as a live race, but they refused to give us refunds and instead are going to mail us our t-shirts and medals and encouraging a virtual race on the same day. Boo for no refund, but yes, yes I will still run a Half Marathon on April 11 (unless COVID-19 changes that too) and GPS my distance and time. 

So the training keeps going on. I  signed up for Les Mills On Demand, so I can do my classes from home! 

CX-Work Core training 

And Body Combat in my garage (because cardio on carpet is gross). 

Body Flow (Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi) also inside. 

Last Saturday was time for a 10 mile run. 10 miles? Yes, 10 miles. Sadly I couldn't get to Lady Bird until 1:00pm, and by then it was already 80 degrees outside, and super humid. I was SOOOOO slow, and it was a killer run. I did it, but it took 1 hour and 52 minutes. 

I felt kind of defeated. 

But today, today was a different story. I got to the trail at 8:30am. I hadn't decided if I was doing 10 for sure. I thought maybe I would do 8 miles at least. I brought 2 Guu gel packs for energy and off I went. I started at my normal starting point, but at about mile 4 when I got to MOPAC, I decided rather then go my normal route, I was going to complete the whole 10 mile loop around the "lake". I've never done the entire loop before. Today was the day.  It was colder this week. It was 48 degrees outside when I started. 

I run so much better in the cold. 

Success. 10 miles! AND.... nearly 11 minutes faster then last week. I felt great. I mean, it was super hard, and I'm glad it wasn't longer. However, I felt strong and so accomplished. 

I run because running is hard, and I can do hard things. Wish me luck, April 11th. You can run too, it's virtual! 


*** This blog is in honor of Wolfgang Kelm. He always loved to read my blogs and sent a witty response when I emailed him the link to a new one. I was sad to not be able to email him this link this time. I know he's already watching me run, but I miss him.

Green Thumb

 My house is almost 4 years old. I have LOVED being a homeowner. I recently got gutters on parts of the east side of my house (proud of me dad for using the term "east" side of my house?).  

I never would have guessed how much I like to do yard work. It is my green therapy. I like to think my Grandma Aline passed her green thumb to my father, and he passed it on to me. 

February 16, 2020 I took out this scary cactus. 

It was a beast, but I'm a bigger BEAST for conquering it! 

Then on February 22, 2020 I chopped down my Knock-Out Rose bushes. It's always painful to prune them down and doubt they will ever come back again. 

But here we are, March 21, 2020 and there are already new roses blooming! 

March 13, 2020 I planted my garden. The plants on the top left corner are potatoes that grew all on their own from food scraps I through in the dirt over the winter.  I planted zucchini and spaghetti squash, and upon the advise of my sister-in-law I planted stinky marigolds, radishes, and spearmint to fend off bugs. 

March 19 the spaghetti squash are already popping up!

And this dude landed near my fence some time in  February. 

Last Spring a Mourning Dove made a nest in a hanging plant, the plant died, and she laid 3 sets of 2 eggs, that all grew up and flew away. When she was finally gone for good, I cleaned the nest out of the dead plant, and the plant came back and thrived all fall and winter. 

A week ago I saw the plant was looking wilted, so I took it down... 

And discovered a new nest and 3 eggs!  It's not a Mourning Dove though, I keep trying to catch the momma bird but can't tell what kind she is when she flies away scared when I open the front door.  It's a small bird.

Then yesterday I checked on it and there are now 4 eggs. 

As I type this the world is in chaos from COVID-19, or Corona Virus. Yet nature is in full bloom and it is bring me some peace and comfort during this uncertain time. 

I love my green thumb! What a gift!