Easy runs for FUN

I have finally figured out how to love my easy runs!! For years I've almost dreaded easy days. I'd look at my training plans and think, "Blah. An easy run Wednesday. I have to run slow and that is boring." But no longer! For the last few weeks I've planed to do easy runs at parks, on snow covered trails, or on new trails to do exploring. Instead of thinking running 5-8 miles isn't worth driving somewhere to run, I think of my easy runs as play-dates for myself. A few miles just to have fun doing something I love. Today I ventured onto a part of a trail that I've used as a turn-around spot a few times in the past. Instead of turning around when I hit the part that plunges into a creek, I slashed on in. WooHOO! Cold fun! And the water was much deeper then I expected. It got up to my knees in the middle. About .5 miles later, I turned and ran thru more water that let out into sand. Then I went up a .8 mile crush granite and muddy in spots hill before the trail hit a road. So fun! On the way back, there was a small (about 1.5 feet long but slim) snake sunbathing on the trail. Being it was 40 degrees out, I wasn't watching for snakes and almost stepped on him. Silly snake! But for some reason I see lots of snakes on the trails here in Colorado when the sun is out, regardless of the temperature. I guess it is warmer in the sun then under a rock.
The only mildly disappointing part of today's run was the knee length yoga pants I wore. When they got wet, the bottoms sloshed around and were obviously not really for running in. There was a 30% chance of snow while I was running, so I didn't want to be in shorts. But 40 degrees isn't cold enough for pants, so I wore the only Capri's I have that are made out of workout material. I can't wait to get my Patagonia Capri's to run in! And maybe I'll use my Northface gift card for another pair of Capri's. I think running in knee length pants is the way to go most of the winter up here. Much different then Texas!

Next week I hope there is snow on the trails again. Snow runs might be my favorite!

It's 6:23am here. And so far today I've made three kid's lunches, made a pot of oatmeal, done my reading, loaded the dishes left from last night, swept the downstairs bathroom, washroom, and what I have started calling "the mud hall". Lots of houses around here have a Mudroom. But we have an area where we hang jackets by the garage door that is a hallway. Half-bath straight ahead, laundry room to your right, and the way into the house to your left. Being the kids will come into this hall, take of snow boots, and then toss the boots into there buckets in the garage, this hall of ours gets quit muddy of late and makes me think "Mudroom-hall".

All 3 of my little treasures are still sleeping. The boys will be up in maybe 5 minutes and Seren about 10mins after them. Oh the comfort of a quit and mostly clean house.

Today Caedmon has all day school. In our school district kindergarten is a half day. But they give you the option to pay extra and have your kindergartner go to an all day program called Kindergarten Enrichment. We asked if we could send Caed all day 3 times a week instead of all five. They said yes, so that is what we started doing last week. Caedmon loves his all day school days. And so do I! Mondays are extra nice because I don't workout on Mondays. I get to clean house, run errands, study my ACSM stuff, read books...Mondays are great. This Monday a friend of mine is coming over for yoga and healthy living encouragement. And yipy- it's snowing! A pretty, light, dusting of steady snow this morning. The only thing that could make this Monday better is Einstein's.

Oh. I hear my treasures coming down the stairs. Have a great week to anyone who reads this!!

For my fellow runners: This past week of mine rocked for running! 73 miles in 9:08:45 total. 45 miles that I'd call hard-ish. My favorite 2 workouts: Thursday's 10 miler of 321's on rolling hills at a park and Saturday's 20 w/ 2 10ks @ 7 min mile pace in the middle, also on rolling hills at a park.