Change the "It's raining today" to "It's too hot" and that sums up the internal battle I faced this morning.

This week's veggies!

Not a bad day!

Did 5K (mostly walking, but ran 1.06 mi of it) and visited a former professor this morning. I walked my dog for 1 mi after that. Feeling refreshed and energized!

Which type are you?

I was thinking about road trips to races and came up with this.

I think I have a problem

I'm looking at all of these AWESOME races in Florida and am seriously considering job hunting and relocating there. I'm not a FL person. If given the option, I would choose the Pacific Ocean any day of the week over the Atlantic, but these races are just amazing!

Fit, Fab & Lean 5K

Today I ran 2.3 mi, completing a 5K that was started and abandoned yesterday. At the track, it was just me and two other people, a twentysomething at the top of his game and an eightysomething that ran laps around me. We were at different levels and different chapters of our lives, but we were all runners. There were nothing but runners out there. And it seemed like that moment was shared, especially when the eightysomething commended me for coming out to run.

Reptile Season

I can't relax during the spring and summer when I'm out walking or running. In fact, the entire time I'm on a heightened alert. Why?

Reptiles.

Snakes are as common as weeds this far below the Mason-Dixon, and they love to poke their pointy, slit-eyed heads out during this time. This particular section of the South is viper central. It's not unusual to find a giant snake carcass by the road or a viper's severed head on the sidewalk. Shovels are the weapon of choice for residents. My brother and I saw a dead python (no exaggeration...it was an actual python) on top of a trash can. This was probably a poorly disposed family pet that wandered into someone's backyard, but given the Florida python invasion has been traveling north, it is not to big of a stretch to start making panic-worthy assumptions.

So I run, but instead of a blind bliss (or grimaced curse), every single thing on the ground is either potentially a snake or a shadow of a snake. I can't enjoy the beauty of the changed season because I've got one eye trained on the ground looking for serpents. Running through a canopy of trees used to be a beautiful, shady event. Winter is just a milder, reptile-free spring, so I have that opportunity. Now I'm wondering how many tree-climbing reptiles exist in the South.

Truth be told, I haven't seen a living snake in the wild in years. A snake head or a road snake tattoo, yes, but not a live one. I've missed the ones that have been near me, even that dangerous moccasin that decided to follow us during the Barbarian Challenge last year.

And with all eyes turned to Heaven, I will be so lucky as to not see one this year, too.

Progress!

I think I can reach the end of the wall by the end of the year!

Armed Forces virtual 5K

That's me on the right, years ago when I was in the Air Force. 

Well...

I took my dog for a walk. Once upon a time, I vowed that wouldn't count as my exercise. C'est la guerre.

Mother Knows Best virtual 5K

A small but pleasant victory

It has been hard for me to run lately. Today, the only goal was to get around the block. When I stepped outside, my first thought was to walk it, but it was if my body wouldn't let me. It needed that run. My form was sloppy and penguinish. My legs were heavy. Still, that run was needed and nothing in me would let me stop to walk. It was so great when it was over! I'm tired of breaking my 5K virtuals up. I want to run a full one again. This is the year that I hope to add miles, not take away.

Here's hoping for an early rise tomorrow with laced-up sneakers that rhythmically pound the pavement.

If I'm so excited about running, why am I not doing it?

I haven't exercised this week. Part of the reason I haven't exercises this week can be attributed to the gross lack of sleep I experienced. I also have been really stressed. Maybe that Sunday incident took more of a toll that I thought. Who knows? All I know is that I get happy tingles in my brain when I think about running, I am envious of people I see running...yet I am not running. It irks me a great deal. Perhaps I can get some miles in tomorrow.

Cinco de Miles 5K

It shouldn't have been this difficult...

This morning I went out to do the Cinco de Miles virtual 5K. Should have been easy. It was a cool morning, beautiful and sunny. This should have been easy. Aside from a throbbing toe, my body felt fine. My mind, however, was in complete turmoil and that run wasn't getting those demons out. True, my route included the vehicular artery that lead to one of my least favorite places in the world. I've taken this path many times, but this being Sunday meant that there were many people heading in that direction. I struggle as it is with not having the peace of mind while I'm out, but this time it went to another level. I spent the run angry and frustrated, my legs felt heavier with each step. It was a very, very unpleasant run and the problem was all mental. Too many thoughts ruined what should have been a great run.

Going to retreat to my corner now.

May the Fourth Be With You 5K

It was sluggish, but at least it is DONE!

Shut UP!

Guess who bought a dress in a smaller size? THIS CHICK!