that was a first, and looking like a dork.

went out for a 5k run this morning.  Today was the second run following the plan where it's just a run, no walk breaks. Being an ex-smoker, and joining a running clinic which promotes 10&1 intervals, I guess I've always sorta gotten used to this.

When I tried the 25min run on friday, I was 'given' walk breaks because i ended up at a few red lights.  But today, I chose a route that had a few hills, and almost no traffic lights.  I ran the whole way!  I walked for 2 minutes at the beginning to warm up a bit, then ran, till I got home! I think that the part that i'm most happy about is the i used to get winded climbing stairs! I ran 30 minutes.  I know this might sound silly, stupid, or whatever, but it's an accomplishment for me. I'm glad I followed this plan to get back into running, it's also challenged me in other ways. 

Got home, raked up my dad's leaves... didn't realize how big his property was till today. owww. Consider this cross-training :)

Too nice of a weekend to spend the rest of the day indoors. Hopped on my bike, and went. No planned route, just kinda went.  About 2k into my ride I hear pppssssssttttt.  Oh sh!t. Thought I had a flat... got onto a sideroad, phew.  Just a leaf that got wedged between the rim and the brake pad.  

I wound through side streets of a fairly quiet neighborhood, up and down the streets.  Nice ride. Now about 15k into my ride... I hear sirens, then a firetruck, now getting very close. I stopped just like the rest of traffic did to let the firetruck pass... phew.

Ok, race pictures. Mine are usually terrible. I enjoy running, I really do, but I always look like i'm in the midst of a torture chamber or something in my pics.  Not sure what it's all about. Aug 16th I ran in the 15k Midsummer Nights' Run. It was an evening run with perfect weather, downtown in the beaches.  Love the pic showing the skyline, this was my view at about the half way mark.

Unknowingly, I ran this race with stress fractures.  It was 3 days later that I had done a 10k ride, tried following this with a 3k run, which was brutal.  Next day I did xrays, and was told that I had healed/healing stress fractures, and probably at least one fresh one. Not sure how I got through the race, but I did... with almost no pain! I swear!  I wouldn't have run had I known what I later found out.  

Ok, anyway, I remember seeing one photographer, and with no one in front of me, I really wanted a picture where I wouldn't look like death.  Today, the site put up the pics... I don't think I look like death, but I certainly look like a dork/moron/idiot! LOL  What the hell was I doing?  Maybe yelling OWWWW without knowing I was in pain?!   

Ok, I'm surprised I'm sharing that with you, consider yourselves lucky.  LOL