A Happy Little Runner Running Through A Bob Ross World

Saturday's run was just enough of a struggle that it caused me some concern about running on Sunday.  My plan had been to make an attempt a topping my weekly mileage out at 30 miles, which would be my new high water mark.  But, Saturday, had been a bit warmer than I had expected, and I was feeling the miles more than I should.  However, since I am inching close to the uncertain times of Hiroko's pregnancy, I thought that I had better go for 30 miles now.  Luckily, the morning was nice and cool with just enough cloud cover and strong breeze that kept everything nice and cool.

Entrance to the Greenway at Meredith College

I have been running the same route over the last few weeks in order to stay closer to home and get used to wear most of my runs are going to take place over the next year or two.  Luckily, the Greenway near my house really offers a lot of interesting sights as well as a challenging course.

I go through two tunnels, cross run bridge, run through a college campus, a museum, past a research farm, a small lake and into a State Park all in the span of five miles, which makes this a pretty awesome place to run.  Sunday, I began to feel like as though I were running through a world created by Bob Ross.  The sky was impossibly blue, and filled with happy clouds and happy trees, which just caused my run to pass by with an amazing senses of calm and ease.  Frankly, the feeling actually mirrored the calming high that you get from watching an old episode of Bob Ross' show.  I ended up doing 11.5 miles and crossing the 30 mile mark in a rather peaceful fashion that left me with the feel that good old Bob was smiling down on me saying something like "let's just add a happy little runner on the side of this road".    

Turkey Love Run!

 

 

Bowling was one of my PE classes in college.  Yep.  Bowling.  One of the things that remember from that class was that three strikes in a row is called a Turkey.  After Sunday's awesome run and Tuesday's fantastic run, I set out yesterday morning on mission for my 3rd great run in a row.  It was going to be my Turkey run.  The morning was cool so I decided to run through the Museum park near my house.  The area is beautiful on mornings when there is a little fog, and it didn't disappoint yesterday.  I ended up doing 6.5 miles and just enjoying the heck out of my Turkey Love Run!  I've No idea when the last time I had three runs like this in a row.  

Assembling a Great Run

Running has been a soul crushing catalog of everything that sucks over the last few weeks.  Sometime in early to mid August, the wheels just came off and nearly all of my runs just turned to excrement!  Heaping piles of EXCREMENT!  Mile after mile spirit snatching crappy crappy runs.  The only thing that helped was running trails, but then scheduling and late summer thunderstorms conspired to take trail running away, leaving me to slog along the city streets of Raleigh.  My mileage has been sinking quick, runs have gotten cut short, and I've been wondering if I am suffering from burnout.  Or perhaps, it is anxiety caused by my impending fatherhood.  To top things off my shoes smelled worse than Basil's litter box and all of the music on my I-pod was putting me into a coma!  Arrgh!

Luckily, yesterday seemed to offer me hope that things are going to get better.  Aside from the weather improving, and the realization that my fall allergies begun, which require some medication, I had three big things come together.

1. Brooks Ghost 5's
2. I Was Totally Destroying It
3. Angry Angel Beer

Last week my wife and I decided that, even though the Asics I had worn during the summer had many more miles on them, the stench was too much and they had to go.  I wasn't really happy with the clunky nature of the shoe, so I decided to try something different.  Luckily, the running store that I shop at had a pair of Ghost 5's in my 15 wides!  As soon as I put them on I knew this was it.  I did two short runs in the earlier in the week and the felt awesome. However, during my run on Sunday, I realized that I had long last found "my" shoe and know how Cinderella felt when she put on the glass slippers!

Also, One of my friends posted a song from a band I Was Totally Destroying It that I had seen a few years back and really liked but hadn't bought any of their Cd's.  So last week, I bought I bought Preludes their 2011 offering, and wow!  It was just what I needed.  I love the whole CD.  It is awesome when you find a local band that you really like and can easily identify with.  I listened to this CD three times over the course of my 10 miler.  Both the music and the lyrics were appealing and help push me along as I ran.

Confidentially or maybe not, in two of their songs I Was Totally Destroying It: All Get Lucky and With You Now the lyrics refer to someone as an Angry Angel, which is interesting because a local brewery that I like Big Boss Brewing Company makes a beer called Angry Angel and I just happened to have one in my fridge.  Every time those songs would played I would begin to think of just how good that beer was going to taste when I got home.  It was great fuel for an awesome run.

. . . And awesome it was.  I tackled 10 miles for the first time in nearly a month, and more importantly, I finished this run stronger than I started it.  I can't recall the last time that I felt stronger over the last five miles that I did over the first.  I just hope that this run is a sign of things to come and not just a momentary blip.

Best Wishes Virtual Run October 13th to 15th

Many of people in the Blogging and running world know these two, right?

Image stolen and used without permission, don't be mad!  Please!

Morgan & Spike are two of the best people that I never met in real life, but interact with via the wonderful world of the Internet, and as many of you know, they are getting hitched on October 13th.  Morgan has been the most supportive and encouraging person of my running, fitness, and blogging life.  Her comments and have meant so much to me, and I wanted to let her know just how much her encouragement means to me.  When she was suffering from a stress fracture and couldn't run for around a year, she still took time to read about my running life and send me some encouraging words.  It meant the world to me, and I think that I have found a way to say thank you.

The Plan: A Best Wishes Virtual Run For Morgan & Spike

When: Anytime Between October 13th and 15th (the wedding is the 13th and Morgan's Birthday is the 15th)

What You Do:  Take a run in honor of Morgan & Spike, send me an e-mail at: gregjd77@gmail(dot)com and tell me the number of miles you ran in honor of Spike and Morgan. Links post, and pictures would be awesome as well!  All will be shared with Morgan and Spike.  I plan to do a write up of every ones effort and share it on by the end of October.  (Adam at the Boring Runner is also planning to help as well and I'll add a link to his page shortly)

What You Get: A warm fuzzy feeling inside for having done something nice for two people on their wedding day.

What I Get: The same warm fuzzy feeling.  Nothing more.  I do not wish to profit from this in way.  I don't do promotions on my blog, nor do I have ads or profit from my blog in anyway.

Do you have to know Morgan or Spike to participate:  No, not at all.  On my wedding day total strangers went out of their way to congratulate my wife and I and wish us well.  It was wonderful!

Do Morgan & Spike know about this:   I am not trying to keep it a surprise and did ask permission.  This is my way of attempting to do something nice for a couple on their wedding day.  

Run Raleigh Labor Day 8k Pictures.

Pre Race

The Race

1 Mile Fun Run