Running: 10 Things I Love About You

 
February 14 - Today I'm sharing my love...for running. I heard about #RunChat's Valentine's Day Challenge and it sounded like fun.

Source

I Love Running because...

1. running is quality time with me
2. the road is a good listener
3. you get out of it what you put into it
4. it's cheaper than therapy
5. I really, really, really like dessert
6. you can run happy, grumpy, speedy, slow, a little or a lot
7. the sweat, the devotion, and the time pays off
8. you see the beauty of the world around you
9. the miles don't go away, they wait patiently for you
10. you can run naked 

Note: My list was inspired by pins on Pinterest

Show me some of your love: Why do YOU love running?

Twitter Happiness

December 18 -  Last weekend was my last race of 2011. In the last ten weeks I have run in seven races and one fun group run. My next race isn't until January 1st, which actually isn't that long from now, but for some reason feels like forever.

I love running. I love blogging about running events. What will I blog about until the next race? I'm not an expert on fitness, or weight management, or healthy eating. I don't have advice for injuries or training or running gear. I just have my experiences.

So as I have come to enjoy blogging about my running events almost as much as running them, I have been feeling a bit dejected wondering what topic would make for interesting blog reading?

Then yesterday, I saw this:

My first Twitter compliment!  Reading that made me want to write more posts, but there I was again wondering what do I write if I'm not running in a race?  Reading other blogs inspired me to post my last entry: Running the Sights.

Then, today, things got even more interesting when I saw this one:

What. An. Amazing. Offer!  I cannot express how thrilled I was to receive that tweet. Eager for more information, I went straight to their website. My eyes were moving quickly, trying to make sense of everything they were seeing, when they stopped on MAY 5-6, 2012. Darn. That is the same weekend as the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati. My hometown. 

Now I had a big dilemma. I have been talking about running the half marathon with my friends for about six months now. My plan was to run the race and get a quick visit with the family at the same time. But now I was presented with this exciting opportunity that might not come again and it could lead to even more adventures. The Flying Pig will still be there in 2013.

So after weighing the pros and cons of travel, expenses, and work with my husband, I accepted the offer to become a Rhode Scholar. I don't know yet what it means exactly, but I am looking forward to being a part of the Cox Rhode Races event in May.    

Running the Sights

It is amazing what you might see when you are out for a run.  

I have seen some of nature's beauty:

Spectacular views:

New and old things merging:

Interesting yard art:

Strange outfits:

And pets of all kinds...

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON YOUR RUNS? BEAUTY, WEIRD, HUH?

This post was inspired by fellow bloggers over at ON & OFF RHODES.  Check it out here.

Chasing waterfalls

One of the great perks to running outdoors is the unsuspecting little wonders you stumble upon.  Take this waterfall for example.  On a dirt road among the quiet of the snow-filled landscape and not another person in sight is this beautiful gem.  As you near the bend in the road, you can hear the crashing of the water long before you find the source.  Roaring and bubbling, the splashing waters create an uninterrupted steady pattern of endless rhythm. Louder and louder it rumbles like a wall of thunder pounding out the sounds of the world.  Suddenly the sparkling frothy water appears nestled between the granite, timber, and snow and you have to stop.   

Scobie Road

I admit, I chase waterfalls.  Sometimes I go after things that are too big for me, out of my league.  In the end, I might be overwhelmed, exhausted, disappointed or even hurt, but I also might be surprised by what I can accomplish.  Running is my waterfall.  It is a formidable and powerful thing yet graceful and alluring.  Natural runners pound the pavement with sleek powerful movements. When I run, it is work.  I am awkwardly heavy and I struggle to find my rhythm.  The terrain of NH makes it all the more challenging - no matter which way I turn, I am going to face a hill.  As I have now completed a couple of outdoor runs, I know that at the top of the hill is the crest. And even though I will probably encounter another hill before I am ready, I know that I am only getting better and stronger.  I am going to continue chasing waterfalls...