You know its good when something breaks.

So I needed a stress relief run today. I was even sent outta the house by the wife because she has had enough of my bad attitude and poor disposition. As always, the stress leaves me optimistic when it comes to goals for a run. I had a brief idea to knock out my barefoot half today. Ya, that didn't happen. It was nice today and I probably should have gone out earlier before the stress reached it's redline. Once again though, poor choices. Anyway, the run it's self was pretty good. Went on a route I hadn't used in ....well a while. Hills, not bad in such a way as to force you to a walk or employ the use of hands, but enough to give you a work out if you haven't done hill work in while...like me. I ended up with a 10:37 average pace. Funny, it felt a lot faster than a 10+ minute pace. Anyway I took off barefoot with huaraches in hand just in case the cooler evening weather threatened to rekindle old frostbite injuries or road conditions proved to be more than I could bare. I arrived at an improvised turn around point after an internal debate and self scolding for neglecting hills for so long and decided to run back in huaraches because of the snow melt run off in a number of spots along the way. My tender feet got cold, lol, and about half way back a lace breaks.

For a brief moment I considered running back with just the one huarache on but decided against it this time. Running barefoot in cold weather while carrying your shoes gets me enough weird looks, running with just the one huarache well....I wasn't ready to tempt fate in somebody wanting to talk with me. Sorry people, on a mission here and not done yet. Catch me when its over. As it happens the last little bit felt the best, running on the road rather than the cement sidewalk as I did on the trek out.

Its funny, when you think about it. With all the issues, minor as they were, even a bad run will help to aid a poor disposition. I do feel better. I am ready to interact with the human race again.

Huaraches run in great weather

Another run in the books. Set out to log 5 plus miles for the day and was rewarded with 7.22 miles in a shade under hour and ten minutes. It was another beautful day that quite enticing with warm weather as well. What made this run interesting was not so much that despite being hindered with a cold I was able to complete journey of refuge from stresses and worry without a single cough. Instead I had seemed to have saved it all for the immediate 10 minutes after the run which began within two steps of entering my home.
Normally I try to sweat out colds once any fever has broken and I start to feel somewhat human again. Today, it would seem, that I had not bundled up enough to produce the desired outcome. No matter, the week is still young and promising. I think I might even be able to accomplish a goal of the half marathon barefoot soon.
Wow, fatigue has just washed over me. Guess it is time to end this for now. Thanks for reading

Running through runoff

Not fully healthy yet but needed to get a run in. Today was an awesome day to do it. First warm (for winter time anyway) day in a while. Sunny, not very windy and warm. So aside from coughing once in while and not feeling fully up to par, it was a good return. I felt I was running at a slow pace but the app says it was a 11:07 pace. Still faster than the regular pace I am working towards. I figure if I can get used to running at a good 12 min pace I should be able to start working on the mileage I want. What I want is to hit the 50 mile mark by the end of the year at the latest. Maybe sooner if I can help it.

I do plan to stick with the idea of no races this year. Gonna suck cause I will be missing one of my favorite buddy run races. The Brew2Brew in Kansas City. A wonderful 44.4 mile run from downtown KC, MO to Lawrence, KS. It can be done as a solo run or as a team. I've only done the team thing and had a blast every time. Big party/recovery event after in a very neat part of town. The people that run this are also a big part of what makes it fun. The serious teams out for new PRs, the not so serious teams (like mine) out for a good run and fun with friends. A number of teams even come in costumes. Another race I will miss this year is the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. Labeled as one of the oldest half marathons in the country and the oldest in KC. It is a fun and popular run and had hoped to achieve another PR for a half but I will settle for a unofficial PR this year. Ran it in huaraches last year shaving 20 min off my previous time, looking to do a half barefoot now.

But I digress, frustrations and stress have built up over the time I had been sick and unable to get out. It was really frustrating as we had fresh snow come down and was really eager to make fresh tracks. There is something relaxing about running through fresh snow in the crisp air. Seems to place all the worries on the back burner where they belong. Few people are ever out when the snow is falling which seems to help with the relaxation part. Its those periods when I am able to just step away from worry and stress and live in the now. A couple runs ago I came across a coyote and we had a little race along the trail. He/she won of course, but it was fun. Those events whether coyote, deer, rabbit, or whatever, really make help to make the run worthwhile. Memorable. Calming. Cathartic.

I think thats all for now. Thanks for reading.

Disengage

Fed up with the drama that is facebook. Left it behind some weeks ago and haven't a single desire to go back. Same old recycled feuds and memes. Some rekindle old grudges and start new ones between what was once friends. Yes tired of watching it all happen day in and day out. Turned to less....dramatic social media.
On a lighter note...snow is coming and the area is a buzz with the notion of it crippling the region. Bri told me MoDOT told Missourians to stay off the roads. I replied that I was not a Missourian. (I'm a transplanted Alaskan)lol. Anyway, it should be interesting. Just need to find some goods books now to pass the time. After I make some fresh tracks in the snow. :-) Have some pent up frustrations to work out. Must not let it build up to much. Thought I do feel I am gaining better control over myself.
Thats all for now. Thanks for reading.