view halloo!

Today I drove west out of town a little ways for my twelve mile run in a rural neighborhood with farms and big estates. I had only run a mile or so when I came upon two people in fancy outfits on horseback, and just after passing them I heard a bunch of barking. "Could there be a real live fox hunt going on?" I wondered. But I didn't think much more about it and continued on my way.

Another mile or so down the dirt road, however, there was a bunch more barking. And then in the woods on my right I saw a big orange fox run by.

At this point I stopped running and started looking around at all the trees and wondering if I should try and climb one. I mean, a pack of hunting dogs was clearly headed right toward me. What if I distracted them from the fox and they came after me instead? What the heck was I doing in the middle of a fox hunt?!?

Luckily the dogs didn't pay me any attention, even though I was standing on the road maybe twenty yards away. They just kept going after that poor fox. Then the people on horses came by again, and when the man in the fancy red jacket passed I asked him if I was okay out there. He chuckled and hollered "you sure are!"

Photo taken with my phone. Wish I could have gotten a picture of the dogs too, but alas.

 That was a relief. And once I wasn't worried about being attacked by fox hunting dogs anymore, and had called my brother who informed me that they don't actually kill the foxes these days, I was able to appreciate the excitement of having just witnessed my first hunt, like in Mary Poppins! (Only there were no trumpet soundings, sadly.)

fingers crossed

A year ago today was when I injured my foot and couldn't run anymore. That was no fun. At all.

I was training for the same marathon I'm training for this time around, but this time around things are going better. For one, I started this training cycle with a stronger base, since I just trained for my November half marathon. For two, my training schedule is set by a real coach and not by something I found on the internet, and it doesn't make me increase miles every weekend. Sometimes I get a "rest week" which still involves running, just not as much or as hard. And for three, I'm pool running at least once a week, which supposedly gives me the same workout but is easier on joints and is supposed to help prevent injury.

So cross your fingers that things will continue to go well and I won't get injured again before April 20!

running firsts

Last weekend I went to Richmond to visit family, and while there I ran my ten mile long run. First I drove to the West End so I could run to the Museum District and the Fan. It was cold and even snowed a little, but nice to run in Richmond again. However, sidewalks aren't ideal for running, especially when they are uneven or brick. Makes it seem more like urban trail running. And that's what I'm going to blame my fall on. Sure it was getting dark, and sure I was tired because I was almost at the end of the ten miles, but still. That sidewalk caused me to trip. Trip and actually fall for the first time while running, which resulted in a bloody elbow, bruised shin, and frustrated emotions.

It stung more than anything. And oozed for a while.

 However, I am super grateful I didn't actually hurt my legs or ankles or anything. In fact, after sitting on the curb for a few moments to make sure I wasn't broken anywhere and to look around and make sure no one saw, I managed to jog the last quarter of a mile back to the car. And after getting back to the house and taking a long hot shower, I had my doctor grandpa there to bandage me up.

A week later I ran my longest run ever. Yesterday's seventeen miles was the first time I ever ran more than fifteen miles. Yikes. A friend joined my after two and a half miles and stuck with me for twelve, so that was fun. I warned her ahead of time I wouldn't be able to talk very much while running, but I could chat a little and she filled in the rest. I had plotted a pretty hilly route, and despite some tough hills the run felt pretty good. Good until she left me and I had about three and a half miles to go. Those last miles were rough, but I managed.