Watch it all fall apart

I ran Westville Trail.

I ran at high noon in the heat of the day.

My steps were off, I couldn't concentrate, even a song on my ipod skipped.
The butterflies didn't look so pretty. The sky was not as blue. The grass is turning brown.

I had to stop twice.

I wanted to cry. I cried. Cry baby.

Does it matter? I had my sunglasses on. Besides anyone who saw me would just think it was sweat. Sweat mixed with tears...that's what it really was.

I crossed my finish line and stopped, thankfully. I wanted to throw up.
I did NOT throw up.

I saw 5 of Katie's friends coming down my street. Sarah asked me, "Did you have a nice run?"

I replied, "no, not today."

I'll blame this on hormones. Damn you hormones!

The sun is shinning, but I feel light years away.

new song to ipod- "Numb" by Linkin Park

Blades of green, hidden potholes.

My daughter, Katie, tried out and made the select soccer team this year. However, I didn't realize just how much practice our new couch would require of them.
3 days a week, all summer. They haven't had a break since try-outs happened in April. Add that to an hour of consinent lap swimming and you have one worked out girl.
She takes it very well, though. Doesn't complain (too much) and gives 100% of her energy.

Me? I'm a taxi.
I pick up other girls on the team and give them rides. I make sure she has enough water and a snack. I always stay at practice instead of dropping her off like other parents. It's just to far away to do that. Besides, I gives me a golden opportunity to run. Yes, it is hot. But if they can do it...I can do it.

Yesterday practice was held at Golden Sierra High School. They have several fields and we were on one that doesn't have a track around it. No problem.

I ran on the grass. It's not nearly as big as Lotus field, so I did 10 laps.

Compared to other soccer fields I've seen, the grass was relatively flat and very green. However, on the outside edges it was bumpy. I didn't like running on the grass at first. I feared that my foot would land wrong on one of those hidden land mines, twisting my ankle and I'd be down for weeks.

Fortuantely, that didn't happen.
I ran through almost 6 songs on my ipod. That's about right. I reached lap 10 and decided to stop, walking lap 11.

I spent the rest of the practice trying to spin a soccer ball on my finger like they do in basketball and juggling. (not that kind of juggling). It's when you use your knees, foot, body to hit the soccer ball to keep it from touching the ground. I can do about 5. Not that good...I need practice.

Anyway- this was the third day in a row that I've run. I hope to get out there this evening too, if my ribs stop hurting me...and I can control my cough.

Sunset Run

The shadows inched their way down the street and I knew for sure that I would be running soon. I was walking home from the pool when the sun started going down. Not a breath of wind existed and I calmly counted my blessing. Nothing could get me down right now. I just won't do it.
I am young, I am talented, I am healthy. Never mind that cough...it will subside soon enough.

With my hair still wet and tangled, I covered my head with a baseball cap and once again started searching for my headphones. Where did I put those things?

It became clear that I wasn't going to find them anytime soon; looking in places I knew they wouldn't be. So I shoved, manuvered and adjusted Katie's big old cheap uncomfortable clunkers in my ears until at last I found a postition that I thought just might work. Upside down. Lucky for me, they stayed in the entire time.

I ran Otter Trail.
It was slow going at first, but then it was as if the chains around my feet broke and I was set free. I quickly settled into a rythem that suited me well. My breathing slowed, my knees picked up and my stride grew longer. I kept my back straight and my arms swooshed back and forth in perfect time. My fingers dangled as I imagined in my head that I was swimming, pushing the air away from me like water.
Halfway through the route, the road turned to brand new pavement. My nice evening run got even better. Although the fresh black tar smelled like oil, it was like running on cushions. My legs relaxed and any remaining stress in my body melted away.
Coming back around to American River Trail, the sun was just about to disappear below the mountain skyline.
It was beautiful.
I couldn't describe it to you except to say that it was a brillient orange ball, casting pink shadows into the cloud above it.

I was not tired. I did not cough. I said hi to my neighbors that were also enjoying natures beauty.
Finishing the run, I gave it all I had. I wanted to take advantage of my faultless footing and painless body. I wanted to move!
I could barely see where my finish line used to be (my road was repaved last Tuesday). When I crossed it a strange feeling flooded my entire body. It was as if I was moving in slow motion and not really understanding just how fast, or slow, I was going. I became dizzy.
The lightheadedness soon faded and I walked back and forth until at last I was ready.
Ready for what, you ask?
Ready for the last sprint. The sprint up my street. It's steep, but not that long.
Tonight I ran it faster than I think I've ever done it.

Easy to say this was a nice run. Even though I am coughing now...it was so worth it. Sometimes the punishment is worth the crime. I knew running would make me cough. I don't care. In the end I will be healthy because I am a firm believer in the concept of mind over matter.
You can do anything you set your mind to. Like many other children, my father told me this and it's truth has not faded. I think running will make me healthy. It will get rid of my phnemonia.
I can run now. I can.

Outside my window, crickets sing their song.

Ran Yesterday

I ran yesterday.

At Lotus Field while Katie was doing soccer practice.

I got around the track 6 times total. I had to stop after the 4th lap (which I think is just over a mile) because I was very hot and tired. Also I had to use Katie's earphones because I can't find mine. Bummer. Hopefully I'll find them soon.

Katie's are VERY uncomfortable. They are too big and once I'm kinda sweaty- they slip out. Very annoying.

As far as breathing goes...I didn't cough during the run, but I sure did when I stopped. I was dizzy and my stomach hurt. Overall- I don't care about the pain. That's what happens when I get out of my routine. I am thrilled that I was running. I love to be moving. It is a mental high.

More money couldn't save the bunny.

Interesting run today. Lots happened...let's take it from the top.

The girls are out of school and it's official. Summer has started. I have goals. I've been telling myself that someday I'd like to train for a marathon. Well, maybe marathon is a little extreme...I can barely do 5 miles without dying. So why wait for someday? Why not now? I'm ready to start training...even if it takes the next 2 years of training, I want to do it.
So I'm going to try and run everyday M-F. Weekends if I feel like it. I don't want to start hating this. Burn out is NOT my goal.

I got out there at 7:30 am and ran Otter Trail.
Not much happened until I got back to my street.
After I found another quarter on the road, I looked up and saw a jack rabbit sitting on the side of the road a short ways up.
Odd? I thought. They never do that.
So I walked up and looked him over...keeping some distance. He's been hurt. I decided to run over to the security maintance yard and let them know. They already knew and was planning on killing him.
I told them not to do it. Maybe he just has a broken leg, maybe he can be saved!
"Call the wildlife rescue then." they suggested.
"Okay, I will."
I called and a woman name "Dottie" told me to bring him to the animal medical clinic in Auburn.

Sure.
Right.
No problem...I'll just go catch a large, wild, injured jack rabbit and haul him through the canyon in a cardboard box hoping that he won't chew through the box, leaping to his emanate death once he jumps over the side of the truck bed.

So I did.
Only I had to have help catching him. They are fast!
Soon I had the box secured in the bed and we left the house.
Katie had an orthodontist appt. so I dropped her off first.
Megan and I went to the vet hospital and waited to find out what was to become of our wild little friend.

He had been hit by a car. He was suffering from internal bleeding. He has to be euthanized.

We drove back to the dentist, a bit sad.

At least he won't die in the heat of the sun and picked apart by vultures...even though that's the way it's suppose to be.

Life and death is rough. I'll chalk this up to another lesson to teach me something.

Learning is in the experiencing.

Yeah, right...I don't think so. NEVER STOP!! Must...keep...running!!!

So, where are the pointed rocks on this street? I'll keep looking...

Ready to go down Pointed Rocks? I'm about half way done at this point. Feels sooo good!

Another hilltop on Westville Trail.

Almost to the top of Westville Trail (not the crazy steep side). See my street in the middle distance?

View of the Foresthill bridge from Westville Trail. This bridge was used in a movie a couple years ago...I forgot which movie???

One of the short smaller hills on Westville Trail.