The most perfect run.

I have a whole other post, but i am pushing it back until tomorrow, to discuss the perfect run.


But before that - and update on the wellness fridge situation.

Thank you, person who left a dollar.  But it's too little, too late.  The wellness fridge is gone, and i am now left hungry every day.  I hope the guilt destroys you.
****update*****another dollar has appeared.  maybe yelling at everyone had an impact!


I have been running the skokie lagoons the past couple weeks because its super convenient.  I get to avoid traffic, and that makes me a happier person in general.  The path is hilly (by chicago standards) and there is never anyone on it, except a few bikers - and even they are few and far between.

There are a lot of times i have really terrible runs, where i finish the run, feel like i am going to die, can't take another step, etc.  In the past two weeks i have cut multiple runs short or had to significantly slow my pace, i have thrown up, i have had aches and pains, felt the first pangs of fatigue, and i have been unmotivated.  A good portion of the time, running sucks.  But every once in a while, a multitude of factors and elements align and create:


The most perfect run ever.


I significantly over-ate on Tuesday, and i was worried that my gluttony would slow me down, but in fact, all that extra food made me feel like i had more energy.  I think that sometimes i don't totally get the whole calories in/calories out thing.  Either way, what i thought was eating way too much actually made me feel great on my run!  I also slept in yesterday morning, thanks to Matt swapping an AM puppy shift.  That extra hour of sleep was glorious.  The weather was perfect - about 60 degrees, slight breeze, and the sun wasn't too high in the sky.  For some reason the distance of the run was psyching me out, so i did the ole "just see how you feel and you can always stop."  I started with a very conservative pace because i was still a little tight from the shuffle.  I ran at a comfortable pace, where i could of talked to someone, if i weren't totally alone.  The path i was running on is 4.5 miles, so i decided to do one loop and see how i felt.  


It was an incredibly peaceful run.  I actually enjoyed my music, rather than frantically flipping through songs trying to find something to push myself.  I was actually listening to folk music for half the run (I love you, Bob Dylan...)  The first loop flew by, and i decided to do one more going the other way, and maybe a little bit faster.  The one tragedy of this run is that i forgot to turn auto lap back on, so i only have times for the full loop :(


I have historically had huge problems going out too fast, and then losing my momentum later on in a race.  It plagues me.  It's something in my personality type, i think.  If you put me in the sahara with multiple gallons of water, i would drink them all the first day.  My mind does not understand rationing.  or pacing.


I was able to pick up the pace for the second loop, and shave a few minutes off my time, and that made me very happy.  When i finished the run, i was tired, but i could have kept going if i needed to (like if i was running a race)  That made me feel really good, and confident about this whole marathon thing.  I assure you, this brief feeling of calm will soon pass and i will return to my normal neurotic state of constant complaining and fear.


On my run, i saw 8 deer, a pack of Canadian geese (that hissed at me.) (because they are jerks) and half a grilled cheese sandwich.  (that was a weird one, but it appeared to be in perfect condition)  I actually went back to photograph the sandwich, bit i think one of the deer ate it.  Those greedy bastards.

The lagoon deer are totally unphased by people - they couldn't care less if i was there taking pictures.

And the best part?  Coming home to new compression socks that came in the mail.  All in all, it was a good night!

AND  just a reminder - Bic Bands is donating a portion of every BIC band sold to HDSA for both  March and April.  So, you can look fabulous, and help stop a really devastating disease.  Multi-tasking for the win!  So buy one for yourself, your bff, your mom, your sister, even your dog....

Waffles HAD to have the pink glitter band

Do you have any idea how hard it is to put a headband on a basenji??

***Excuse waffles red watery eyes...the poor pup has allergies is emotional over how fabulous she looks!

This is one of the ones i just ordered - I REALLY like the extra thick ones, mostly because i have so much unruly hair.