Christmas Run

The weather took a turn on us in Texas on this delightful Christmas morning.  The birdbath in the yard had a layer of frozen water.  And when that wind blew, it felt a lot colder than freezing.   Some family members told me that it was too cold to run.  Ha.  That’s pretty funny, because I know that once I get running, no matter how cold it is, the layers start coming off.  And then I went outside.  Yup.  It was cold, cold, cold.  (Thing is, I MUCH  prefer running in this kind of cold than in the heat.)  And it was about 11:00 in the morning when it should have been warming up (by my California standards that is : )

Frozen Bird Bath

But I went for a leisurely run anyway.  You know how Christmas morning is?  As much as some of us look forward to it, the day with family or friends, good food, cozy times, it can be quite hectic and loud.  I needed to wind down.

Posing for my Christmas Run

 

The ranch was serene as usual.  Empty as usual.  And at times, boy did that cold wind blow.  I felt comfortable though, and with this speed training, a leisurely run is oh so easy, fun, seemingly so natural.  I ran much of the same loops that I ran the other day.  Through the cow pasture, through Post Oak Groves and out to two stock ponds.  Then I ran the fence all the way to the dry creek bed, where I lost my water bottle.  I had no trouble finding the road back, because my husband has been driving it over the past couple days so I would have tire tracks to follow.

Not often I will get to feature a trail on video in Texas.  So, here it is, what I first called “Dry Creek Trail” but now think “Fox Tail Trail” is more appropriate.

 

Miles logged today:  5.13

Speed Training Ranch Style

We’ve got ourselves a thunder and lightening storm out here today.  So to the gym I went.  The gym is quite lovely in town (not so for the owner, I’m sure), because there was only 4 people working out when I went in (8 when I left).  No lines for the machines.  The women wear normal gym clothes there, not skin tight spandex shirts to show off breast enhancements : )  (I’m not bashing California, mind you, I love California)  But it’s nice to be where people are a little more settled about themselves.  One lady was even on the stair stepper in her street clothes and boots. : ))

As promised (to myself) I got in some speed training yesterday though.  A quick one.  But it was hard enough.  The driveway into the ranch is a rocky dirt road about a quarter mile long, which I ran down at a normal pace, then back up at my fastest pace.  I “petered” out as usual, about 3/4’s of the way back each time, but I kept pushing it to the end.  I got into the 7 min./mile pace (7:51) though, which is nice, very nice for me.  (I did this 3 times, there and back, of which my middle boy ran two of the out-and-backs – so proud of him.)

Afterward I went tramping around in the brush to find my husband and and two youngest boys.  When I told him that I was BEAT.  He said, “You have to run FASTER.” 

Ha, ha.

So he challenged me to a race back to the ranch.  The distance was short, very short.  Probably 1/10th of a mile, maybe a little more.  I looked at his feet, he was wearing Ugg boots and I debated.  Anyone, I mean anyone can beat me in a short distance race.  But I went for it anyway.  And I kept up pretty good.  And about a quarter way I came upon a bush and rather than wasting time running around it, I actually HURDLED it, landed on my feet and kept up my pace.  I shocked the heck out of myself (& my husband too).  I “petered” out close to the end, and he won the race of course.  I forgot to look at the garmin, but I suspect I beat that 7:51 by a longshot.

Miles logged Thursday:  1.5

Texas Ranch Running

Two days driving and no cardio since Wednesday, my body actually began to stiffen up.  My joints ached.  My hips ached, my legs, my back, even my arms.  My first morning waking in Texas, I just had to get out and run, run to get rid of this stiffness.

I went for low mileage today, just a leisurely run about the ranch.  The grass was high.  The thorns cut deep.  Two vultures emerged from the trees, scaring the daylights out of me – their big black wingspan looked like it was SIX feet wide.  No lie.

My legs got pretty scratched and cut up.  The terrain actually drew blood.  The terrain was not difficult in the sense that it was hilly.  It was difficult in the sense that there was no trail.  There was some dirt roads, and some nice grove areas with little obstacles.  But most of it was plowing through thorny brush or waist high grass.  I’m not used to bushwhacking on the trails I normally run : )

Still, the run was delightful (as it pours down rain in my hometown, the sun shines brightly here in Texas).  I was completely alone (except for those vultures) and I got rid of those aches.

First quarter mile of today’s run (out to end of driveway)

Where the branches snagged my earphones (I lost a piece in the brush, never to find)

Post Oak grove in the wintertime

1 of two stock ponds

I just thought this was pretty

Running through dry creek bed

Stopping to pose in dry creek bed

Looking for the road back to the house (never found it, because it’s not there anymore : ) – the road, not the house. : ))

Miles logged:  5.17

Jump!

Well, time is winding down for me with a road trip fast approaching.  Today I had planned for another timed 9.5 loop (up Meadows).  But I woke to rain and the trails were closed "due to wet and muddy conditions."  I tried not to think about it.  I don't want to get angry.  I DON'T WANT TO GET ANGRY.  What's one timed run?  I spent two hours at the gym yesterday.  If it wasn't for my not so good eating habits, missing one timed 9.5 mile run wouldn't amount to much.  And here we are approaching the holidays . . .

Enough of calories and eating!  What's important for today is that I did something new.  After rushing about running last minute errands in the rain, turning in grades, picking up groceries, mailing Christmas cards, etc., I returned home in a hurry and did something my husband has been urging me to do for a long time. 

It's not what you're thinking.  Get your mind out of the gutter. (kiddin' : )  Hubby has said for I don't know how long, that I need to learn how to jump.  Yes, jump.  And for some reason, I have a fear of jumping, mainly because I feel like I'll fall flat on my face.  I'm not talking about jumping rope, or even jumping across the gym or lawn like I used to in high school volleyball workouts.  I'm talking about standing still and jumping up onto a platflorm, pausing to balance then jumping back down backward.  He's convinced this will help me with running, especially with those technical runs (like Calico!). 

So today, I stood out in my backyard on the wet grass in front of the double-stacked railroad ties that border the planter.  And I stood there for a few minutes gathering my nerve to make that first jump.  To my surprise I made that jump without falling flat on my face into the garden.  But I did use an awful lot of upper body strength to make that flight upward.  My husband convinced me to use more of my legs, which I did.  And surprisingly, that jump up and back grew easier and easier.  My fear of jumping vanished quickly, probably after jump three.  I jumped up onto those double stacked railroad ties 100 times, dripping sweat afterwards.  I have to report the workout was fun.  Really fun. 

Miles logged today:  Zero