Weekend Comparisons

I've spent the last 20 minutes trying to put a new blog header photo up, and for some reason Blogger keeps making the photo huge.....so I'll just get to my post. We headed up to the Adirondacks this weekend to spend time with Mike's Mom and Dad, take the kids to the water park a couple of times, and fit in a long run for me. 

When we got on the road I kept feeling like we were forgetting something, loading up the car seemed a bit too easy.  Until I realized we didn't have the usual baby crap, pack n plays, potty seats, etc.  The kids are really kids now, no more being slaves to nap time, and they're easy to port around.  After the first day of exploring the water rides, I commented to Mike about how easy it is having just two kids. There is one for each of us, and since Eliza couldn't go on all the rides, Mike and I took turns taking Luke on the bigger, scarier rides....and let me say, I screamed like the girl that I am on several of them.

It wasn't so easy packing my own bag.  Back in the days when my weekend runs were rarely over six miles, I could easily throw my running shoes, cotton socks, worn in cotton tshirt, sports bra, sunglasses and shorts into my weekend bag.  This weekend I had a 12 miler scheduled, and ended up packing a bag just for my running gear.  Which included:

running shoes

special running socks

Glide

running skirt

wicking tank with built in sports bra

sunglasses

sport sunscreen

sport chapstick

ipod/ipod holder/ear buds

G-unit

running visor

nuun

GU

fuel belt with four water bottles

power cords to charge ipod and garmin

foam roller

calve stretcher

16 oz pink nalgene bottle with a flower on it

I'm so high maintenance now I hardly recognize myself.

The 12 mile run was kind of hard.  I set out at 9:30 in the morning, and it was already pretty hot out, I followed the hilly route I did the last time I was in the ADK.  I did well on my shorter runs this week, on Tuesday I managed a 5 miler in 46 minutes, so I decided to stay at nine minute miles for the first half.  I passed the Donut Shop (I honestly think these are the best donuts I've ever had, especially when they're hot.  I used to put plain donuts in the toaster oven, and these remind me of those, but better), then switched onto a snowmobile trail for another two miles.  I kept my eye out for charging bears and deer, but the most I got was a few butterflies whizzing around.  I came out into the sun and it was HOT.  I sucked a GU, and turned on my ipod, but I still wasn't feeling it.  I didn't bring nuun with me, I think because it's fizzy it tends to leak out of the bottle as I run, at any rate I definitely missed it. 

Once I got into town I walked a bit because of the crowded sidewalk, and I didn't mind at all.  There was so much up and down with all the hills, I was almost bored during a flat stretch of road.  At mile 9 my ipod got all wonky, then it crapped out.  Anyone familiar with my track record with ipods won't be surprised. Not only does mine turn off during runs in 10 degree weather, my nasty sweat soaked arm causes the same issue.   I made it to the point where I was going to meet Mike for a ride home, and realized I still had about a mile to go.  He pulled up in the Jeep, I jumped in the back and had him drop me off at the campground where I usually run, figured I could bang out the last mile quickly....until half a mile in and realized the run back out was Up. Hill.  Enough already!!!  I finally finished with two hours and two minutes. 

After that we all went out on the boat and into the lake (which I count as my ice bath)  then later Mike and I went out for some beers (I tried Bud Light Lime and it hit the s.p.o.t.) at a bar we like to go to, which has a dock that you can sit out on and stare at the lake.  I had Mike take a new photo of me, since the header on my blog is from two years ago, after my Adirondack Deer Run 10k.  I thought it was fitting to take it after my 12 mile run, twice as long......not that I can make it to work right now.

Holy cow, do you remember Trapper Keepers????? Mike's Dad went to a garage sale, and came back with a box full of coloring books, paper, games, and......a heart and rainbow Trapper keeper.  It was the EXACT same one I had in Junior High.  It's mine now.

I also got a new phone this week.....it's some kind of android.  You know what that means.....blogging on the go Baby!