8 Days Without Running

Long Post Disclaimer: 

It's been a while since I've posted...

you may want to grab a snack and a comfy chair.

I didn't run for eight straight days last week.  I'll admit, it kind of got under my skin.  But, we had family visiting who we don't get to see very often, and that trumped running (and blogging) by a long-shot.  So, here's what I did last week instead of running and blogging (except for that weird little post I put up because I was having blogger's withdrawal.  "MUST...POST...SOMETHING...") :



Eating Thai food with my family.  Yum.

My cute neice, Lexi, waiting for her shrimp fried rice. 

 My brother-in-law, Tony, looking completely enthused.

The cousins eating their lunch on the "rocking boat" at the park.

My cutie-patootie nephew, Jake.  The last time we saw him he was only 4 months old!!

Poor little guy was really sick while he was here visiting.  He was a trooper though.

I think he was trying to avoid the flash in this picture!

Some cousin love.

It's hard to get three kids to smile and look at the camera at the same time.

Okay, nevermind.  This clearly wasn't going to work.

We had some really nice spring-like weather over the weekend.

"I am Buzz Lightyear!"

Pure swing-happiness.

We had some pretty warm weather over the weekend, so we were able to have

our first dinner on the deck of the season.  Grilled brats, bean salad and fresh strawberries...

...and BEER.



Smile nice for the camera kids!

After all that spring break fun, I wanted to get back to running (and blogging).  On Monday it was really warm again so it seemed silly to go to the gym and run on the treadmill when it was a perfectly lovely day outside.  Well, here in the midwest we have a thing called wind.  I had apparently forgotten about that.  It was probably blowing 20-30 the ENTIRE time I ran.  And there's hills when you run outside.  And you can't change the grade at will.  You just have to run 'em.  What I'm trying to say here is that it was a tough run.  It was a hot, thirsty, hilly, windy, sweat-stinging-my-eyes-y mess of a run.  I ran 6.4 and ended up averaging a 10:00 pace.  Wow, my pace hasn't been up there for a while.  But, I did stop for a few (um, I think five) walk breaks when the hills were really kickin' my heiny.  So now I'll tell you about the aftermath of that run...

I usually run on Mondays and Wednesdays after I'm done working at my son's preschool and while he's still enjoying two more hours of pre-school fun.  I also usually stop by Walmart (keepin' it real) one of these two days after I'm done running.  Monday was one of those days.  It was so hot Monday that I didn't put on any kind of jacket over my running tank to go into Walmart.  It doesn't bother me to go into a public place stanky and looking like...well, I went for a run.  I just don't care.  I mean, I like to look (and smell) good just as much as the next gal, but most of the time I just don't care.  But, it seemed as if people were sort of looking  at me in Walmart.  Was everyone giving me an extra-friendly smile?  My, what a nice midwestern town we live in!  Hmmm.  When I went to pick up my son we went into the bathroom at his preschool and I got a gander at myself in the mirror.  Most of you have probably heard of the term 'sweetheart', but have you ever heard the term 'sweat-heart'?!?!

Holy Crap.  I had a 'sweat-heart'.

(And I look pretty happy about it in this picture.)

So, no, the people of Walmart were not simply bestowing their goodwill upon me.  They were all but pointing and laughing!!  And, I have to say, I can't blame them.  I had a pretty good laugh about it myself.

I was also reminded that running outside for an hour at 1:30 in the afternoon requires

a bit of sunscreen.  I'm getting a good start on my tank-top tan.

I forgot to take a picture of it, but my fingers after running outside on a warm day = large sausages (Brats, perhaps?)  I swell like no other person I know.

When I got home on Monday and checked the mail there was a package from my Uncle Bruce.  I couldn't imagine what it was.  I opened it up to find that he'd sent me his Camelbak!  He'd seen that it was on my running wish list.  It was just about the coolest thing that he'd thought to send me his.

I think I'll try it out this weekend!

Thanks Uncle Bruce!!

Oh my, I had other things I was going to write about, like the delicious Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce/Dressing recipe I just tried and the butterscotch and white chocolate chip cookie bars I made for my husband's birthday, but those will just have to wait until another post.  I need to shut this thing down!

What fun things have you been doing over your spring break (if you're lucky enough to get one)?

Have you ever had a 'sweat-heart'??