Leap Day

With vacation and more time, even after and accidental nap (Yes, when you are on vacation you can just randomly fall asleep whenever you want - clearly, I need more vacations) we made it out to the park for a run.

I had hoped to get out a little earlier, before the kids were out of school, but with the nap, oopsies! There were a lot more people out than I thought there would be. Of course, the weather was beautiful, so lots of people and lots of dogs. Henri did a fabulous job running by each one. I, however, did not do great on the running part. I still don't feel 100%, but I pushed through as much as I could. I hoping that part of the problem is still the lack of runs over the past week and I just need to loosen up some more. Hopefully, we can get out every day, though the crazy weather is possibly returning...

My GoPro was not charged up, but I wanted a picture so it was all on me and my little cell phone to get a runfie. I always struggle to get us both in the picture, that's the problem, but I did catch a picture of Henri looking up at me again. Why doesn't he ever do that when we're using the GoPro? Maybe because he doesn't know what the heck I'm doing holding my arm out behind me while we run :)

Runs this year:19

Miles run this year: 56

Take Two

Well, that wasn't much of a return now was it? After regretting my decision to run so soon after becoming ill, I took the rest of the week off to recover. It helped that it snowed again, but as the weekend arrived and appeared to be beautiful again, I refused to waste it being sick, even though I kind of think I caught something else throughout the week and I'm now sick with a different cold. I still have a bit of a cough, but I hoped that I would be able to run without having to call it halfway through.

The wind was stronger than I would have liked for another return off a break, but we pushed through. Thankfully, I have a dog attached to me and that's very motivating. The wind actually came in handy as it was fifty degrees and I was dressed more for thirty. (Well, I didn't want to get sick from being too cold!) I kept it slow and easy to make sure my mucusy lungs could handle it, also easy to do as we were spent a lot of time running into the wind. I think tomorrow will be better, but really, just going out for a run with Henri was already well worth the bit of suffering I will do tonight because I chose to run.

We spent some time sitting on the back stoop, cooling down since it was so nice out. Just me and my boy!

[Pet Photo Challenge] Week 8: Window

Wind and snow are keeping us inside again. Henri spends his time longingly staring out the window. Still not enough snow to be worth it, but enough to keep us off the sidewalks. The wind is creating blizzard-like conditions, it's not safe to venture out to the dog park. So, we're stuck inside, dreaming of the next day we will be able to venture out and what that day will bring.

Does your pet have a spot in the window? What do you think they are thinking about as they look out into the world?

I recently noticed that I have two "Art" prompts in my list. We will keep week 16 as "Art" and I will post a new one with a different prompt for week 20. I thought I had checked that thing a million times before I posted it!

The Return

As you may have noticed from the lack of blog posts, we haven't run for awhile. That is probably the longest stretch in a long time that we haven't been out for a run. I ran a few day at the gym while we waited for the snow to melt off the sidewalks. Then I got sick so we missed this past BEAUTIFUL weekend. Today was one of those, "Do I or don't I?" I decided do, but that might have been a bad decision.

Of course, Henri was ready to go. My body said it was ready to go to, then it quickly realized it could not breath if we really went for it, so we slowed the pace down a bit. We still had a pretty good pace going, but I could hear my own honk in my lungs over my iPod, so I pushed it to two miles and we walked the rest of the way. Henri was accommodating, but you could tell he was a little disappointed. I'm surprised the sound of my breathing didn't scare him...and maybe I've sounded similar while sleeping the past few nights so he was used to it.

Despite the slower pace and the shorter run, he still looks like he had a good time.

[Pet Photo Challenge] Week 7: Kiss

Everybody knows I love Henri! I have a blog about running with him. It's kind of a given. I love and hug and kiss him all the time. Sometimes he even kisses me back. There is really nothing more to say about this theme, but this:

Yes, I realize that it is hard to see the kisses on his darker fur, but it's still pretty darn cute, because it's Henri...and that's what love is :)

Do your pets just tolerate your showers of affection or do they reciprocate? Who was your fuzzy valentine this week?

[Pet Photo Challenge] Week 6: Favorite

Obviously, Henri is my current favorite, so I could just post another picture of Henri. As much as I would love to do that, I'm going to go with one of Henri's favorite. We'll go with Henri's favorite toy, which is probably his favorite thing in the world. He discovered burrow toys a little over year ago. He started to play with one and it kept him entertained for HOURS. He gets pretty obsessed, almost too obsessed. He loves these things! We don't leave them out, so he only gets them when we get them out for him, but he likes to ask for them by going to the closet door where they are kept. He's pretty adorable, so he usually gets them. Here he is with all three of his sheep in his mouth after chasing them down the hallway and insisting on bringing them all back at the same time.

What is your pet's favorite...anything? Favorite toy, favorite treat, favorite spot to sleep?

Just Wanting To Run

Nope. Today was not the day we broke our record time. In fact, for some reason I decided to run our hardest location. Actually, I know the reason. It was almost 50 degrees out, the weather is about to turn and I wanted to step outside of the neighborhood. That's not why I chose the hardest location. That I have no excuse for, especially with the back pain I woke up with. Again, not sure why I chose to go running, other than I didn't want to waste the beautiful day. We didn't break any records, but we got out there and we did enjoy the weather. Now, Henri is taking a nice nap and I'm going to rest with my feet up for the rest of the day and probably tomorrow, too.

Time To Beat

We had a good run today. I'm trying to work on my speed, so I pushed a bit today, even though I was feeling pretty stiff. I feel stiff every day. My speed has still been pretty good. I think my natural pace is improving, at least that's what I'm hoping for.

So, a few weeks ago, you may recall, we had been rushed for time, so we ran pretty fast without really realizing it because I was just rushed in general. We almost broke the nine minute mile. Mile three was 9:02. Today, I was trying, but I didn't feel like I was being super successful. Henri seemed to be pulling a little, or at least he was out in front. Guess what?Mile three, 9:02. I couldn't believe it! This time it was on me though, not Henri being scared of a piece of trash on the sidewalk. Maybe Henri could just feel the energy and was excited we were going faster, so he was running faster. I tried, I just couldn't push hard enough. Of course, had I known I was that close...maybe I need to get a fancy running watch for my birthday...

The Warmth of the Sun

Today was sunny. It was one of those days you could feel the warmth of the sun on your skin...if only the air wasn't so cold. 

Despite the cooler air, it was still a pretty nice day. I rushed to get home after work so we could get our run in before the sun started to go down. I just really wanted to enjoy the sun as much as possible, maybe because it has been so dreary for the last several days. I wish we could have run somewhere besides around the neighborhood, but that's all the time we have before the sun starts going down. Maybe we can get something more scenic in this weekend. It's supposed to be nice!, right before it gets cold again. Hey, I can't have snow on my birthday if it's not cold, but do I want snow on my birthday anymore? I won't be able to run if there's snow...oh no! Now I'm torn!

Runs this year: 14

Miles run this year: 42

[Pet Photo Challenge] Week 5: Nose

Henri's nose is probably my favorite part of him. I'm kind of obsessed with it. I don't know why. I guess because it's brown and I've never had a brown nosed dog before. Whatever the reason, when I was picking themes for each week, I knew 'Nose' needed to be one of them.

Congrats to Henri for not freaking out when I put a blanket over him :) Sometimes, he is doing so much better, then I trip on a rock and he practically pees his pants. *shaking head* Oh, Henri. What are we going to do with you? (Ignore the fact that I trip on rocks.)

What Kind Of Dog Is That?

It was another beautiful fifty degree day in Central Illinois and despite a few waves of nausea, I pushed myself out the door for a run with my boy. It was beautiful with next to no wind. I didn't want to waste it. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, and maybe flurry a little? What? Make up your mind! That's okay. We went out today and it was a good one. 

There were a few more skaters at the skate park today. One seemed to ask what kind of dog Henri was. I couldn't really hear over the skateboards and my headphones, but my answer would have been "a scaredy dog". Henri was okay, it was just a little louder than it has been with the cooler temperatures. We got a nice little burst of speed after that to get as far away as possible. He'll get used to it again, or I will always be prepared to run a little faster at that point :) He doesn't have to yet. It's still only February.

Seriously, Henri. It's a leaf. Keep going. It's not going to hurt you.

Runs this year: 13

Miles run this year: 39