Today . . .

I ran Saturday and Sunday.
My bike came in yesterday.
I am going to pick it up tomorrow.
It is suppossed to be five below zero.
A car spun out in front of me this dark morning.
I had to be 3 feet from hitting him.
In the 2 seconds of pandemonium
I didn't cuss.
I prayed.
I have not been the same . . .

I bought a bike . . .

I bought a bike yesterday. It is a hybrid. Real cyclists think hybrids are for weenies. I have 2 kids and a wife that want me to go on bike rides with them. I can't really do that on a road bike. It's a Trek 7.3FX fitness bike. I already have 2 goals for this year. One is to ride 100 miles in a single day. The other is to do some sort of duathalon at the end of the summer - -run - bike- run.

It is cold here today. I am going to run about 2 miles outside.

My daughter just hit me with a comment that I am still reeling from . . .she said that she is glad that black and white people can sit together now . . .if not, she couldn't sit with Maddie and Sydney at the lunch table. I could never have known (and still don't pretend to) the depth of color and the stereotypes that go with it if it were not for her.

I DON'T CARE IF 10 MILLION TEENAGE GIRLS LIKE THIS SONG .. I DO TO . . .IT IS GETTING DOWNLOADED TO MY IPOD AS WE SPEAK. 8 MINUTES IS A LONG TIME .. BUT GIVE IT A CHANCE:  THE BAND IS TWENTY ONE PILOTS (HOLDING ON TO YOU)

The last 2 days . .

Yesterday I ran and walked a mile. I felt good.

Today I went to the Y and ran a half mile on the treadmill and then walked a quarter mile with the setting on 15 (the elevation) . .it was like walking straight up a hill. I think I am going to go back tomorrow morning and run a half, walk a quarter, run a half, walk a quarter. I am taking baby steps back into this thing.

I was thinking today that when I get my bike I could ride to the track and run and then ride home. Soft surfaces like tracks and treadmills don't jar my knees quite as bad. I will certainly be trading "scenery" for "safety" but maybe its time for that.

It is 15 degrees here and I have a fire going and friends coming over tonight. Church hit me in the heart once again today . . .

Listen to this new discovery: The band is Dry the River

Why have I not been writing . . . .?

One of my east coast followers recently let me know that this website (blog...whatever) appears as though the author (me) is only "as deep" as my running. Thumbing through the pages . . this could appear to be so. It seems as though that when I am running . . .I want to write and talk about it. When I am not running (due to injury)  . .I don't write. Hmmmm!! For the record . . .I am deeper than running.

I have been busy with my work. I write and communicate for a living. I started this website as a way to track my progress as an online journal for training for my first marathon. I have always just wanted to use these pages for that. When I run .. I have stuff to put on here. When I don't run - I don't. I am don't want this ever to appear as though this is a teenage girl's  online diary. Dear diary: . . . . . . .

I have been walking in the dark mornings. I have been going to the Y. I am going to buy a bike in the next several weeks. I am going to get a Trek 7.3 hybrid. In my mind . . I am never going to be able to run more than 3 miles again.

In about 20 minutes . .I am going to try to run one half mile. This will be the first I have ran in 2 weeks. For my dear reader in Boston  er....the east coast - -I'll tell you how it went.

This is what I have been listening to: Alt-J

Where I'm At . . . .

I tried to run last Saturday and didn't make it very far. That was the last time. This week I rode the stationary bike twice, lifted twice and rested today. I have lost 2 pounds and am down to 181. I have been very good with my eating.

Last year at this time I was planning my races for the year. This year I am wondering if I am going to be able to run 3 miles without hurting!!

It is in the 50's here . . . .I am going to try to run to the end of the block tomorrow (1.1 miles).

Even though I can't really run . .. I have been taking walks in the early morning before the sun rises and am still getting that "buzz" that comes with being the only one on the street when you see lights inside houses go on for the first time.

I am not complaining that I am not fully recovered! I get frustrated because I just want one good drenching 10 mile sweat . . .but that will come with time. I am glad that I can walk without pain . . .I have been spending quite a bit of time trying to build not just the strength in my knees but more importantly all of the muscles that surround my knees.

High School basketball tonight . . . . .one of my loves.

This week . . .

I did 20 mins on the elliptical at the Y on Monday
Ran 4 miles on NEW YEARS DAY
Rode bike at the Y on Wednesday
Ran 3 miles today

Too much exercise for my recovering knee.
It has hurt when I have ran this week. This morning (15 degrees!) I am going to take tomorrow off.

Looking for a cool song to workout to? Alt-J

Where I'm At . . .

As of yesterday, I weigh 183.5 pounds. That is about 10 pounds more than when I ran the marathon. It is about 5 pounds more than when I was in Mexico at the end of September.

That has got to change!!!!And it will . . .

My knee is coming along pretty well after the surgery (3 weeks ago yesterday). It was only just about 3 days ago that I could really feel improvement. Swelling down . .. . scar tissue doing it's thing.

I was in Chicago on Saturday and Sunday and ran about 2 miles down Michigan Avenue on Sunday morning at 7:30AM. It is why I run.

I am looking forward to getting back into shape. I think that my usual running 6 days a week is going to have to come to a sad close. With 2 knee surgeries now, ever present gray temples and thus far an extra 5 pounds - -'I am going to opt for 3 to 4 days a week.

I have been talking to God about what the "new normal" looks like for me.

For those of you who have followed my ups and downs over the last several years on this thing . . .you know that I need to be apart of something bigger than myself. I am just not sure what that thing is now. In the meantime (or today)  . .I am going to get outside and let the cold January air burn my legs, sweat a little, and start the process of fitness again. And believe me . . .it is just as hard for me, as it is for the 20 million other people out there who have resolved the same thing.

This is what I have been listening to: JULIA STONE (covering Olivia Newton John's song)