Oh how I miss thee....

(not my pic but I swear this looks like me from the back)

Summer running. Come 4pm when I start thinking about my workout for the weekday evening I miss running. Don't get me wrong - my new gym is stinking awesome. The equipment is so new that I don't even know how to use it unless I stare at someone else and learn from watching them. I never have to wait for a machine, there are many flat screen TVs and there are fans installed on each treadmill. But, I can't run on treadmills - it just doesn't feel right.


Oh - and I recently noticed that guys work out with black garbage bags under their shirts. FKA Hot Detective told me this is so they can lose more weight. And this makes me feel so bad for them - like I should do an intervention and tell them they don't need to make themselves a crackling-sounding and sweaty mess just to lose water weight - that they look good just as they are! But I digress...


So anyway: I miss summer running! So very much. Right now I'm fighting a sickness and I think it's because my body misses the true challenge I put my body thru in the summer. I think it forgot how to function trying to survive solely off of lifting weights, stairclimbers and ellipticals but leaving out the pounding of the pavement. So summer running, oh how I miss thee, let me count the ways...




1. You made it easy to go far! 6 or 7 miles before dinner you say? No problem!


2. Sunset runs. It seriously does not get any better than this. Well wait...I could think of better things but in the context of time of day to run: it does not get better than this.


(borrowed photo - not mine)


3. Smelling barbeque on the running trail.

4. Gnats. Looking in the mirror after my run to see how many gnats got stuck in my hair and sweaty face/chest/arms/legs/etc - double the points if one got stuck in my eye. Gross I know, but it's like war wounds!


(borrowed chest - not mine)



5. My garmin forerunner. Oh my goodness, makes it so much fun to compare pace, elevation, running routes, distance, etc - you can even program another imaginary runner to race against. Awesome.


6. Waving at other runners. And it's even better when you're coasting down a hill while someone is trudging up - encourage them! The other day once I crested a hill I was so excited that I high-fived another runner at the top...in my head. Still felt awesome.


(She's waving at you, not me)



7. Races. Tech shirts, bananas and hot sweaty guys. What's not to love?


(Shirtless Shia - not running but still counts - Swoon!)


8. With longer days it made for more leisurely runs - you have all the time in the world.


9. Feeling strong and sore - all over.

10. Running skirt. There is some controversy here but there is something that feels so spunky about wearing a running skirt - makes me go faster in my head!


(swish! swish!)


11. Running in summer rain. There's something about sweating out the problems of the day while attaining a goal. The dichotomy of those actions are parallel to running in summer rain. For me at least. Oh and I LOVE getting my calves all muddy. More war wounds.


(Not my pic - I'm good at stealing pics if you haven't noticed)


Oh, and don't get it twisted. I am *no* fancy-schmancy-fast runner. I should probably correct myself and say I jog more than I run. I have never had the urge to do a marathon. I don't have patience to dedicate myself to a good tempo run - I'd rather space out and be slower. And running is my consolation prize to hiking. But - I love the accomplishment and feeling my body improve itself.


But what I left off my list is my most favorite part of running of all: Finishing!

(My running heros: bro and sis-in-law after their first marathon)



Ideally with post-run mimosas! YUMMY and Hiccup!!

First 2009 Excursion

Pretty pretty gumdrops! Today was such a good day to get out into the woods and frolic. Despite the crazy wind on I-90 it was very calm on the trail. Not our intended trail mind you - we had to turn around after the road proved to be pure ice. So thank goodness for my Snoqualmie Corridor hiking book - one of my loves in life...

It was craziness to see any green at all - and a waterfall? Pure craziness in the forest today so Big D took a pic of me in it. I'm not looking at her because I'm gazing at our view. Why didn't I take a pic of that? Because you should of come with me if you wanted to see it, that's why.

The waterfall was so soothing, I was in such bliss that I decided to lay down on my back and have a moment. I love how trees look from my back. Have you ever tried that? Try it: trees look great looking from flat on your back.


And of course Big D snapped me out of my blissful moment with her "RAWR!" She seems so elated about attacking me doesn't she? Yup folks, that's what keeps our friendship strong: Pure abuse and fear.

The trail was relatively flat and then all of a sudden it went up, and up in classic switchback fashion. Which was really good because we were craving some post-hike beers and had pre-calories to burn!

Check out this branch - how does the snow just ribbon around it like that? I don't have an answer either because I went to F.P.

There were *so* many vine maples along the trail covered in snow. Look how perty this one is...

I can't resist shaking off snow! *pull!*


*pour!*



That's what I get. Snow was dripping off my face but it felt fantastic. I keep on complaining about the snow because I *really* miss my summer hikes but then after days like today I remember how soothing and whimsical hiking in the snow can be. It really is like venturing off into a still photograph - nothing moves or makes a sound. Well, nothing moves until you shake it's branches of course.

After much switch-back trekking Diane faked exhaustion so we could have our cocoa-peppermint schnapps break!

Now *this* is the best part of hiking in the snow. We sit down on our waterproof coats, making our butts numb anyway and sip on our cocoa with schnapps. Then we start getting into geeky yet heart-warming conversation. The whole "I love you man" especially "I love you in the woods man" and the classic "isn't so-and-so so great? We love them man!"

I do have to admit that Big D and I know some *very* fantastic people in our life that it can get quite overwhelming. We've known each other for years and out of anyone she knows me the best - so we can double-attest to the amazing people we both know. But I digress (Schnapps are still in my system obviously - babble babble).

So after sitting and yapping too long we noticed it started snowing again and was getting dark. I took this photo when we were almost to the trailhead. Don't you feel good and cozy already? It was so stinking beautiful!

Afterwards we got our burger and beers at the local tav. After much discussion about what to do for our 30th birthday (were one day apart but guess who's older!!) we decided that Macchu Picchu is more suited for 32, Wonderland trail is suited for 31 - so what for 30? Colorado baby! That means more hiking and beer drinking. And were hoping to throw Utah in the mix as well. This gives me more material to daydream about.

So we were so surprised that on the way home it kept snowing, and snowing and snowing. It was coming down hard in North Bend so we figured the best thing to do was:

1. Drive slower.

2. Follow the taillights ahead of us.

3. Blast Limp Bizkit.

Yeah I said it: Limp Bizkit. A soundtrack from our sassy-frassy days years ago in our early twenties. I continuously recorded our progress as we made our way from North Bend to FDubya. Some of my material is not suitable for "all eyes". Also, holy crap, do I have the highest voice ever or what??

So for your viewing pleasure I've posted the quick update from Mercer Island.

Available for private viewing: Big D and Krista's rendition of Limp Bizkit's "Break Something". P-R-I-V-A-T-E viewing only. And you have to earn it with flattery and gifts.

"Give me something to break!!" (It's in your head now isn't it....)

"It's all about that he said she said bullsh*t!" (Now it's *really* in your head isn't it!!)

Until the next woodsy frolic...don't break anything. It's just a song.