Monday, August 8, 2011

Running makes me see things

I did my long runs backwards this weekend (not literally) and started with my shorter long run (10 miles) on Friday. It was a great morning to run. It was really windy, but that's still better than stagnant humid air. I ran the 10 mile loop on base with two other women and it was a pleasant run. My legs were pretty tired by the end, but I expected that since I was skipping my normal rest day.

On Saturday I got up super early to run. I really thought I must have accidentally set my alarm to 3am instead of 5am because I felt way too tired for it to be 5am, but alas, I was just being a wimp. This is one reason I'm looking forward to the winter. In the winter, I just run whenever and never get up early to run. In the summer, I have to sacrifice sleep to beat the heat.

I met 2 other women in my neighborhood for the first part of the run. They wanted to go for 7 miles, so I brought Peanut since I could drop her at the house after 7 miles. We took it pretty easy on the pace, but I didn't mind since I had 9 more miles to run at whatever pace I wanted. I dropped off Peanut and then headed out for the rest of my run.

It was an uneventful run except for one thing: I swear I saw a chupacabra. Around mile 13, I saw an animal in the ditch beside the road, just trotting along. At first I thought it was a dog, then maybe a large cat, and then a fox. It was covered in matted and nasty fur patches and was so thin. When it saw me, it kind of hissed and turned and ran.

It looked just like this, but still alive and kicking

I know it was probably just a really sick fox with mange or something, but still...CHUPACABRA!


When I got home, I actually felt bad that it was probably out in the woods suffering. Or maybe it was out there sucking the blood out of livestock. I think I prefer just seeing random road kills on my runs versus crazy animals. Maybe I'll see Big Foot next?

Speaking of crazy animals, my baby is part woodchuck.

I'm thinking of destruction

FIBERRRRR

Good thing we got an organic crib

What? I was hungry.

We have ordered crib rail covers that should keep her from destroying the crib or getting a splinter in her mouth. I'm going to file this under: "Things I didn't imagine would ever be an issue".

After my 16 mile run on Saturday morning, my mom came to visit the baby...I mean, all of us. My husband had a ton of homework for his grad class, so we had to leave him at home when we went to the "Beach Festival" being held in exciting downtown Leonardtown. Yes, this is the downtown of where I live.

Can you handle these crowds?
It was actually a really cute little festival and they had a ton of stuff for kids. Faith even got a free rubber ducky.

Can you believe that someone just GAVE this me??

Mommy, I need more of these.
Luckily, downtown Leonardtown is right by the water and we had a nice wind coming off the water, otherwise it would have been super hot. We cooled down with some sno-cones and Faith managed to con both my mom and I into sharing ours with her.

I just want to drink a cup of that syrup

You can just leave that cup here.
We walked around for a bit and Faith conned my mom into carrying her instead of my usual "Just sit in your stroller and shut yer trap" response to her fussing.

This is why I like Grandma better.
My mom and I also split a hot pretzel and somehow Faith got some of that too (see the trend here?).

Salttttttt

This whole "festival" thing is ok by me
Faith was a little too young to enjoy the main attraction of the festival. Kids were going NUTS for this:

Cold fire hose water, how fun.
Since my mom was here, my husband and I actually went out for dinner. Like a date or something! It was my turn to pick where we'd go, so I did the logical thing and choose Five Guys. Actually, we tried to go to Texas Road House first and it was too packed. It's new down here, so everyone wants to try it out. Honestly, I only wanted to eat there because I watch way too much Family Guy and I just like saying "Road House".

I had a hamburger the size of my face and then a milkshake from Chik-fil-a  because we know how to live it up on date night. The milkshake had a cherry on top, so it was fancy at least. If you've never had a burger from a Five Guys, you are missing out. If you don't eat red meat, you're just missing out on life in general. :)

Week 2 of JFK 50 training went well. I ran 48 miles and had 2 full rest days. I'm a big fan of my rest days!

Have you ever eaten at a Five Guys?


How many rest days do you take a week from working out?

24 comments:

  1. First of all, WTF?!? A chupacabra?? I have never in my life heard of that and clicking on the google images is going to give me nightmares for weeks. {{{Shudder}}}

    Second of all, how cute is your kid??? That pic of her in that white hat is too adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yikes! If I ever see anything while running that resembles a chupacabra, I'm booking it home! I'm actually a little nervous about running outside in the dark (which I will eventually have to do) because we have so much wildlife in our neighborhood. I guess if anything happens at least I'll have my RoadID!

    I have never eaten af Five Guys. I don't like red meat. My stepdad LIVES for red meat and so I know from him that Five Guys has the most awesomest burgers ever created. I had a milkshake from chick-fil-a this weekend, too. If there was one close to my work, I'd be in big trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yum, Five Guys!!! :)

    I'm mad I missed out on the beach festival.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the burgers at Five Guys. They also have awesome fries.
    I think In-and-Out burgers are better, but unfortunately they don't exist on this coast.

    One reason why Five Guys is so awesome is that they don't give a crap about making "healthy" burgers, and don't give a crap about your stinkin peanut allergy.

    I'd eat a chupacabra burger.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe the chupacabra was a figment of your imagination and you had runners brain like I did this weekend.

    I've never been to five guys, I don't even know where the closest one is. Then again, what would I eat?

    ReplyDelete
  6. We probably go to Texas Roadhouse about half the time when we go out to eat. It definitely fulfills my hubby's meat and potatoes diet. And right after Logan was born I was introduced to Five Guys. Definitely an awesome burger!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey - your town festivals look like the ones here! Nice job on the long runs! I got in 20 this weekend in Minneapolis and it was beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The burgers at Five Guys are pretty fabulous but hot dang those cajun fries are delicious!! Beats chewing on the side of a crib, that's for sure ;)

    Any recommends on how to increase stamina for longer runs?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Re: what you saw on your run - perhaps Voldemort is back and attacking your town? If it looked anything like the picture in your post, I would have screamed and ran away!

    ReplyDelete
  10. have you considered getting those things that go on top of the crib so that baby doesn't chew through all the wood?

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG, I spit out my coffee from laughing at that Milk Bone box!!! So funny.
    Your week 2 of training was harder than any week of training I've ever done. Ever. You're a rock star.

    ReplyDelete
  12. we have a new Five Guys here and I keep wanting to try it. My husband tried it and said "no biggie, swensons is better" (a local drive in hamburger place).

    ReplyDelete
  13. Funny how Leonardtown festival photo looks about the same as Leonardtown deserted. But I hope you pushed the stroller down the huge hill to the wharf and back up, for full enjoyment of the topography.

    Mmm, Five Guys.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have never even heard of Five Guys.

    I've read that the way you did your runs this weekend is the "right" way. Shorter 'long' run followed by a long run the next day.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You should get a chupacabra as a pet. Looks like someone Peanut would LOVE. And Faith? Forget about it. Love at first sight. I can see it now.

    (Where did you even find the name of such a random and scary looking thing?!)

    The destruction that she has raged on that crib is awesome. Teeth of steel! She probably doesn't need to floss, either.

    And finally, AWESOME choice for date night. There is a 5 Guys right near our new house and Benjamin is dying to take me there. That's totally the kind of date night we rock too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Poor critter! Probably a sickly fox but who knows you could have discovered a new species! ;-)

    Okay you had me at snow cone! yum! And that looks like my kinda' small town crowds.

    We ate at 5 Guys on Saturday. Yum but I like a hotdog hidden under a pile of everything! yummmmy!

    Finally, could you please stop reminding me that I am NOT running in JFK. (off to go sulk in the corner)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Never been to five guys. As for rest days I like 1-3 a week. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hahaha, chupacabra! Kim, you know those are fake, right?

    Does Faith often eat non-food items? She's got some pretty sharp teeth!

    And my dirty secret is that I hate Five Guys. I must be a mutant.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You're lucky the thing you saw didn't attack you. You could've been half chupacabra by now. And you really need to feed that child more often. When she starts to eat the wood off the crib, you know it's time to increase her meal intakes. Just sayin

    ReplyDelete
  20. that is the crazy thing I have ever seen and thank goodness it didnt come close to you!

    my daughter use to nibble on her crib too, those crazies!!

    love me so 5 guys!

    ReplyDelete
  21. there is a five guys right near me but i haven't been there yet. and i love myself a burger.

    i run 5 days a week and have 2 rest days. i agree...i LOVE my rest days.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Chic Fil A milkshakes are seriously the best ones ever. We live across the street from one. Sounds like a wild date night - I hope your outfit was fancy enough! :). I feel like my legs would have been freakin killing me if I skipped my rest day and then ran 10 miles and THEN ran 16 miles. Way to be badass. I normally take one but I'm considering bumping it to 2 with this insane 50 mile training.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Roadhouse is yum! Their rolls are really good! At Five Guys, I like the fries!*

    ReplyDelete
  24. ROFL @ chupacabra! Love it!

    Note to self - consider rail covers to prevent future beaver-like behavior! Faith is too adorable.

    Five guys is good...but Chik-Fil-A milkshakes are the BEST! mmmmm. Now I want a milkshake, thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete