Fun for Friday - Squats During a Run & Other Escapades

Hope everyone has had a nice week - if nothing else, at least it's Friday right? Our weather has taken another crazy turn today - Wednesday's high was mid 70s, today we have ice and sleet coming down.

Luckily, I planned today as a non-running day. I've put in 23 miles over 3 days plus I did legs last night. So, I got up this morning and got on my bike trainer and watched Miss Congeniality. I forgot how funny that movie is. 

I will say that perhaps I need my own personal trainer as I am terrible at planning out my workouts. Three days of running, legs then bike trainer? Yeah...wobbly legs. But, I guess I can't or shouldn't complain because at least I am healthy enough to do these workouts.

You see, on this date last year, I was diagnosed with a blood clot in my neck. My world pretty much was turned upside down. I was told no running, no exercising period. I went from running 36 miles to sitting on the couch, scared. 

Just before the blood clot diagnosis, I was really falling harder for running. I had met Amy and we had formed a great running team. She was helping me get faster and truly enjoy each and every run. There had been a time when if the weather wasn't ideal or I just was feeling lazy, I'd forgo a run for a DVD or weights. But running was becoming so much more for me. And then it was suddenly taken from me. 

After finally being cleared to run again after about 4 weeks (though I started attempting very difficult and painfully short runs a week before), I realized how lucky I was to be able to still get out there, to feel the weather no matter how hot or cold, windy or stagnant, it meant I was very much alive. 

I also felt the need to prove that the blood clot didn't mean defeat. I worked hard to get my distance endurance back as well as my speed. And I had two people help me along the way, Jason and Amy. 

Now, don't worry, this isn't a sappy or depressing post, it's Fun for Friday after all. I just wanted to share some of our running escapades. We don't always run together. I do still very much appreciate my solo runs. But, when I run alone and things happen or I see strange things, there's no one to share them with. So, sometimes having a partner is just plain fun. Here are how some of our runs have gone down:

We have seen our fair share of animals from stray dogs to cute bunnies then of course the white goose that chases me and lately a rooster that has it out for Amy.

We've even seen fish during a run.

There was a body, hopefully that was the only one we'll see.

Then of course there are the sunrises that make getting up early worth it. Definitely want to see more of those.

We've run in the extreme heat of the summer that leaves you looking as if you had gone swimming and freezing temps of winter when 2 layers of gloves don't help.

We've run in rain so heavy we should have just swam and other times we wished it would rain.

We've run in 25 mph gusting winds that make you think you're running in place and hills that do the same.

We've done some house hunting and stopped to check out furniture on the side of the roads.

We've laughed, cried, cursed, but mostly laughed.

Sometimes we even stop to show each other a new weight exercise. I'm sure people are fairly curious when they pass by and we're doing squats on the side of the road.

So here's to all the awesome running buddies out there! They help keep you sane, or are just crazy right along with you ;-) 

For those who run with a buddy, what are some of the sights you've seen together or crazy antics? Anyone else do squats while running?