Where's the Beach?

I don't know what's going on with our weather this summer, but we're possibly hitting more record lows and record low highs again this week. After the crazy Polar Vortex , we quickly warmed up with heat indices around 105-109 over the weekend. See, that's the summer we're used to and enjoy complaining about. The upside was that the pool warmed back up, the downside was that it made for some tough weekend running. But apparently we've got another cool blast moving in and moving the humidity out. This morning the humidity was only about 70% and temps at 66 degrees. Hello amazing! I will admit that I was dragging a bit at the start of the run, but then I saw the sun starting to come up and the sky was spectacular. Sometimes you just need something beautiful to help get you motivated. The picture really does not do the sunrise the justice it deserves. But I didn't hesitate to stop and enjoy the views for a minute. Just simply breathe and soak it all in. T...

I think it's well known that runners are a unique group of people. We get up at dark-thirty or squeeze in a run during lunch breaks or after work, we hit the pavement in the rain, sleet, snow, heat and humidity. We often complain that the run was hard, but in the same breath start talking about it in terms of unicorns and rainbows.  What drives runners? Where do they find that motivation to do something that's not always pleasant? Let's face it, running can hurt (hello chafing, blisters, black toenails, lungs on fire). Running can be mentally tough as well. We talk bad about ourselves, doubt ourselves. But somehow, we keep going. Why? How? For me, it's almost impossible to really explain why I keep at it. It makes me happy. It clears my mind. It makes me feel accomplished like nothing else. That isn't to say that I don't lose motivation from time to time.  There are days when the thought of waking up early once more sends me into a 2-year-old tan...

In honor of National Running Day , I of course had to get in a morning run. Runners all have their own reasons for running. Some started for weight loss, some started as kids in track, some of us sort of stumbled into it and feel in love by accident. I thought it would be appropriate on National Running Day to share my answers (yes plural) to I Run ... I Run because it makes me feel empowered. I Run because it makes me feel alive. I Run because it clears my mind. I Run because it makes me feel strong in a completely different way than strength training. I Run to prove to myself that I'm stronger than I give myself credit for. I Run to enjoy being outside. I Run to watch sunrises. I Run for alone time. I Run to explore. I Run to catch up with my husband or my friend. I Run because no matter how tough, no matter how bad the weather, no matter how much I want to give up, it makes me feel accomplished. I Run because it makes me feel beautiful....

Have you ever had one of those workouts where there seemed to be a million little annoyances plaguing you? That's pretty much how my morning run was today. I had checked the weather before bed and the forecast was 49 degrees and 80% humidity. I was kind of looking forward to it being cooler. Tuesday's run was in the 60's, 90% humidity and just warm and muggy. Of course, I should know better than to trust a forecast. I had pulled out running tights - my Brooks Nightlife for visibility - and a short sleeved top. I got downstairs and it was 54 degrees. Now, 54 degrees with low humidity is very different than 54 degrees with high humidity. In other words, I was very much over dressed. However, I didn't want to go back upstairs and wake Jason up rummaging around trying to find new attire. I was fairly groggy as Maddie decided to wake us up twice during the night barking her crazy little head off. She's been doing that the past few nights. Good times. The sky was...

You may have seen a few posts about a Favorite Run . Amanda (aka Miss Zippy) came up with a wonderful idea about taking readers along with her on a run, basically sharing a favorite run.  I have loved reading these posts. They simply make me smile. They remind me so deeply of what I love about running, what I love to the core of my being about it. If you haven't seen any of these, definitely check them out. Here are just a few: Angela at Happy Fit Mama Christine  at Love Life Surf Debbie at Live from La Quinta Thinking more about running, I mentioned briefly yesterday about Amy and I having a lengthy conversation about what running means to us, how it can literally save your life even.  I thought I would talk about my Favorite Run in two parts. First, talking about what running means to me each time I go out. What it means to share that same passion with a friend as well. Not everyone really gets it. And that's ok. But runners like to shar...