I'll show you where you can put those Doritos...

So yesterday I decided for my first run pushing the stroller.  I bundled up Emily, because dang, it's stinking cold in Red Deer already, and headed to Heritage Ranch.  My plan was to run down the path into the river valley and back up.  I may have cut off more than I could chew as the drop into the river valley at Heritage Ranch is pretty steep, and I was pushing 30 extra pounds,  But hey, why not be ambitious right!?  And I had the most enthusiastic cheering section in town...

albeit a bit sleepy...

So as expected the jog down was easy.  I made it down to the foot bridge in 22 minutes and turned around to make my way back up. 

Let me paint a picture for you.  When I run, it isn't pretty.  I'm like the girl that has people saying, "oooh, poor thing," as I shuffle past.  But I run anyways.  Add to this that I hadn't brushed my hair, was wearing a shirt with paint stains on it along my husband's old work out shorts and I looked like a real PIECE OF PRETTY WORK on those trails.  But who cares right?!

So up the eternal hill I go.  My goal was to jog the entire thing.   Not to walk once.  I set that goal in my head and jogged it at a snail pace, dying/grunting/moaning/etc with each step.  Right around 3/4 of the way up the hill, you know... at that point of exertion when I was going to either poop my pants or barf in the bushes (or both), I notice two young women heading down the hill.  I could see right away from their silhouettes that they were both what some might classify as smoking hot... whatever.  As they passed my sorry sweaty ass though, I further noticed that they were decked out in head to toe coordinating Lulu lemon, were 115lbs each, had on full make-up, and I SHIT YOU NOT FOLKS, were munching on a bag of EFFING DORITOS.

...  ...  (the hamster running on the wheel in my brain spontaneously fell off his little wheel and started twitching in the fetal position.) ...   ...

Universe, are you freaking kidding me?

WTF.

I had a moment where I was this mixed up combination of pissed, entertained, and just plain disgusted.  I couldn't believe they total beautiful irony of that moment as I dragged my chub muffin up that hill grunting like a heffer, and they passed me on the other side fresh as daisies, the perfect fitness magazine image of an "athlete."

But you know what, I decided to just get mad at Mr. Universe for the moment, and I turned the speed up a notch.  AND I RAN THAT WHOLE STINKING ETERNAL HERITAGE RANCH HILL.

And Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum can just kiss my hard-working chubby bum-bum.

 G-night all.

...

...

(ROAR).

A city sky worth running for.

Bump in the road... no prob!

Got ibuprofen?

Missed a run.  I have a head cold that has taken my life hostage.  And a tooth that has cracked in two in my mouth (for the second time... they already tried fixing it once... nope!) and it is making me insanely cranky.  Never fear... I'm just a few days and a tooth extraction away from being back at it!

The first week.

Fall Bliss Out.

This week I ran three times.  All three times were really physically hard, so the wonderful weather made it easier to not grumble my way through the streets and paths of our beautiful city.  I am finding that my joints are suffering a bit from the impact.  Perhaps I need new runners.  Oh no wait, perhaps its because I am running at 198 lbs. 

Riiiiight...

But honestly each run was great.  I'm loving the mental space it gives me.  Being alone with my thoughts is something I need more of.  I am definitely a slow processor.  I don't mean I'm dumb... I just mean it takes me a while to navigate through my thoughts on certain issues or problems because my mind can race a mile a minute most days.  Running slows my brain down a bit and clears the noise. 

And speaking of noise... I also quit Facebook this week.  I have to say, I missed it for about 6 hours, and since then it has been total bliss.  I have no idea what anyone is up to that isn't in my immediate circle... but that's okay!  I get to focus inward more.

Happy trails.

C.