Last Outdoor Run of the Year

Dulce and I went for a short run today.  1.52 miles, beginning with WU and ending with CD.  A total of 1.8 miles.  Funny.  A year ago I would have called that a long run.

Anyway, we started off down the driveway and something caught my attention a house away.  A big red-tail (hawk) had caught a squirrel.  Startled by us, it took off from the sidewalk up into an oak tree on the other side of the street.  Another squirrel ran up the tree and tried to bother the hawk, obviously distressed by seeing a friend or family member with in the clasp of this beautiful predator.  I have seen three sharp-shinned hawks capture birds in our yard.  Now this beautiful hawk catching a squirrel.  Our bird and squirrel feeders are doing a great job feeding the pyramid: everything from the little mice and birds to the top predators (including the two Great Horned Owls that frequent our backyard in the evening!).

Most of the sidewalks were cleared, but not all.  The snow and ice had started to melt, but there were big berms at the ends of the sidewalk where they met the street.  Twice I stepped into deep snow, causing the icy cold to filter down between my sock and my shoe.  Brrr.  Even though the wind was crisp, the sun was shining and my dog was bored.  I had to hit the pavement outside today.  The last nice day.

It is now 38 degrees, the warmest it will be for weeks.  Probably.  After all, it is Nebraska, and this is winter.  Our forecast for the next week is not going to be pretty.

Last year, we had our last freeze in February–the latest last freeze we’ve had is May 25.  I forget where the average lies, but it is not February.  In fact, we had to turn on the AC in March for a few days.  We actually went 301 days without any snow this year.  A record.

But regardless of the weather, I am lucky enough to have a gym that has everything I need:  spinning classes, cycles, treadmills, ellipticals, pool, weights, etc.

Compared to this time last year, I feel pretty good about where I am.  Last year, I was not running 3 miles yet.  I was not even imagining the prospect of doing a 7k or a 10k.  Now I am.  And I have to admit that yesterday while I was playing Settlers of Catan with my wonderful step-daughter and her husband, I even entertained the notion of looking into an Olympic distance triathlon.  A 50k bike ride, or maybe a 100k ride.  I know my hubby would be up for it.  There’s a 50k in April called the Spring Fling.  That might be something to think about.  Or the Heatstroke 100 . . . Aptly named.  In July.

Nope.  This time last year I remember thinking about how hard it would be to train for a triathlon in April.  How freaked out I was about a 14 mile bike ride and then a 5k.  The longest triathlon ride I had done yet was 10.6 miles.  I remember looking forward into March and April at the 3 and 4 mile run workouts my coach gave me.  And freaking out.  And the 13 mile bike rides on the schedule.  The swims never scared me.

Now I know I can do those distances.  I can double that on the bike.  I hope to double it on the run.  I already have more than doubled the swim distance.

I am confident.  Moreover, I am confident that by April’s O’Rourke Triathlon, I will do the 14 miles and the 5k together–without taking a walking break.

I am a different person.  Thanks to my training.  Thanks to the motivation I received from hanging out with Nick.  From reading all of my favorite blogs out there (you know who you are!).

So thank you, everyone and everything, for an amazing 2012.  It worked out far better than I ever could have imagined.

And thank you, Dad, for everything you have done for me–and continue to do.  I love you and miss you so much.

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