When Bill and I headed out for an early morning run, it was only 55 degrees…  My kind of weather!  🙂  I decided to run ten miles today since I won’t be able to join the Cruisers tomorrow morning for our long run.  I couldn’t convince any of them to call into work sick and run with me, so after Bill peeled off at six miles I had to run the last four miles alone.

While still on our neighborhood trail we saw our local high school cross country team running toward us.  There were probably about 40 runners total.  It made me so happy to see these students out enjoying the beautiful morning before starting their school day!

CrossCountryTeam

Bill and I got on the W&OD Trail to run for a couple of miles, and lo and behold, we saw our friend Linda coming toward us!  She and I used to run together for years at 6 AM with three other friends.  We ran together five mornings a week before we got our kids off to elementary school, then middle school, and eventually high school.  Schedules changed, and friends moved, but I could always count on joining Linda whenever I needed to head out for a super early run because she was like the little Energizer Bunny out there getting it done.  Linda moved away a couple of years ago, so it was a very nice surprise to see her this morning!  And of course it was great to catch up!

DebLindaTrail

Once I was running by myself again, I started slacking taking picture of the beautiful flowers along the trail.  These are thistles that my dad used to call “mean thistles,” because their seeds blow and spread so easily if you don’t keep them under control.  Dad always kept a paper bag in his pocket when farming to break off the blooms and put in the bag so they wouldn’t go to seed.  A field of these would be beautiful, but they would take over the grass and hay that the cattle need to eat.

Thistles

These morning glories grow along the “guardrail” fences along the trail.  They are gorgeous!

MorningGlories

These look like some type of gerber daisy or shasta daisy.  Perhaps a bird carried the seeds here from someone’s yard…

Daisies

The grass along the trail was being mowed, and I took this picture as I ran by hoping that I wouldn’t be noticed.  Unfortunately the driver looked right at me…  Oh well, busted!

TrailMower

I was in heaven smelling the freshly cut grass for several miles!  Freshly cut grass is one of my favorite smells and reminds me of my childhood!

CutGrassOnTrail

And finally, don’t forget about my SPIbelt giveaway going on this week. To enter for a chance to win your very own Original SPIbelt, please use the Rafflecopter app below. Please be aware that specific colors are not guaranteed in the giveaway.

SPIbeltRocks

Rules to enter my SPIbelt giveaway:

  1. Winners will be selected by Rafflecopter at midnight on Tuesday, September 10, and announced on Wednesday, September 11.
  2. You are allowed to enter every day during this period. The more times and ways you enter, the greater your chances of winning.
  3. Shipping is available only in the continental United States.
  4. Once the winner is announced, that person will have until Friday, September 13 to claim the prize. If the winner fails to claim their prize, another winner will be chosen.
  5. Relatives of Deb Runs are not eligible to win.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • Questions:
  • What wild flowers are blooming where you live?
  • Did you run cross country in high school?
  • Have you entered for a chance to win an Original SPIbelt??