It’s time to sit down once again and chat about things other than just running and training. Today’s focus will be on what’s howling outside right now – fierce wind! I love talking about the weather. It’s always changing – always has been and always will be; and I think it’s the farmer’s blood in me that is so fascinated and tuned in to its ever changing mood. As a runner, I need to be equally tuned in to the weather when deciding whether to run outside or inside, and if outside, what to wear.

CoffeePoster
 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that today was an unexpected free day for me. With plans to go to New Jersey for the weekend to see our son and daughter-in-law, I had moved clients to earlier in the week and canceled my Friday balance and stretching class. I’d even pulled together a plan to get my twelve-mile run completed with friends super early this morning so I could stay in and enjoy visiting with my family tomorrow morning.

As weather forecasts started coming together on Thursday morning, things started looking iffy. By Thursday afternoon, my running friends had bailed on me (rightly so), and Bill and I were reconsidering fighting the wind in our SUV on the drive to New Jersey. With cold winds expected through Sunday morning, it didn’t seem like a good weekend to be walking around sightseeing in a new city. We finally decided to stay home this weekend and go another time…

At 2:32 AM this morning, I awoke to the anticipated howling of wind. I didn’t sleep particularly well after that so I slept in (I’m using that term loosely) until 7:30. Once up, I received a text from the only client I hadn’t rescheduled, saying she couldn’t keep her mid-morning appointment. An unexpected day with no appointments – what should I do? Well for starters, I’m joining in on the ultimate coffee date, something I hadn’t expected to participate in this month!

As I type, I’m listening to the wind howl outside and just heard on the radio that wind gusts have gotten up to 71 MPH at Dulles Airport. I’m shocked that none of the trees in our back yard have uprooted and blown over, but the day is young…

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that out of an abundance of caution, we took the covers off of both sets of patio furniture. We didn’t want the covers to become sails and move our furniture across the deck, through the railing, and into the back yard.

 

The below photo is from last year – the heavy stone table and chairs were setting parallel to the decking boards until the wind got under the cover, lifted it, and moved the furniture across the deck.

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that while on my run on Saturday I saw a few hints of buds on a few of the trees along the trail!

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that our weeping willow hasn’t started getting green yet and it’s usually teasing us of spring by late February. Last year it turned a faded greenish-yellow and lost a lot of leaves over the course of the summer, and I’m nervous that it’s died. This picture is from a few years ago when our willow was quite healthy and happy.

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you that I’ve added another spring race to my schedule. I’m planning to run a trail 25K in SWVA in early April. It should be interesting considering I’ve hardly run on trails in the last couple of years.

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d update you on my Grand Tetons Half Marathon plans. Not only are we going to enjoy a little time in Wyoming before the race, but we’re going to spend a week in southern Utah hiking around the five national parks – Arches, Bryce, Zion, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef. Longtime friends who we haven’t seen in over fifteen years are going to be in Utah while we’re there, so we’re going to have the added bonus of seeing them!

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d share with you another exercise joke that Alexa (affiliate link) told me. Her most recent joke is, “What’s a pirate’s favorite exercise? The plank.” 😀

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d tell you I just bought a pair of Asics Gel-Nimbus 20’s (affiliate link). I ran in Asics for over ten years before switching to Brooks. I’m all about running in the right shoe for me, and when I tried on shoes yesterday, the Asics felt so much better even though the color selection was rather pathetic. I’d tried switching back to Asics two years ago, but at the time, their shoes still didn’t feel as good as the Brooks. We’ll see what I think after a few runs, starting with tomorrow morning’s run…

 

If we were having coffee…..
I’d ask if you have a race coming up, and if you do, I’d wish you good luck and remind you to have fun!

 

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Today I’m joining Deborah at Confessions Of A Mother Runner and Coco at Running With Perseverance for their monthly Ultimate Coffee Date linkup!  Be sure to stop by their blogs for a cup of coffee and to say hello; and while you’re there, be sure to check out some of the other bloggers who are participating in the linkup.

 

  • Questions:
  • If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?
  • Do you have any buds popping out on trees yet?
  • What’s your absolute favorite drink – water, coffee, tea, soda, fruit juice, wine, beer, cocktail, etc?

 

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.