Planning ahead, I switched up my days and ran on Monday and Wednesday this week since Bill and I were traveling to the farm to visit my mom on Thursday. Early clients prevented me from getting out at my usual zero-dark-thirty on Monday, so I ran in the afternoon when it was warmer – upper 40’s with very little wind. I started out with a nylon shell, but shed it half way into my run. It felt so good to not be weighted down with the usual winter layers of clothing!
On Tuesday I met Erin for lunch to celebrate her birthday. I was quite honored to get to spend time with her on her actual birthday! She had suggested Cava, but we ended up at Chipotle since I’m not a fan of feta, pita, lamb, etc… What a friend, right? She was so sweet to suggest going next door to Chipotle instead.
For my Wednesday afternoon run the temps were a few degrees cooler, but a wind was kicking up so it felt much colder and I never shed my nylon jacket (affiliate link). It’s a great windbreaker and folds into a tiny pouch that I can wear on my arm when I get too warm.
Bill and I left our house bright and early on Thursday morning for our drive across the beautiful Commonwealth of Virginia. I’d only gotten 4:02 of sleep the night before – typical of me when I’m wrapping things up and packing to go out of town. We arrived at Mom’s house in time for a late lunch, followed by a 2:15 nap for me while Mom made brownies and egg custard, and Bill hopped on a conference call.
It rained off and on all day Friday so I opted to go on my long run on Saturday morning, hoping to get home before the next round of rain hit (meanwhile it was snowing back home). I chose to run in the opposite direction of my runs while visiting at Christmas, so I didn’t get to see my horse friends. No worries, I made plenty of new friends.
The direction I ran is a much hillier route than where I usually run when visiting SWVA. I was pretty happy to average a 10:17 pace for eight miles on this hilly course. If I trained regularly here, I’d be a beast! Since I have a very hilly trail 25K planned in this neck of the woods in early April, I’d better find some hills near my house to train on…
Bill and I headed out just after 8 AM hoping to beat the rain headed our way. Even though it was 37°, it felt really comfortable so I ran back inside and dropped off my jacket just before we left. My run took me on country roads past a couple of my uncles’ farms. Rather than being frightened, the cows ran toward the fence in hopes Bill or I had some grain or hay for them. Sorry cows, I hadn’t remembered to pack my own fuel, much less remembered to pack a treat for you.
After about two miles, Bill headed on ahead on his ride covering a longer and different route than I had planned. We stopped long enough to try to get the goats and donkeys to come to the fence, but they weren’t having any of it.
I continued on my own to my turnaround at the church where I spent a few minutes visiting with my dad in the cemetery.
After my turnaround, my little friends were waiting by the fence for me and more than happy to pose for pictures this time.
About a mile from my finish it started raining and I went from too warm to slightly cold in no time and realized I should’ve brought my jacket; however, since I only had a mile to go I managed just fine. Just as I got back into view of my childhood home, Bill caught up with me and we finished together.
In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed as I celebrated Heart Health Month…
- Tuesday – It’s February: Are You Taking Care Of Your Heart?
- Thursday – Breaking Down The Five Components Of An Exercise Routine
Looking ahead to this coming week, on Tuesday I’ll have a long overdue installment of Ask Coach Deb and on Thursday I’ll join in on the Runfessions fun. In the next week or two, I’ll be featuring another local athlete in my Spotlight On Local Athletes series.
In addition to what I mentioned above, here’s a complete run-down of my workouts in my home gym from this past week…
- Questions:
- What animals do you see on your runs?
- Do you run when traveling?
- Did you race this weekend?
Have a great week!
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.
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I’m linking up with Holly at HoHo Runs and Wendy from Taking The Long Way Home for their Weekly Wrap. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!
I only see dogs and bird and deer on my runs. Sometimes a cat or two. I wish I could see cows and horses!!
I only see cows and horses on my runs when I’m visiting my mom. Normally my friends and I see skunks, foxes, and deer.
Oh! Thank goodness I don’t see skunks although, I did encounter a bear once. That was enough for me!
I think I’d take a skunk over a bear… That would be a great “would you rather” questions!
We only really see deer out here usually. Are you afraid at all of the big animals? Looks very peaceful out there
Although there is a horse farm along the W&OD Trail near me, I usually see skunks, foxes, and deer on my runs. Of course, when I run here at home I’m running pre-dawn when the animals are out foraging for food. I almost always run later when I’m at my mom’s house because I’m nervous about running into a bear or coyote.
When I run in the woods I am hopeful to not see any animals..haha. I’ve seen deer before and I’ve heard of a bear sighting. When I run on the rail trail I will see cows!
Yeah, I’d rather see cows than bears! LOL
I know you enjoyed visiting with your Mom. It looks as if you made a few new friends on your run. And yep, those are some hills! My new plan is to embrace the hills around here instead shying away. I love to run when I travel. I saw a lot of tracks in the woods today, but no animals. There were hawks circling above though. Thanks for linking!
We had a great visit with Mom and are almost home. Ah, the advantages of modern technology and phones doubling as hotspots so I can work on my ride home. 🙂
One time, we were running in a strange (to us) place, and a herd (?) of deer ran across the road right before we crested a hill….kind of freaky, but kind of cool.
I’m sure it was very freaky. Deer can run at very high speeds. Someday I’ll have to write about the time Bill almost got taken out by two charging deer. It wigged me out for days!
It’s always lovely to run when traveling. I miss running from my parents’ house — where they live now is super hilly with narrow country roads with no shoulders making it dangerous to run, although people do.
Always so fun to meet new “friends” on the run!
That sounds pretty much like where my mom lives. My only saving grace for running on those roads is how little traffic I see (yesterday morning I only saw four vehicles over eight miles).
Yeah, but all it takes is just one vehicle not paying attention. 🙁 I haven’t run at my parents. The one day I planned to is the day I had 2 left shoes with me. 🙂
I mostly see dogs and cats on my runs, but occasionally I’ll see coyotes, skunks, rabbits, and opposums. Life in the suburbs!
Have a great week!
We don’t have many coyotes here, and I’ve never seen one while running (only once in my back yard), but there are some where my mom lives. The skunks freak me out the most. LOL
I love the farm animals! We don’t have anything that interesting around here….deer, turkeys, and on the really rare occasion a fox. Great week of workouts!
It’s a treat for me to see farm animals when I visit my mom. Normally I see what you see, and skunks…
Looks like a hilly but fun route! All those animals would keep my mind occupied and make the run go by faster. I typically just see a squirrel or two in downtown, but if I go to the trails sometimes I see deer or even coyote. Have a great week!
I’d rather not see coyotes while running, especially if they’re in a pack… Do they frighten you or are they so used to humans that they ignore you?
They just ignore me and go back into the woods
I love your nylon jacket! I really need something like that.
Thank you! I love it because it’s very lightweight and provides just the right amount of warmth without getting me overheated. The fact that it folds into such a tiny pouch that I can strap on my arm or attach to my SPIBelt is an added bonus!
Running out in the countryside must have felt so refreshing! When I run on my usual routes all I see are dogs and the occassional cat. But if I run around my work area then I see baboons! Our office is right next to a hill with so many baboons and over the years they have become accustomed to eating from the office complex rubbish bins, etc. So they are quite a common sight now.
Oh wow, it must be quite amazing seeing baboons while out on a run!
Awwww! I love those little guys!
I’ve posted before but I live near an animal sanctuary, so I can feasibly see peacocks and zebras while running. Across the street are chickens, pigs, goats, cows and horses. And of course, there are always the possums, armadillos and snakes.
I remember seeing armadillos on a run while in Florida once and they really surprised me because I didn’t realize they were indigenous to Florida.
Running when traveling has become a fun/odd thing for me. I ran (indoors) in Amsterdam and Iceland this time last year, outdoors while at a conference in Montreal, indoors in Wyoming and South Dakota. Outdoors in Florida. Already worried about Arizona ahead of a Half (work travel) but will figure it out. No cute animals though #CityMouse
Wow, you do travel a lot! Is it all work related?
it’s a mix. Iceland, Amsterdam, Wyoming/SD were fun. Florida was for a race/vacation
Montreal was work. Phoenix will be for work. I’m a long weekend escapee – easy flights from NYC