Karen the -FAST- Runner

Today, not only was I a friendly runner, I was also a fast runner. An incredibly fast runner. I typically say hi to every single person I see when I am out running. And, when I'm running in the neighborhood (like I was today), I run a couple of laps around a big loop. When I do this I generally see the same people more than once, so I say hi to them more than once. I even say hi to their dogs.

Today I decided to run my typical route in reverse. I don't generally like going this way because I feel like it's steeper than going the other way. So, I run for a bit, then take a stretch break. As I am finishing up my stretch break an older man comes jogging up behind me. I didn't want to start running right as he went by because I thought it might be awkward to jog a few laps around the neighborhood with an old man that I don't know. I walked a bit to let him get up ahead of me. When I started running again I could tell I was gaining on him. I was hoping to myself that he would be done soon, so I wouldn't have to run along side him. At one point he started walking, and I thought he was done for the day. Nope, just a water break, and a quick one. At this point I was right next to him, and we were coming up to a long hill. So, I kicked it into high gear, and Zack and I left him in our dust.

I continue on my merry way and when I'm on my last lap I see a lady in her motorized scooter out with her dog. They are up ahead of me, and on the other side of the road. I know you can see what's coming. Yup, I passed the lady on her motorized scooter. Those things are fast, you know. Surely they can get up to 15 MPH!

But that wasn't even the fast part of my run!! That was still to come. You see, an Olympic runner lives in our neighborhood. He's for real, a professional runner. His legs are probably as long as I am tall. The dude was made to run. We see him out running quite often, this morning he was probably out on an easy 10 mile jog. I see Abdi up ahead, and then, I just jog right on by him, saying hi as I go by. Yes, Karen the Friendly Runner ran past an Olympian. As James likes to tell me, "that's how it feels to be a champion."

Now, don't go thinking I'm all kinds of amazing for running past an Olympic runner. He was running the opposite direction, so"we ran past one another. But I really did pass the old man (on a hill, with a jogging stroller!) and I most assuredly did pass the lady in her scooter.

Vacation!

We just got back from a wonderful vacation. We stayed in a cabin right on the Yuba River, up in a teensie tiny little town called Sierra City, which is in Northern California. James' parents, sister and brother in law and their baby, and an aunt/uncle also joined us.

The first full day we were up there we did lots of exploring. We tossed Zack in the hiking backpack and headed out for a nearby waterfall. We attempted a family self-portrait. It was not successful.

Along the path we saw a big pile of fresh, wild animal poop. We took a picture for Brandon, thinking that he would really enjoy it. We were calling it bear scat, just cause we found that to be fun. The day before when we had checked into our cabin, the owner told us not to leave food in our car, cause there have been bears in the area, but that they hadn't seen any recently. We went along our merry way, enjoying our hike. After the hike we explored some nearby lakes, then came back to the cabin for nap time.

The next day the rest of the family had arrived. When James' aunt and uncle checked in they were told a different story about bears, that a mama and baby bear had just been spotted the day before. James' sister didn't sleep well that night, she was afraid the bear was going to come in the cabin and snatch away her baby. We figured the dirty diaper smell would keep any bears far, far away.

The majority of our time at the cabin was spent playing with dirt and sticks, or throwing rocks into the river. Zack loved it, and he loved all the outdoor time. He's never had such grubby fingernails, he was in heaven.

On our last full day up in the wilderness we took a trip to Lake Tahoe. When you are that close to Tahoe it is a requirement to visit!! Zack enjoyed playing on the sandy beach, and even took a little dip in the water. Just like his parents, he too loves Lake Tahoe. It must be genetic.

We've been home for a few days now. It's been great to sleep in our own beds, and have the beagle back to clean up after Zack at meal times. We do miss the much cooler temps, however. And Zack is pretty mad at me for not letting him play outside every waking hour, like he got to do while on vacation.

As a side note, I just googled "bear poop" and lots of lovely pictures came up. My quick google research has confirmed that the big pile of wild animal poop did indeed belong to a bear. YIKES!! I sure am glad we didn't encounter that mama bear......

Just wondering....

I'm wondering when the post meal clean up will no longer involve cleaning food remnants out of Zack's ears and nose, and off his forehead, armpits, and feet? Oh, and the back of his neck, and his hair too. And sometimes the dog's head and shoulder as well.

I love my messy boy.

Pump It Up

Lately, Zack has been extra heavy in the jogging stroller. I noticed that the back tires were getting a little flat, and I thought to myself surely that's what was making it so much heavier. Then I decided it was just wishful thinking, and that even if I were to pump the tires up it wouldn't make a difference, Zack would still be heavy. I felt like it also gave me a good reason to complain about how heavy the stroller was. Then the other day James pushed the jogging stroller and he said how much harder it was to push with the flat tires. My theory had been validated by someone much smarter than me!

So this morning I pump up the tires and go for a run. Zack was at least 100 pounds lighter. Seriously, I should have done that 20 miles ago!

I'm Getting Old

Today I went to the doctor because my foot feels funny. It kinda hurts, but it doesn't really. It just feels "off," and it has felt this way since March. I was hoping I would wake up one day and have it feel normal. Not the case. I was also fairly certain that if I went to the doctor I would be told "you need to stop running" which would just make me sad sad sad. So, after months and months of denial, I went to the doctor.

I explained to him that my foot feels funny, and that I run (but not all that often right now cause it's 1million degrees out), but that running doesn't make it feel any worse than just standing makes it feel. I told him that I've googled every single running foot injury that one could come up with and I don't have any of those symptoms. So, he pokes my foot in 100 different places and says "now, this might hurt." I look at him the whole time with an expression that says "yeah, that doesn't hurt." He tells me that it doesn't appear that I've injured myself, makes no mention of needing to stop running, but does tell me that he thinks orthotics would be helpful.

HOLD THE FORT! Orthotics?! I'm only 29! I think I aged about 84 years while sitting there on that exam table.

I leave the doctor's office and text my running buddy Alexis. I tell her that I am now her ancient running buddy and my doctor is recommending orthotics. She laughs (it is kinda funny, you have to admit it) and tells me I look good for my age. I then proceed to send her a completely blank text message (seriously, who sends blank text messages?! OLD people!!).

I then did what all people my "age" do. I went to Dress Barn, bought a beautiful dress with a lovely floral patten (complete with shoulder pads), some high waisted pleated slacks (tapered ankle) and called the dentist to make an appointment to get dentures. I then went to the grocery store where I picked up some prunes and Ensure, along with some Fixodent for my dentures. Thankfully I already have a hair appointment next week. I have yet to decide if I will use brown or blue hair dye to cover up the gray hairs.

But really, I'm SUPER glad that I can continue to be Karen The Friendly Runner. Maybe now I will just be Karen the Friendly, Orthotic Wearing Runner. Or Karen the Old Lady Runner. The possibilities are endless.

Another Favorite

Zack. He's one of my favorites. James and I love that little guy more and more each day. It's amazing.

In the past week or so he has done the following:

-Taken his first steps. He could walk everywhere if he wanted to. He just doesn't want to.
-Given himself a little bit of a black eye. When you hide behind the curtains and then come crawling out at full speed while the curtain is still on your head you can't see things like the chair that has been there since the day you were born. Ouch.
-Said "Mama" and was actually referring to me. (Awwwwwwww)
-Broke his first sippy cup. It was only a matter of time with the way he tosses them off his tray when he is done. Or when he simply feels as though it's no longer necessary to have it on his tray. Really, he needs no reason to toss the cup over. He doesn't even laugh or anything when he tosses it. I think he simply doesn't want it in his sight, so he tosses it overboard.
-Ate chocolate. He liked it.
-Learned the sign for "more". Only he seems to use it to say "give me that."

I am sure there are a million other wonderful things he has done, I just can't seem to remember them.

In other exciting news, Walter turned 8 this past week. We celebrated by giving him carrot sticks and cheerios. What a life.

Somebody Call the Docta!!

Somebody please call the doctor, we've got a sick treadmill.

As I mentioned, the treadmill had a "moment" where it decided to speed up on me the other day. I had mentioned something about wearing that little clip that will stop the treadmill when you fall off the back of it. Well, I didn't wear that clip, and I also didn't fall off the back. BUT, last night I was on the treadmill doing a lovely speed workout while James ran outside (thank you monsoon downpour for cooling it off to 80!!). When I was almost to mile 2, the treadmill once again had a "moment." Only this time it didn't speed up. Suddenly the incline started increasing. This is SUPER bizarre since the incline is broken. You push the up arrow, and it doesn't move. Somehow it decided on it's own to raise that incline right straight up. I of course hopped off (my speed was at 8, running that fast up a hill is impossible.) I took a picture of it with my cell phone, sent it to James, and got back on. I managed to run at a 6 for 30 seconds or so before I had to walk. This whole time I am mashing on the down arrow, trying my hardest to get the incline to go down, but it didn't work. It didn't even work when I pushed the button harder!!

James came home and watched me push the up and down buttons over and over, but it didn't do a thing. Our treadmill, with the broken incline feature, is now stuck in an inclined position. And being stuck in the inclined position means that you can't fold it up (not like we do that very often anyway....). It also means that running on it will be HARD! Hill work outs galore!!

I'm afraid the next time I try to use the treadmill it will violently shake and breathe it's last breath. Hopefully a treadmill doctor can prevent such a tragedy. Now I just need to find a treadmill doctor....