12 GLOOOOOOORIOUS MILES!

On Saturday, I ran 12 GLOOOOOOORIOUS MILES! I did it for no reason other than I just felt like running! I decided to do my favorite 12 mile route that starts and ends at my house. It was quite warm out, so I filled up my hydration pack, loaded my mp3 player with pod casts, and hit the asphalt!

But I snapped a picture first!

I would like to show you my route! I snapped a picture every mile on the mile. Central PA is quite hilly and beautiful! (There are some hiiiiiiiills on this route!)

Mile 0.0 - Home sweet home!

Mile 1 - Still in the neighborhoods

Mile 2 - A brief period of shade!

Mile 3

Mile 4 - The picture doesn't do the hill justice

Mile 5 - Another hill, hard to tell!

My normal spot I stop to pee- overgrown. So I didn't stop, for fear of snakes.

Boy did I pay for that decision!

Mile 6 - Selfie time! I look like I'm scuba diving...

 My stats so far...

Mile 7

Mile 8 - The view from the bridge over the PA Turnpike

Mile 9 - Alpaca farm!

Mile 10 - Not so pretty

Mile 11- The walking bridge over Route 15 back to my neighborhood

Mile 12- Home sweet home and a baber boy waiting for me at the window!

 

The final stats!

My original plan was to just take it easy but as I fell into my comfortable pace, I decided to try to push myself. I am really happy with my time! I am also happy that I didn't wear my knee brace and my legs felt really strong the whole run and for the rest of the day. It was so freaking hot out, though! I drank my entire hydration pack and wished I had more!

I hope you enjoyed the picture play-by-play of my run. The only thing that would have made the run better is if one of you were with me to share the experience!

What would we talk about if we went on a run together???

2 Running FIRSTS!!!

I have been a serious runner for 8 years now and just yesterday, I had two running FIRSTS- and they both happened within 5 minutes of each other!

The first one is a bit embarrassing, but you know what? It is probably going to happen to all of us on a run someday (if it hasn't already) so save your judgement, people!

I peed my pants on my run.

Yes, I am serious.

Let me tell you the story. Yesterday, I was on a BEAUTIFUL 12 mile run (which I will re-cap tomorrow) and all my normal bathroom spots were overgrown with lots and lots of grass and weeds. There was no way I was going to walk through knee high grass for fear of snakes.

Instead of going at my one of my normal spots, I waited until I was on an even more secluded road. I didn't go behind a tree because everything was overgrown, but the road got almost zero traffic, so I thought I was safe. I should also mention I can pee without pulling my shorts down- just squat, move the crotch of the shorts to the side, and I'm good to go!

So while I was peeing, I kept looking both ways to make sure a car wasn't coming. Well, a car was coming! I stopped peeing and immediately stood up and started running again so whoever was in the car wouldn't know what I had been doing. Except I couldn't stop peeing. I tried to stop but I just kept peeing!!!

It was only weird for a minute. I was already soaking wet from sweat because it was so hot out. You can't get wetter than wet so it was fine.

Save your judgement. It will happen to you someday and you will remember my story and not feel so alone.

That was the first running "first" for me. The second running first happened less than 5 minutes later. I had turned onto a more busy road in my freshly peed pants and a car pulled over on the side of the road. I could tell as I approached, the person in the car was going to ask me for directions because he rolled down the window.

I wasn't scared to stop and talk to himm- there were lots of houses around and some fishermen right behind me at a creek. I just didn't want to stop. I was trying to increase my pace as my run went on and stopping was going to mess up my mo jo!

"Excuse me!" the person in the car shouted.

I just ran right on by without even making eye contact. I had on sunglasses and my headphones, but I was still so obviously ignoring the person in the car. But I had goals!

That was my second "first" of my running career- blatantly ignoring someone asking for directions. I may have been a bitch but I averaged and 8:14 pace for my 12 mile run so guess what- I DON'T REALLY CARE!

Have you ever peed your pants on a run?
Do you like giving directions on a run?

Finally caught up on sleep!

If you're wondering why I am so late posting today, it's because I finally dragged my ass out of bed at 10:00 am! That's right, I finally caught up on sleep, and it was wonderful. Last night I was so excited to not have to set my alarm. That hasn't happened in quite sometime, so obviously I milked it for all it was worth.

Look who kept me company...

  

He's a baby!

Jelly slept with his mommy all morning too.

My lack of sleep was partly due to staying up late and watching the season finale of Survivor on Wednesday night, but mostly due to just not being able to fall asleep properly for over a week. My mind just keeps racing. You know how it is. We've all been there.

So now that I am all rested (and fueled up from sushi, cheez its, pudding pie, and chocolate chips with peanut butter), I am going to put this bottled up energy to good use. I'm going to go run my favorite 12 mile route that I have used for too many training runs to count. It's extremely hilly, very pretty (I always see several deer), and I'm just looking forward to zoning out to a pod cast on this beautiful afternoon.

I slept half the day away, so now it's time to go out and feel alive!

Going on any good runs today?
Do you like to sleep in?
Do your fur babies sleep with you?

I must redirect you today...

Happy Friday! Yesterday felt like Friday to me. I am still trying to catch up on sleep from Wednesday night. I stayed up past midnight watching the Survivor Finale and then reading message boards about the outcome. GO TONY!

And Woo. LOVE WOO!

Instead of a normal post today, I'd like to redirect you over to Lis @ 26.2 x 2. She interviewed me for a Blogger Profile on her running blog and today I am featured!

Make sure you stop by and read the post, as well as follow the rest of Lis's running, marathon training, and basset hound adventures!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thinking Out Loud - Things I SUCK at.

Thank you to Amanda @ Running With Spoons for this Thinking Out Loud link up! Sometimes my TOL posts are random thoughts and sometimes they have a theme. 

Today's theme is.... 

I’m good at all kinds of things, but that is no fun to read about! Let me tell you all the things I SUCK at!

Fun fact: Paul came up w/ 2, 4, 6, & 8!! (It's okay, he speaks the truth!)

1.    Being patient. I feel like I am super patient in September, but somewhere around May, I start to lose it! I need time to recharge, so I am so thankful to have the summer off to do this!

2.    Any sport involving a ball. First of all, I hate sports anyway. I hate watching sports and I hate playing sports. It's not that I'm not coordinated because I am a pretty good dancer. I just can't manage balls...

3.    Relaxing. Even when I'm watching Dr. Phil, I'm also doing something else... folding laundry, blogging, checking email...

Jelly could teach me a thing or two about relaxing...

4.    Dealing with road rage. I swear and talk a lot of smack in the car.

5.    The trumpet and other high brass instruments. When I was at college, the trombone and baritone came very easily to me. But when I switched to high brass, I was terrible. I could not get my embouchure tight enough.

1994 in middle school marching band.

6.    Unclenching my right butt cheek while driving. I don’t know why, but I have a weird habit of doing this while I drive. I usually don’t even notice it unless I am on a long car trip or something.

7.    Answering my phone. I never answer my phone, I would much rather text! The only people I automatically answer for are Paul, my parents, and my brother. Sorry everyone, now the truth is out! But I do answer texts right away, as long as I have my phone on me.

8.    Focusing on only doing one thing at a time. It's like I have 20 Google Chrome tabs open in my head all the time.

Source

9. Returning library books on time. I don't know why I procrastinate so much, but I do!

I just picked this one up and it's a PAGE TURNER!

Tell me something you suck at!

I SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY!

I know this is not a political blog, and while it may be "taboo" to talk about certain subjects at the risk of not pleasing all of your readers and making everyone happy- TOO BAD!!! I am proud of who I am and what I believe. I don't mind shouting from the rooftops that I SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY!!!

Yesterday was a historic day for my home state, Pennsylvania! A federal judge issued his decision on Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage. HE STRUCK THAT SHIT DOWN!!!!!!

You can read more about it here.

Seriously, folks. SERIOUSLY!

PA was the last state in the Northeast to join the Marriage Equality party. Better late than never, right? As it stands now, 44% of the U.S. population lives in a state with Marriage Equality. I am confident that it will not be long before it is 100%! There have been huge gains in this past year alone. Here is a state-by-state breakdown.

But until everyone has the freedom to marry who they love... let's celebrate the smaller victories!

CONGRATULATIONS, PENNSYLVANIA!!!!!