One of the oldest jokes ever is when, typically a non-runner, says something like “I only run if I’m being chased,” and proceeds to laugh at their own joke. Yes, we’ve heard it and it was funny around the same time people saying “Oh, double trouble!” about twins was funny. But, a sighting in my neighborhood this past week made me think about what I would do if I were actually being chased on a run.
By who or what? THIS:
Now, there was quite a bit of speculation as to weather this was a mountain lion or a bobcat, but really? It’s a gigantic predator, in my neighboorhood, so who really cares which one it is? It just is. And, I’m pretty sure I can’t out-run it…yet. Sadly, because of fear, I was subjected to run and bike indoors earlier last week, just in case. And, my husband absolutely forbid me from attempting to do hill repeats outside when I started to think maybe, just maybe, I would. Someone has to talk sense into me I guess.
RUNNING: Luckily I didn’t cut back quite as much as I thought I would, and ended up running about 25 miles. However, a lot of them were speed drills, repeats or hills. I actually love this kind of training because, after logging all those long runs for the half-marathon, these keep your mind working and make the time fly by…most of the time anyway.
CYCLING: I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally announce that I was able to ride my bike OUTSIDE! I bought a brand new Specialized Amira in November and have only ever ridden it on a trainer. Can I just tell you how amazing it felt to put that baby on the road? It was like going from driving a Honda to a Cadillac. I was scheduled to do hill repeats but I just wanted to go! I knew Coach Rocket Scientist would understand when I changed the hill repeats to a nice long hilly ride. She did. Perfection.
See ya!
CROSS TRAINING: Does jumping on a trampoline count? How about the rush of adrenaline I got when I had the chance to meet Tamara, (Tamara Like Camera) Scarlet and Des? For anyone who has ever exchanged life stories with another blogger for months on end, then you know the feeling when you finally get to meet them IRL (in real life). It’s kind of like meeting a celebrity. There’s something very odd about knowing so much about a person who you’ve never met, and there’s no Chris Hansen involved when you actually show up. The coolest thing? Tamara and I hit it off and started chatting, laughing and engaging as if we’ve been friends for a long time. Probably because WE HAVE!
Des is even MORE adorable, loving and funny in person. And yes, my iPhone pictures are blurry and it looks like there’s a talk bubble coming out of his head, but there was too much jumping and fun to be had to take good pictures. Sorry Tamara – this is no reflection on you 🙂 I’m also not sure if there’s an unconscious kid laying by the wayside back there!! It was that kind of day.
This was the only shot I could take of these three! My boys are circling Scarlet like sharks because she has Cheetos! That’s Miles in the foreground with his mouth wide open. Lovely.
RACING: Next up is the March of Dimes 5K on April 27th. It’s going to be a fantastic race for a great cause but, I have to say, racing 5Ks are my least favorite because it’s an all out sprint for three miles. I can feel the burn already.
FUEL: Ignite Naturals. I was recently invited to become part of the Ignite Naturals team and I couldn’t be happier! Why? Their products are just what the name says – natural. Trust me, when I’m out there training and shoving hydration drinks and chomps in my face to keep me going for 2+ hour brick training sessions – I don’t want to have to worry that what I’m fueling with is going to give me cancer. And, you need not do two hour sweat fests to enjoy their stuff. They have a great line of pre-workout, during and post-workout hydration and shake solutions. I’m currently drinking my way through them all.
Use this code IN00230 and get 10% off your purchase! Tell them VITA sent ya.
THINGS I LOVE: Lorna Jane sports bras! Check these babies out:
Not only that but when I posted about them on Instagram and Twitter, I got an awesome message from Lorna Jane on Instagram and a favorite and a follow on Twitter. I get total nerd-like excitement when stuff like that happens.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH: Tutus. Surely you’ve heard about the SELF magazine controversy by now that involved a runner wearing a tutu, which the magazine used to say how lame this was – except the moron who got permission to use the picture didn’t realize the woman running in the wonder woman shirt and tutu was doing so because she was undergoing chemo for brain cancer! The words: “You’re fired!” come to mind.
However, my point is that I would personally never wear a tutu in a race. BUT, I would also never in a bizillion years call someone else lame for wearing one. If you’re out there running at all, you are amazing. I’ve always thought SELF magazine was lame and now I know why. Do everyone a favor and stop buying their rag.
MUSIC: I gave my ears a bit of a break this week and did a few runs sans music. And, when I’m cycling on the road I never listen to music. Plus, I need to be alert for mountain lions. I have to say that I truly enjoyed running and riding without tunes. Instead I tuned into my breathing and my mental game. I used the force.
TV: Is March Madness over yet? Um, I mean – GO UCONN!
READING: As I sit here typing this, I’m multitasking by reading some of my Twitter feed. I know what you’re thinking: How does she do it all? Anyhoo – I spied a tweet about Oiselle, one of my favorite new brands of athletic wear. Perhaps you’ve also heard the news that badass mother runner/Olympian Kara Goucher ditched Nike to sign with Oiselle. Yep, that’s how amazing they are. Well, guess what? Kara friggin Goucher favorited my tweet! I’m geeking out again. I know this because when I yelled “Oh my God! Kara Goucher just favorited my tweet!” My husband responded with “Who?”
RANDOM THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: A friend and I were chatting on the treadmill the other day and thought, if there’s now naked yoga classes (yes, there are) shouldn’t there be naked running? We were sweating our asses off and the thought seemed really pleasant at the time. Plus, if you’re the leader, you’ll never see a thing! Maybe I should bring this up at the next Y staff meeting?
Have you ever had to run from a wild animal or anything else?
If you’re a blogger, have you ever met another one IRL? How was it?
Would you attend a naked class of any kind?
Ever get extremely over-excited by a tweet? Please say yes.
hahahaha naked running… girl I don’t have much but even I’d be flopping too much!! I can’t believe you saw that on your run! I’m always scared of wolves on my early morning runs around here…. We need to come up with an exit plan. I often think to climb trees but can’t most animals do that, or is that just bears?!
I know, right? I’m not sure which would be more uncomfortable – running with clothes in the heat or boobs bouncing with nothing to hold them? 🙂
Luckily I didn’t see that thing on a run. I think I would have had a heart attack. A neighbor took the picture from inside their house. FREAKY!!!!
Are you serious? That was in your neighborhood? I’d be a little freaked out. I’ve seen bears but mountain lions just creep me out. When I would hike with my brother (a wildlife biologist), he’d tell me stories of how mountain lions like to pounce on their prey from trees. You’ll never see them coming at ya. Fear for life!
Love the sports bra from LJ. I’ve got the same one! And super cool that KG favorited your tweet. I like to think we have a special bond because she grew up where I went to school. It’s all about connections, right? 🙂
OMG I did not need to know that about mountain lions!!! I’m so freaked as it is. Yes, we’ve had bears too but they’re not predators like this thing. Hopefully, it’s gone.
I can’t believe you have the same LJ sports bra!? We have great taste. And, yes, it’s all about connections!
Yes, I have met another blogger in real life, but totally jealous that you two got to meet and we really need to set something up for this summer possibly for all of us who live this close (in the Northeast) to meet up. Loved your pictures from the get together though and looked like you all had a great time. And yay to finally getting to use your new bike outdoors 🙂
We absolutely should! Tamara and I were saying that we need to do a big meet-up…preferably without the kids 🙂
What..is that animal?? What the what??
And I’m laughing because I was also having too much fun to take good photos!
I love the “speech balloon”. And I TOTALLY felt like I met a celebrity. I was probably kicking myself a little on the way home that Scarlet yelled at me and that we didn’t get to talk more, but we’ll have our chance.
You rock!!
YES we will!! You know I just loved meeting you and it was so much like hanging with a friend I’ve known for years. Cannot wait to do it again…without the kids 🙂
THAT IS SO SCARY!!!!!!!!! I would never run outside again. As soon as I saw Des, my heart melted! So awesome that you guys got together. I have met up with some bloggers in real life and it is always awesome.
Still can’t get over the mountain lion!! Did you guys call someone? I am sure they are common around your parts but usually stay in the woods. Maybe it was sick? Ugh. Even worse.
It was insanely scary and yes, I think pretty much every single person who lives in my neighborhood called animal control. We’re pretty sure it’s gone but not sure why it was here in the first place. So freaked out!!!
I can’t wait to meet YOU one of these days!!!
So, the running joke about being chased isn’t my personal creation? That kind of starts off my Monday with a bummer! 😉 Um, seriously, though, that animal is very large. And looks like it could run really, really fast! So glad you stuck to the indoors this past week…but does that mean it is gone??!! How super fun that you got to meet Tamara in real life! SO JEALOUS! Tell your boys that Cheetos are the bomb, and I would have been circling Scarlet, too! 😉 And I can’t even with the naked yoga. Because, wow.-Ashley
I’m sure you were the first to say it Ashley, but now it’s just so overused. Not your fault that your words take on a life of their own 🙂 Meeting Tamara, Scarlet and Des was just so beyond fun. I can only hope that someday I will be able to meet you and Lisa!! If I bring Cheetos can we make it happen? 🙂
All of my favorite kids ALL in one place! I LOVE IT! I also love your run down graphic. PERFECT! Love that you and Tamara (and the most adorable kiddos ever) got to meet! I heard about Kara Goucher, brave and completely awesome. Isn’t twitter the best? I got retweeted by the GLEE account on a tweet that I randomly hastagged #gleek and since they got 2.6M followers, the tweet got rt’d 316 times and favorited just as much. I totally had to turn off my phone LOL
If your boys were there, it would have been EPIC!!! Ha ha ha!
I cannot believe that about your GLEE tweet!! You are such a big deal girl. Love that.
OMG! Mountain lions?? That’s what I’m worried about when I am up at camp running. Cool you got to meet Tamara. She seems so nice! Don’t worry about geeking out. I get the same way. 🙂
Yes, so crazy and hopefully it is GONE!!!
Glad to hear you geek out over tweets too 🙂
This reminds me of a story Oprah told years ago. She was vacationing in Africa and wanted to go for a run in the morning. The African guide said to her, “Ms Oprah…do you know what we call joggers in the Serengheti? …Food.” Needless to say, she skipped her run that morning.
HA HA HA HA Seriously!!! Although this is looking more like the frozen tundra of Antarctica then Africa.
Girl…that bobcat? Oh NO! I would have been terrified! You did the right thing by staying indoors! I love the bra, it is super cute and I am sooo jealous, you got to meet Des, Scarlet, and Tamara! It looks like the kids had a wonderful time based on the pictures!
It was seriously scary. When I did finally run outside (a week later) all I could think about what seeing it. Needless to say, it was not a very fun run but I went FAST!
Tamara, Scarlet and Des were all so much fun. It was awesome!
That huge whatever it is would scare the crap out of me! Please, please don’t run outside!!
I did a bike/run outside this past weekend and, during the run, all I could think about was seeing that thing! It was not worth it but – I ran REALLY fast.
You’ll be happy to know that there is indeed naked running! Yes, an entire race of it–can’t remember where but I know Bart Yasso has done it. Anyhow, ick. To that and the yoga.
That is insane that there is a wild feline running about your parts! I have run out west on some trails where there are bears and mountain lions and I was a paranoid mess the whole time. I’m sure the folks who live there, though, are used to it all and don’t even give it a second thought.
I’m tired of #tutugate, I have to admit.
I do remember seeing some ahem, photos with big black bars over them in Runner’s World one time. It was just so hot on that treadmill that anything seemed like a better idea!
When I finally did run outside – it was awful because I was scared the whole time. I thought about people who live in the hills of California and places where those things live. How do they do it?? Scary.
#tutugate – ha ha ha ha love it.
Oh my gosh! I can’t believe there is a mountain lion in your neighborhood! That is so freaky! That thing is huge! I would be scared to leave my house again!
So amazing that you got out on your bike this week. I can’t wait to finally break mine out!!! When is this long winter going to be over!?
I totally geek out when my tweets get favorite or retweeted! I’m a nerd! And yes, I love meeting bloggers in real life. I’ve never met one that I didn’t like! 🙂
Very scary. Much scarier then the bear sighting. Hopefully it’s GONE!
We have snow today so….it’s looking like Spring is waiting yet another few days to grace us with it’s presence. *sigh*
Love that you geek out over tweets too!! Can’t wait to someday meet YOU!
I always figured being chased by a beast-creature would make for the ultimate run, but the time that evil dog came after me, I stood my ground and barked back. He was the one that ended up running. BOOM!
You are one scary mama!! Can I hire you to run my ‘hood with me?
If I ran naked, I would have a black eye in the first block! I don’t know that I’d do any sort of naked class, I’ve got too many body image issues to want the world to see me in all my glory!
Those sports bras look amazing, I love the message!
I wouldn’t have the black eye issue but, I don’t think I would ever take naked anything…especially yoga!
The sports bras are awesome and the company is so very cool.
I saw on Tamara’s site that y’all met up – I really need to move NE I think!!! So cool!
Actually, I had my first blogger meet-up yesterday with Susan and it was awesome!!!
I’m not sure how I feel about naked running – I’m pretty sure that plenty of people around here are already bothered that I head out in my shorts and sports bra!!!
Glad you didn’t have to test your speed with the mountain lion (or whatever that animal is) – although, I bet you would give it a pretty good run for it’s money!!
Yes Kim, you need to move!…or at least come and visit us.
I usually think that too when I’m out in my sports bra and shorts but, it’s too hot for me to care!
Let’s hope I never find out if I can outrun any kind of animal. I don’t especially like doing it with small dogs who can’t eat me, let alone a mountain lion!!
Wow, that is one beautiful cat. I wouldn’t want it in my neighborhood though! I have seen bobcats around here a couple times, once while running, but he was paying no attention to us and we were on the road and he was in a yard…heard rumors of mountain lions, but do not wish to see one! So glad you got meet Tamara and we definitely need to meet up this summer!
That had to have been scary – even if it wasn’t paying attention! I’ve had that happen with fox and it’s unsettling for sure.
YES – we have to make a meet up happen this summer.
I had to laugh. Really, who cares what that animal is and as beautiful as it is I wouldn’t want it out in my neighborhood while I was running alone. Be safe.
The whole tutu thing: besides the obvious bullying aspect of making fun of someone publicly (even if they’re healthy), any journalist and editing crew should know to look into the whole story before making anything public. Shame on them not just for their bad choices but for not doing their jobs.
Exactly Karen! Isn’t that lesson #1 in journalism? Last time I checked, “checking your sources” means checking everything. At least that person will never make that mistake again.
I’ve had to run from many things, but a mountain lion definitely ain’t one of them! If one even looked at me, I would probably just lay down and give them my face to eat.
Man, I was not a fan of SELF and the lack of diversity in their covers, but now I have another reason to stink eye them. Yikes!
That was my thought exactly! Playing dead would probably be my best option.
Yikes is right. Shame on them.
Naked running – oh no. But I would run naked before I would bike naked. Just sayin’. I may just have to take a road trip up to New England this summer – so many of my bloggy peeps are up there! Or I’ll just crawl in a duffle and come to Spain with you as your cheerleader. Corra, Allie, corra! (If the Spanish is wrong, that’s my daughter’s fault).
Ha ha ha – you always make me laugh Dana!! Definitely names running before biking. Biking hurts with clothes on so I shudder to think…
I would love for you to come to Spain with me…and I appreciate the Spanish cheering!!…and you’re daughter is correct with “corra” for “run!”
OMG a wild animal in your neighborhood?? If it was me, I might NEVER leave the house.
Yes, I finally met a bloggy friend (after nearly 3 years doing this) in France earlier this year. It was more awesome than I ever thought possible, not weird or awkward at all, and it felt totally natural. So glad (and jealous) that you met Tamara!
It was very scary and not at all fun to run outside for the first time since the “sighting.”
I remember you blogging about meeting up in France! I wish I could meet ALL new friends in France 🙂
HOLY COW!!! That cat is too scary!! I would never leave the treadmill again.
I love that you and Tamara met. That photo you took of Des is priceless. The {possibly} unconscious kid in the background is just the icing on the cake.
And that’s SO EXCITING that Kara Goucher favorited your tweet!!!!!
It really is a great excuse for the treadmill, isn’t it?
I cannot tell you how fun it was to meet Tamara and the kids. SO fun!!
I’m so glad you get my geek excitement about Kara 🙂 Thanks Carly.
DUDE – I need to get my on that Lorna Jane website STAT to get that bra!!!!!! It’s super cute, and I know it would MOTIVATE ME EVEN MORE to glide like a gazelle at the gym! 😉
I also really need to X train on the trampoline!!!! I MISS THAT THING!
You should make a trampoline “exercise” video wearing the BELIEVE bra. I’m sure it would go viral 🙂
Unfortunately, I don’t think it would be…. My knockers… Don’t knock even a bottle over… SAD DAY! lol!
I *need* to get my inner runner out again! Scary animals would be a huge motivator!!!
I saw Des and instantly said, “hey, I know that little guy”, I was right! I’m so happy you and Tamara met in real life, that’s awesome!
xoxo
It definitely motivated me to run a little faster over the weekend, even though we were assured it was gone!
Meeting Tamara and the kids was just so much fun and Des is beyond adorable.
Ok, so I have met several bloggers recently and I was like giddy, it was pretty funny! They turned out to be just as awesome in person, luckily 🙂 You just never know, right?! And, one of my tweets got favorited by Bart Yasso…OMG, I was over the moon with excitement 🙂 Kara Goucher would have been awesome!
Bart Yasso??? Awesome!!! I would definitely freak over that one.
So glad all your blogger meet-ups went well. It’s nice to know that most bloggers are true to themselves online. Thanks Sue!
Holy freaked out!!! I can’t believe that was in your neighborhood!!! How do you know when it’s gone?
This cracked me up because Kara favorited a tweet I had awhile back and I spazzed! I immediately felt very cool! :)…guess it doesn’t take much for me 🙂
Umm….that is supposed to say go Florida right?!
I am not a tutu wearer either but too each his own and shame on Self! I love that she is getting all kinds of publicity and support though. The apology makes me mad too…”sorry we had no idea she had cancer”…oh ok, so if she didn’t then that would be fine to say…NO!
No naked classes for me…no way 🙂
I have never met a blogger…but I am meeting Laura @mommyrunfast next Sat at a half!!! I am excited! I think it is fun to meet blogger friends. Whenever I say my friend and I am talking about a blogger my husband always snickers. He says your friend that you’ve never even met…and I say…yes!
Ha ha – so glad we can both geek out over Kara Goucher!
The powers that be say bobcats/mountain lions do not stay in one place – apparently they are roamers. Good!!!
I would just as easily route for Florida. I’m a terrible basketball fan. Is it football season yet?
I’m way jealous you get to meet Laura! I hope you guys take some pictures!! You’re going to kill that half. Can’t wait to read all about it. GO JEN!
Holy crap. Mountain lion or bobcat in your neighborhood? When I lived in California, there were warnings every once in a while and it would freak me out. I’m glad that you stayed indoors. And even happier that you and Tamara got to meet up and jump on trampolines!! How fun is that?
BTW – did you know that the editor in chief from Self was let go last week? Apparently in the works but wonder how much the whole tutu debacle had to do with it too.
Clearly I’m super behind in my blog reading! Trying to do some catch-up now 🙂
You are so sweet to read my rundown when you’re playing catch-up! I know how that is, and I appreciate it.
I did not know about the editor from Self and I’m sure it had A LOT to do with tutu-gate! The whole thing is just sad.