In Every Run That Must Be Done; There is an Element of Fun (comments welcome)

[Naomeri]

24 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

200+ bags of mulch later, and we’ve made progress. Sadly, 3/5 pallets they sent are actually old mulch that’s crumbling and dull. That includes all the mulch we put down last night We contacted the store, and sent them pictures, and they’re sending us 3 new pallets tomorrow, and the manager will be checking for quality.

Bad mulch laid last night on the right, good mulch laid today on the left



You can even see it in the wrapped pallets, so it’s pretty disappointing that they sent so much bad stuff


Ugh! So crumbly!!



Not crumbly!!



Pretty gardens!







After a day’s worth of work, and over 9,000 steps, I decided to go for a run while everyone else took their showers. I probably ran a bit fast, but my legs were all warmed up from all the mulch work.



2022 workout data to date: 141h 56m 59s of exercise; 61,989 active calories burned; 75,399 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

20 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

So…it’s been a couple days. All we did over the weekend was lay down mulch (once the new batch finally got here on Saturday, conveniently about 10 minutes after my uncle left to go golfing ). We ended up with late starts on Sunday and Monday too, because of a neighbor’s grad party (we thought it would be rude to be running a lawn tractor while they’ve got a yard full of people) and a rainy Monday morning. But we’ve made a lot of progress, and the remaining pallet and a quarter are stowed under the porch and deck so they stay dry. Since I was doing so much mulch work, I really didn’t do much in the way of other workouts.

The gardens are really looking great.













Today, I had to wait until almost 10pm to run because the heat was just insane. It was still pretty humid, but at least the sun was down and it was below 80°F. Tonight was the day I planned to do my first 5K of the rD Summer Virtual series I started out with 60/30 intervals, but that only lasted for the first mile. I was breathing too hard and I kept sucking bugs into my mouth. Shortly after I crossed the 2 mile mark, I got the life scared out of me when a big black lab popped out of the shadows and came right up to me.





The only other thing I did today was chase after the neighbor cat to rescue one of my baby chipmunks. I finally got the poor thing free on the neighbor’s front walk, but then it ran into their garage as I was herding it home, and I didn’t think I ought to follow it in there. I just hope it made it back to our yard without Fez the ginger cat catching him again.


2022 workout data to date: 152h 51m 33s of exercise; 66,097 active calories burned; 80,387 total calories burned

 

[jmasgat]

Beautiful yard. And thank you for trying to thwart the murderous ways of the neighbor cat.

 

[Herding_Cats]

Those peonies!!!!

 

[azrivest]

I finally got the poor thing free on the neighbor’s front walk

Did you literally save the chipmunk from the cat's mouth?

 

[Naomeri]

Did you literally save the chipmunk from the cat's mouth?

I chased the cat until he dropped the chipmunk, yes. The rotten bugger just saunters past my patio door with one of my chipmunks in his mouth and thinks I’m not going to chase him down. I bolted out the door and ran through the yard and the newly-mulched gardens in my bare feet.

 

[Naomeri]

19 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Well, I only did half my planned run today. I was unprepared for how hot the sun would feel. I thought I was running slower, but I obviously wasn’t. I had a haircut scheduled tonight, so I couldn’t run later in the day. Tomorrow is my early off day, so I think I’ll have time to drive to the Luce Line and run on a shady gravel path, instead of my very un-shady neighborhood blacktop.



I almost got one of the baby chipmunks to take their first peanut from me, but it kept getting distracted by other chipmunks running up and taking peanuts.



2022 workout data to date: 153h 21m 43s of exercise; 66,390 active calories burned; 80,731 total calories burned

 

[avondale]

On the bright side of things, after your haircut, your head will be cooler!

 

[Naomeri]

18 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Well, I had another shortened run today, but not because of heat. I was almost at the 5 mile mark, and as I was crossing a gravel road, my foot came down on a large piece of gravel, right in the middle of the ball of my left foot. I’m shocked I didn’t roll my ankle or something. I tried running, but it was sore, so I tried walking it off until I actually hit 5 miles, and it was still a bit touchy, so I ended the run workout and switched it to a walk workout. After about a half mile, I was totally fine, but I didn’t feel like switching back to running, so I just kept walking the rest of the way back to the car.





Other than the giant piece of gravel, and the mosquitos that tried to eat me alive when I was walking back to the car, it was much more pleasant to run on the shady Luce Line, rather than my sun-baked neighborhood. And the mosquitos would’ve been less horrible if I’d gone earlier, but I was busy with a spreadsheet project for my grandma.



Speaking of my grandma, she was a busy bee last night while I was getting my hair cut.





We have a lot of random things in the gardens, but this is my favorite bit. We inherited the concrete kitten from my great-grandma, and found the little stone mouse to be perfect companion for it.



2022 workout data to date: 155h 0m 38s of exercise; 67,121 active calories burned; 81,629 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

17 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Finally got a rest day, with just some yoga to close the rings on my watch. My grandparents finished laying the last bags of mulch this afternoon, and we’re not quite finished, so we have to pick up a carload in the morning.

I was down in the woods feeding chipmunks (and mosquitos, because my bug spray wore off) and I heard a loud buzzing. I looked around and saw this giant bumblebee enjoying all the lamium that grows around the ferns and rocks.



The chipmunks I was feeding in the woods were:

King (in his throne-tree)



Gus (being picky and ignoring everything but the almonds)



And Nacho (just happy to finally get a turn)



2022 workout data to date: 155h 32m 38s of exercise; 67,346 active calories burned; 81,880 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

16 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K


NO MORE MULCH!!


After 2 trips to the store to get 35 more bags today, we’re finally done hauling and spreading mulch!

Once we were done today, I did 30 minutes on the bike, because I definitely wasn’t going out for a run.


2022 workout data to date: 159h 1m 57s of exercise; 68,614 active calories burned; 83,468 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

13 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Thanks to a helpful Dis person sharing a short registration queue, I was able to get registered for the 5K and challenge for Princess Weekend. All my queues this morning were stuck on “more than an hour” almost the whole time. One of them finally started counting down, but was still at 33 minutes when I got registered on the shared link just before 10:30 eastern. Now I really have to start thinking costumes. I haven’t even figured out Wine & Dine yet

I finally got to go out for a run! Sunday and Monday were just ridiculously hot, and I couldn’t motivate myself enough to get on the treadmill. Of course, I had to cut my run short because I messed up my calf muscle stepping back onto the road after pausing to close a neighbor’s mailbox. I did another mile after that happened, including a short pause to try to stretch it out, which I thought helped, but the relief only lasted until the next uphill section.



The sunset was pretty tonight.





I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with the chipmunks Sunday and Monday since it was so hot outside, but I did get a few pictures.

Sweetie would like to know if I have any almonds in my phone hand. At one point, he jumped onto the back of my phone; at another point, he jumped onto the front of it, and I almost got the camera switched to selfie mode, but he jumped down.


Fern is good at posing


And also selfies!



2022 workout data to date: 160h 52m 26s of exercise; 69,493 active calories burned; 84,494 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

11 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Yet another missed run. This month has been hard! That muscle I pulled on Tuesday’s run got pulled more yesterday morning when I stepped wrong or something going down the stairs. I had planned on doing some time on the stationary bike yesterday, but I felt it in my calf immediate and was like, “yeah, no, this isn’t happening today.” After following RICE protocol yesterday and this morning, I’m much improved, except on stairs, I still need to do one step at a time and lead with my left leg. But I could do the bike with no issues whatsoever, though I was about 15-20 seconds slower per mile than usual. I’ll do the bike again tomorrow, and probably Saturday too. If the weather and my leg cooperate, I might run Sunday.

With the announcement of the WDW Christmas party dates today, I pushed my W&D trip from 11/1-11/8 to 11/2-11/9 so I can go to the first party night. I had to switch from Pop to Coronado, but I’m going to check periodically to see if I can switch back.


I didn’t do much chipmunk feeding the last 2 days, for obvious reasons, but I did a little.

Albert has slightly coarser fur than other chipmunks, and I don’t know why.



Ace will rarely hop on my hand to eat, and likes to throw out nuts he doesn’t like (such as cashews)



Hopper also prefers to eat while sitting on the ground (or the rock retaining wall)



Who wants to play “Spot The Deer?” The same doe came 2 days in a row right around 8:30pm





2022 workout data to date: 162h 1m 26s of exercise; 69,898 active calories burned; 84,987 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

10 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

My leg is almost completely back to normal. I did a half hour on the bike tonight and I was back to my usual pace. My grandma and I went to see the Elvis movie and it was very good. Other than that, today is just…unspeakable.


2022 workout data to date: 162h 31m 34s of exercise; 70,081 active calories burned; 85,220 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

9 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

I did almost 40 minutes on the bike tonight with an average pace of 3m35s/mile, which is a bit faster than average. The weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow, so I’ll probably go out for a run in the neighborhood. I’d prefer to go run the Katrina Lake Loop, but I figure I should stay close to home in case my calf muscle acts up.

I’ve decided on some costumes for Wine & Dine. For the 5K, I’m going to be a skeleton in running clothes, so I ordered a skeleton body suit, and then I’ll wear normal running clothes over it (and my rainbow ruffle skirt from Sparkle Athletic). I wouldn’t wear a double layer for a longer race, but I don’t foresee a problem for a 5K. But if it’s insanely warm, I can always skip the bodysuit. For the 10K, I’m ignoring the Raya theme and going as Lilo. It’s possible this is just an excuse to buy myself a Stitch plush but I also ordered red dress with a white hibiscus pattern that should be just basic and breathable. I still don’t know what I’m wearing for the half.


2022 workout data to date: 163h 10m 58s of exercise; 70,329 active calories burned; 85,534 total calories burned

 

[lookingforsunshine]

I wouldn’t wear a double layer for a longer race, but I don’t foresee a problem for a 5K.

I am wearing a blazer for the MW 5K so I am interested to see how this goes lol. I’m like “it’s only a 5k it’ll be fine right!?”

going as Lilo. It’s possible this is just an excuse to buy myself a Stitch plush

I just watched Lilo & Stitch for the first time ever last night (cue the GoT ‘shameee’ chorus), and I am obsessed and also want a Stitch plush. Have you seen the Stitch Crashes Disney stuff!? It is so cute!!!

 

[Naomeri]

I am wearing a blazer for the MW 5K so I am interested to see how this goes lol. I’m like “it’s only a 5k it’ll be fine right!?”

I just watched Lilo & Stitch for the first time ever last night (cue the GoT ‘shameee’ chorus), and I am obsessed and also want a Stitch plush. Have you seen the Stitch Crashes Disney stuff!? It is so cute!!!

I wore a double layer (Bruno poncho over running clothes) for the Springtime Surprise 10K (which was obscenely humid) and didn’t die, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.

You watched just in time to celebrate 626 Day today! I have seen the Stitch collection, and I wish I had space (and money) to collect it all.

 

[Naomeri]

8 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

It was a beautiful day today, other than the wind. My grandma and I went to a local art fair, got some Ben & Jerry’s, had a late lunch/early dinner at Red Robin, and a while after we got home, I went out for a run. I could feel a slight tightness in my calf muscle at first, but it loosened up. All my miles would’ve been consistent, except my grandma was pestering me via text during mile 4



Here are a couple of hand painted sails at the art fair. They were offering free sailboat rides, but we’re not big on sailing.





2022 workout data to date: 164h 10m 26s of exercise; 70,876 active calories burned; 86,181 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

7 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

Tonight’s run wasn’t the worst, but it could’ve been better. All day long, we had a good breeze that made it perfectly wonderful outside. But as soon as I went out to run, it was dead calm I didn’t realize that the breeze was gone when I decided to do the more difficult (and sunnier) part of the route first, and I ended up completely exhausting myself so I didn’t end up doing the other mile and a half-ish part of the route.



2022 workout data to date: 164h 54m 31s of exercise; 71,243 active calories burned; 86,621 total calories burned

 

[Naomeri]

4 Days Until: Excelsior Firecracker 10K

(This was supposed to be posted on Thursday, but The Dis was down when I tried to do it)

I had a dentist appointment on Tuesday, so I couldn’t go for a run, but I did some time on the stationary bike. I did a dumbbell workout on Wednesday before we went to dinner and Ain’t Too Proud (the show was wonderful, but dinner ended up being not great—both at the time and later).

I had wanted to do some hill running today, just for a change of scenery, but it was 90°F and full sun when I got off work, and since we were having spaghetti for dinner, I certainly couldn’t run after. I did 40 minutes on the stationary bike, using 60/60 fast/regular speed intervals. The intervals get my heart rate up a bit more, and shave a few seconds off my average pace. Tomorrow will be cooler, so I’ll do my hills then.

I got my ticket for the first MVMCP date, which will be an awesome finale for Wine & Dine weekend. I was also finally able to book my return airfare for W&D; I was waiting on an expired SWA credit to be converted to a LUV voucher and I finally got it this afternoon.

Ein was sitting on one of the garden statues and chirping for me the other day



Poor little Roo seems to have lost his tail almost entirely I don’t know how it happened; all I know is he was out of sight for a few days, and then acting standoffish for a day or two after he came out of hiding. He’s back to his normal self now, just without a tail.





2022 workout data to date: 166h 41m 42s of exercise; 71,993 active calories burned; 87,524 total calories burned