Running and a Haircut!

Just as a note...I'm writing this as I walk on my new treadmill!  I have it set up so I can use the walking desk while I'm online.  No longer will I feel like I"m wasting time....now I'm being productive and exercising!  Although I'll have to work up to walking faster than 3.2 mph.  I tend to make more typing errors when I am going fast.  I'm sure I'll get the hang of this and hopefully, this will motivate me to not only walk when the weather gets colder, but to keep up with my blogging since this is the closest to journalling I'm likely to get!

I've also set a goal to do 350 miles in 2011.  Ideally, I'll be closer to 700 if I do 15 a week but I'm trying to be practical.  Who knows if I will get 15 in every week?  I certainly don't now.  With being sick and kids and the holidays, my running has really suffered.  I'm actually frustrated by the fact that I lost 3 weeks due to being sick. Bronchitis just makes it way to hard to run, especially at this altitude.  It didn't help that I was slacking before then because I lost my running buddy Erika.  (I really miss having her around btw. And not just for running motivation but because I loved having an adult  friend to spend time with on a regular basis!  She's always been fun to hang out with and talk books or trapeze or whatever.

Back to my running gripes....I was at the point where I could do 10 miles and not die.  Now I"m feeling my lungs scream at 2 miles (although that is getting better slowly but surely) and my knees are starting to ache again.  I couldn't believe how much my left knee was hurting at mile 4.  How can I possibly run a half marathon in less than a month if my knee hurts this much at 4 miles??  Sigh.  I'll do the best I can, but I was hoping my best would involve a bit more satisfaction and joy.

Even though I"m struggling to get back into the swing of my workouts, I am noticing that I like to run.  I enjoy getting outside and feeling the rhythm of my feet on the pavement and the wind in my hair. I like to feel strong and healthy and satisfied at the end of a good run.  I did just over 5 and 1/2 today and I watched the sky over the mountains turn pink and gold and highlight the rocks and hills.  It really is a beautiful place to be and I'm loving it, despite the lack of trees and oxygen.  I liked running on post at dusk and enjoying the peaceful evening.  I actually like it. 

I never EVER thought I would say that.  I love swimming and yoga, but I've always hated running.  I hurt and couldn't breathe.  It never came easy and was a source of frustration and a sense of failure.  I did manage to learn to run fast in the Army (record 2 mile time was 14 minutes flat) but I didn't learn to love it till recently.  I hope I can push past this point and get to where I feel like I'm fighting for it less and progressing more.

I'll quit babbling about my running and get to the pictures.  Maddy's hair has been long for her entire life.  She had hair in pigtails at 6 weeks and curlers at 8 months.  I've cut it several times, but it's been quite a while since we did any serious snipping.  The tangles were taking over and I decided to try and cut it myself.  I have to say that it's a skill.  One that I've not developed, but I think I did a passable job cutting in a semi-straight line!

Maddy is THRILLED to have "short" hair, but it's still pretty long even though we cut 4, nearly 5 inches off!