I'M QUICKLY LEARNING...

...how much effort running is. And I'm not just talking about the actual running part of it! Ever since I lost my trusted running partner Em, I've had to entirely shift my focus as a runner. We used to just run and talk, talk, talk. The time would fly by and it seemed so easy. Every so often I would think about how tired I was, but not even that much. The challenge when running alone is to not think about how tired you are, how much farther you have, how hot it is, or if that creepy guy off the trail is the boogeyman!

Also getting ready for a run seems like so much more effort -it's like packing for a little mini vacation! First I have to make sure I don't get bored - for me this means making playlists for my ipod or downloading a book or podcast. Next, I have to worry about hydration and hunger. I have to pack my water, energy bar, and gatorade and make sure I have enough based on how far I'm going. And finally, I have to worry about my safety. Running alone has definitely introduced a lot more paranoia into my routine, so I take a cell phone and a whistle (Today I wondered if anywhere would rent me a dog to run with? Seems like lots of gals run with big, protective dogs) Add to the list - my stopwatch, GPS, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, & chapstick.

So adding that all up seems like alot, but I think it is definitely worth it because I just love the feeling during the final moments of a run. The runner's "high" I get is so real and effective. The 10 miles I ran this morning at first seemed like so long to go, but when I got done it was like "that wasn't so bad..."

I noticed today that certain songs really get me going and others, well, just don't do it for me. And my range of music tastes is very wide - I've got a little bit of everything from 70's to techno, to Top 40. A few favorites on my iPod at the moment are "Colorful" by Rocco DeLuca, "Wake Up Call" by Maroon 5 (the whole new album is great) and "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. So here's a question for those of you that listen to a lot of music. What songs or artists motivate you?

SOME MOTIVATION FOR YOU...

You gotta read this story and watch the video...
http://cjcphoto.com/can/

FAREWELL BYBEE FAMILY

I was a little too sad yesterday to post on my blog. You see, the Bybee Family has packed up and moved out of town. Yes, I guess a new job for Uncle Tom is a little more important than keeping my family entertained. We are excited for them and know they will love their new home and town, we will just miss them greatly!

MY FIRST TRI

This past Saturday I completed my first sprint distance triathlon. It was a 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 3 mile run. I had no idea what my time would be, but I guessed between 1:30 and 2:00 hours. Guess what I did? 1:29!! I was so pumped, I think I'm ready for the next one. The best part was the people I met and the comraderie. Everyone was doing their first triathlon, so there was no intimidation from the big timers. The worst part was probably the transitions. I was amazed how tired I was after each leg - the worst being bike to run. I felt like my legs were a ton of bricks, but then they were wobbly like jello. (Very weird feeling) I may do another one this summer, but I think Ironman is a few years down the line!

Thanks to Em for snapping these photos!