20 Miles: Goose, Collie, Buzzards

Marta and I ran 20 miles today.  Here we are at the beginning of the run. One of us doesn't want to do it. I'll let you decide who that is:

It was rainy and chilly, but I was ready for this run because I planned most of the route around West Akron. I decided we would follow my old, old Blue Line route combined with my morning run around the mall. These two combined would give us about 14 miles, so I came up with extra miles along the way. It was an adventure, to be certain.

Our adventure started when a goose attacked us. I know what you are thinking. You think a goose ran after us, but you are mistaken. That goose flew up into the air and came at MY FACE, hissing at us. Marta was looking at a storefront, and I pushed both of us out of the way of the dangerous beast, yelling, "Jesus! It's attacking us!"  I saved our lives, Peeps.

This is EXACTLY how the goose looked when it came at me, Peeps.

Then, as we were running (ok, we were walking here) along the sidewalk on S. Hawkins Avenue, a Collie came out of the yard and aggressively charged us, barking and growling. I thought, This is how it ends, with Lassie tearing out my throat. Luckily, the owner came out, got the dog, and apologized. She saved our lives, Peeps.

Here is a picture of me telling Marta to get out of the way of a car behind her. I saved her life, Peeps.

As we ran up S. Rose, we saw two buzzards tearing apart a brown paper bag. They were ginormous. I wanted Marta to take a picture of them because my phone was in my pack, but she refused because taking pictures of buzzards brings about Bad CroMo. This is short for Croatian Mojo. She did pull out my phone for me, and I was able to take the pictures for you:

We also had a tiny dog yip at us as we passed its territory, but I wasn't scared. It was on a leash.

As we ran, the sun tried to come out, and the sky turned from gray and gloomy to blue and fluffy. Marta and I discussed houses we passed, and before we knew it, we were finishing strong by running down the Portage Path hill to the end of our route.

20.11 miles.  Done.

Now I taper for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Would you like to join me there? Click here to register, and use my code, SI2019, for a 10% discount on any of the races you choose. Get on this, Peeps, the race is quickly filling up!

May you run happy sans wicked geese, dogs, or buzzards, Peeps.

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Break It Down

So, last week I ran 17 miles on the long run, and this week I ran 18.  The way I've been making this work is that I meet my Trail Sisters Jen and Renee and Carrie for a trail run, but I show up an hour earlier, and I put in 4-5 miles on the Towpath. I feel like this gets me properly tired for all those hills and steps. So far it seems to be working.

Jen, me, Renee. Bundled up and happy to be done.

Peeps, when increasing your mileage, my one piece of advice is this: Choose your running partners wisely. I am a slow trail runner, so 14 miles on the trails is going to take me about 31/2 hours or so, depending on the conditions (the conditions lately have NOT been good). This means that there is a LOT of talking and not talking during that time. Jen, Renee, and I are English teachers, so we have a lot to discuss, and when we run out of things to say about literature, pedagogy, or just classroom pet peeves, we can always complain about our husbands. Then there comes a point where you just want the run to be DONE, and you start to do whatever it takes in your mind to make that happen. I am lucky that we have been able to share so many miles without them killing me and hiding my body in a fallen log.

Speaking of fallen logs. . .

Last Sunday we decided to run even though the weather forecast called for very strong wind gusts, up to 50 mph. We started together at 8:30 (I had put in 5 miles before that), and it was very pleasant, warm with little wind. We went out about an hour and a half, and everything was fine, so fine that our hubris got the best of us, and we scoffed at the forecast.  Big mistake. When we turned around, the wind started kicking up, and sometimes we had tiny pellets of sleet/hail. Then the trees started creaking and we heard cracking all around us.

I don't know about you, but I have heard stories about trees and branches falling on people, and I've always thought, "Seriously, I can outrun a falling tree. What is wrong with people?" What I've learned is that when the trees are cracking all around you, and the wind is whipping them everywhere, that sound echoes, and you don't know where it's coming from.  There were plenty of times on that trail that I wasn't sure if a tree or branch was going to hit us or not. We saw one large tree take down another, and at one point on an open part of the path a wind gust blew me over until I crouched down to make a wider base.  On the way back, we saw this, and it scared the bejesus out of me:

This all happened in the second part of the run. Photo credit: Renee Milhalyov

At least five big trees fell directly on the path we had run on the way out. We had to climb over some of them.  They were all heavy. We could have been pinned under any of those trees.

Don't laugh at the weather gods in Ohio, Peeps.

So, I am alive for now, and I am still building towards my 20 miler, which I think I'll run on St. Patrick's Day.  I am still on the wait list for Forget the PR, but I think it won't be long before I get an email saying I'm running it for realz.

If I survive this race, I swear I will take up some speedwork and PR the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.  Wanna join me? Register for any Cleveland Marathon race (1 mile Fun Run, 5K, 8K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, Series) using my code, SI2019, and receive 10% off.  Let's do this together!

However strong the wind blows in your woods, I hope you run happy, Peeps!

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Turkey and Shenanigans

So, I wrapped up my racing season with the Homerun for the Homeless 4 mile race on Thanksgiving day. I was wondering if I would race it or run it, and when I saw my friend Jennifer at the start, I decided I would be much happier running with her, so I did. It was great. Poor Jen. I vented about my life for about 40 minutes as we ran through the hills of Glendale Cemetery. When I apologized for talking so much and said I'd shut up for her, she responded, "No! Just keep talking so I don't think about these hills!"  I'm so glad that my messed up life could help someone.

I saw many friends at the race.

Crooked River Trail Runners at Home Run for the Homeless: Damn, we are a good-looking bunch!

Of course I took a pic with Pam and Steve, per our tradition. Pam and Steve each won a turkey, and Steve won a gift card! I won nothing.

Me, Steve, Pam. We are happy that it is over.

On Sunday after Thanksgiving, I ran the Tryptophan Run sponsored by Vertical Runner. I love this free event. A hundred runners or so show up at Vertical Runner Hudson on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and run 1, 2, 3, or 4 mile loops for two hours, dropping tickets into a tub after each loop for a chance to win prizes. This year, I ran ten miles with Marta.

Me, Mark, Marta, Wendy post 10 miles (for me)

For the first time EVER, I won something!

I won this awesome hat!

Thanksgiving weekend was a wonderful running opportunity for me because the weather was nice. In fact, the great weather continued through the next week, so I was able to run some trails at night with Crooked River Trail Runners, and I had a fun morning exploring Hinckley Trails with the Trail Sisters. As usual, shenanigans ensued:

There are faces carved into the ledges in Hinckley. Check it out, Peeps!

I have significantly cut down my mileage lately, but it's all good. I am taking this time to do other things that I like (or don't like. I'm talking about you, swimming.): I am doing more Tae Bo, walking, dancing, and yoga than I normally do.  I know I will have to step up my mileage pretty soon. Why?  I'm not going to tell you this week, but I will give you some hints:
1. I did something stupid.
2. Peer pressure was involved.
3. Alcohol was possibly involved.
4. It seemed like a good idea at the time.


Ok, this is the most important part of the post. What spring race will you train for this winter? Will it be the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon or any of the races associated with it? If so, I have a code for you! Use SI2019 for 10% off registration for any race, including the series!

How are you handling the holidays? No matter the weather, I hope you run happy, Peeps!

Like what you read? Follow me on Twitter @itibrout!

Use Code SI2019

Peeps, this weather blows. I look forward to Fall all year, and I feel ripped off.  Again. Screw you, Ohio. I defend you all the time, and this is what I get???

Ohio before Thanksgiving.  Just kidding.

Usually this is the time that I consider ramping down my miles, but USUALLY I don't because I love being outside this time of year.  Yeah, right now, not so much. My motivation is seriously flagging, and I'm trying to be ok with it.

This morning it was in the upper 20s when I wanted to run. In November. The upper 20s. Now, in January, I will totally accept this, but NOT TODAY, OHIO. Now the treadmill starts, if I can even force myself to get on the treadmill. I've actually been pulling out some of my beloved Tae Bo DVDs, and I've even gone back to my Masala Bhangra.  That's good, right?

My first love

I thank goodness that I've had two nice weekend runs in a row. First, I ran with the Trail Sisters for Talula's 20 miler (I only did 10 miles). True to the Trail Sister creed, there may have been some shenanigans involved.

Beginning of the run

We found The Shining house!

Don't cross the streams!  (A second movie reference!)

Marta and I were going to catch the train. . . which went all the way to Peninsula.

This past weekend I ran toute seule because most of the Sisters had races. I ran ten miles on the Towpath. It was sunny but very chilly, and I found it difficult. I think I need to get used to the cold a lot sooner than I have in the past, and I'm not happy about it.

You know what I am happy about, Peeps? I get to be an Ambassador again this year for a race I love, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. I want to pass that love on to you, so I'm encouraging you to register now so that you can run with me (or run ahead of me).  I've even got a code for 10% off to sweeten the deal: SI2019. Use it!

How are you doing in this unseasonably cold weather? However you run, I hope you run happy, Peeps!

Like what you read? Follow me on Twitter @itibrout!