SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

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Harris Manor, in full snow glory. Click to enlarge. As promised, yesterday at 1 PM, big, fat, white flakes started falling from the sky. By 4:30 when Blair got home, we already had several inches. The snow kept up all night and we woke to a 7-inch layer of undisturbed pristine whiteness.

Undisturbed, that is, until I insisted we go out in it. It's been at least 8 years since we've had anything resembling a decent snow around here and my little mid-western heart was going pitter-patter with excitement. Snowmen! Snowball fights! Sledding! I had to be a part of it.

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Does A Runner Pee In the Woods?

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I've been told you're not a "real" trail runner until you use the great outdoors as your toilet. I've put off becoming a member of the club for years but today, finally, nature called, and I am now an "official" trail runner. 

As my running partner Dave and I started the Wild Turkey trail this morning at 7, I was already regretting not making a quick pit stop on my way into town. Especially as I was wearing a water belt which pushed on my bladder with every move. Dave had pulled a hamstring the day before, so he started walking around mile one, and I went on. 

"Suck it up, suck it up, suck it up," I told myself with each step. "It's mind over matter. You only THINK you have to pee." 

Nope. I really had to. REALLY had to. So I ducked behind a tree and let loose. Frankly, you haven't experienced the meaning of the word "vulnerable" until you lower your pants on the side of a wooded trail and pray a stray jogger or biker doesn't come barrelling past you. 

I will say I enjoyed the second half of my run MUCH more than the first part. 

Did I mention it was 34 degrees out this morning? 

I'm glad to be a legitimate trail runner, but I still prefer a flush and hand soap, thank you very much. 

Merry Christmas. 

Holiday Spirit Alive & Well At The Post Office

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This morning I had a choice: Wait around the house an extra 40 minutes until my local post office opened, or go ahead with my plans to drive into Greensboro and hit the post office in a busy commercial shopping center before I set up camp at my favorite Panera. God help me, I chose Option B.

My first goof was thinking the Post Office opened at 8:30. Nope, its 9 AM. My second goof was arriving at the Post Office at ten till 9, instead of 3 AM, as that's apparently what time people started showing up, based on the already-formed line that greeted me when I arrived. 

Too bad for me. I had a package that HAD to go out today. I took a deep breath, opened the door, and marched to my place at the back of the line...

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Is P90X Right For Me?

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I don't know if I've ever shard my P90X obsession with the group. It all started this past summer when I saw an infomercial of people drenched in sweat doing pull-ups, push-ups, and ab work so hard it had them crying out for their mama's. It didn't hurt that all of the people offering testimonials were totally ripped. And it also didn't hurt that at the time I was watching the infomercial and contemplating ordering the DVD's, I was in the best shape of my life as I trained for Chicago. The idea of pushing the envelope even further was appealing. 

I didn't order the program though, because I didn't have the time to add any new elements to my workout. I was on a tightly regimented training schedule to get me my Boston qualifying time. Now, however, I may actually have time to devote to a program like this.

The problem is I've lost some (a lot) of my mojo. I'm still running and biking but I've cut way back from summer training. And frankly, I've developed a case of fear and laziness. This program looks hard. It looks like it will hurt. Which--I have to remind myself--is what appealed to me in the first place.

My friend Tamara loaned me her P90X DVD's this week so I can try a couple workouts and see if they're anything I think I might even remotely be able to do on my own. I picked the workouts up from her yesterday and am staring at them right now, as they sit on the corner of my desk. I'm literally afraid to slide one into the DVD.  I just think I'm not going to be able to hang with even half of the stuff asked of me. I'm reminding myself the point of these DVDs are to GET strong, not to start strong. 

So once I get my courage up, I should have a few interesting, "OMG, I can't move, call 911" posts to share with all of you. 

Wish me luck.