Love my Yaktrax

I took today off of work.  Didn't really have any plans - I just needed a day off - by myself.  I slept until 7:30 - which felt great.  I then sat around in my pj's - drank coffee - read the newspaper - checked blogs - paid bills - ate oatmeal with lots and lots of blueberries - cleaned the wood floors - vacuumed the carpet and wasted time doing nothing.  ;-)  It was a good morning.

Knowing that the negative temperatures  (it was -9 when I woke up)  were suppose to disappear by lunch - I decided I was going to run somewhere around 1 PM.  The sun was shinning and there was only a slight breeze.  I tried out my Yaktrax for the first time.  Last year I won the Yaktrax from Jen at Setting You Free, HERE.  When I got them last

winter - although we still had snow on the ground, our roads were clear - so I never had an opportunity to use them.  Well - we received around 6 inches of snow on Sunday and then the temperatures plummeted - with nightly temps well into the negative temperatures and day time temp's only in the single digits.  Frigid conditions.  When it is that cold - all the snow and ice that is on the roads - will not melt.  Even with salt applied - salt needs temp's in the 20's to work - colder than 20 and the ice simply sits on top of the snow and ice.  These are two pictures from Sunday.

This is from today - as you can see - my street is still very snow covered.  But the Yaktrax worked GREAT.  I would recommend these to anyone who runs in winter snow and ice conditions.  Although I realized I had them on - they didn't bother me.  I felt very confident on the snow and ice.  I didn't slip at all.  

Look at that BLUE sky - I took this run slow - I wanted to ENJOY and soak up the sun.  Although the sun has been out the last couple of days - the daytime temp's were really cold and I didn't go out at lunch.  

 Snow and slush and ice on the roads

Almost done - I sat my camera on a mail box - LOOK at that BLUE sky - LOVE it!

I had taken Sophie out for 1.5 miles and then dropped her back at the house - switched gloves, I didn't need the warm gloves - after 1.5 miles I was warm enough to get by with my light gloves.  Ran most of the time with out them.  Finished 5 miles at a 10:32 pace.  Loved being in the Sun.  It felt soooooo good.

The temperature was 14 when I went out for the run.  I wore my North Face Windbreaker pants, Lucy tech top and Lucy jacket, hat and gloves and was quite comfy.  The only thing cold was my tummy - wonder if anyone makes tummy warmers?  

How do you ENJOY a day off of work?  

New Yaktras and Tuesday ramblings

First things first . . . when I got home yesterday there was a package waiting for me. Isn't that one of the best feelings. Just like a birthday or Christmas. It makes me feel very happy.

It was my YAKTRAX that I had won from Jen at Setting You Free. THANKS so much. I am looking forward to trying them out. I might have an opportunity to try them tomorrow morning - we are expecting snow showers again this evening. I will let you all know how they work.

Tuesday Ramblings ... ..... ..........

This last weekend my family got new cell phones. That was 4 cell phones . . . three data plans . . . oh my. I admit - I like tech gadgets. I have had to spend some time learning some of the features of my new Motorola Droid. But, so far, so good . . . it is really nice (and fun).

It seems I am always saying how busy I am . . . I am tired of complaining about being busy.

This weeks activities:

Monday - work and church council meeting in the evening - home at 8:15

Tuesday - out of town for work - dog training class in the evening - home at 7:45

Wednesday - work - Lent service at church (probably not home until 8:00)

Thursday - out of town for work - nothing in the evening. yea

Friday - TGIF

I didn't run or take the dog out for a walk this morning because I had to get to work early to drive to Milwaukee - so I am looking forward to my run tomorrow morning.

Over the last week I have been running in the morning and running after work on the treadmill. I am really trying to increase my distance on my morning runs. Nothing too long - because I don't want to get up any earlier in the morning . . . but certainly something longer than the normal 2 mile route around the neighborhood. So I have been running 3.5 miles in the morning. My time has been slow - but it will get faster.

I feel like I need and want more direction . . .

in my life . . . prioritizing and simplifying and accepting

in my running . . . re-commiting and increasing my distance and speed

in my blogging. . . figuring out what I am trying to do

Maybe I am thinking to much . . . as the nike slogan says . . . Just do it . . .????

Peace

Cold and Snow . . . brrrrrr

Last week I was having problems figuring out how to dress for the cold - some days I was too warm and some days too cold. Well when I ran this morning things went much better. I think that once it is cold it is so much easier to dress. For this mornings 3 mile run I had wind pants with polar max tights underneath. I had my polar top on with a fleece vest and light jacket - hat and gloves. I was pretty comfy.

Tomorrow the forecast is for 3 inches of snow overnight with temps in the low 20's in the morning. This will be the first time we have gotten any real measurable snow fall this year. Looking forward to the snow. I should be able to dress the same as this morning and feel pretty good.

I have never run in Yaktrax's - but I am thinking about getting a pair. Any body have any experience with them? Seems like it would be pretty awkward running in them??

So here is the forecast for the next 6 days - I am heading to Chicago on Wed. afternoon for a 1 day conference - I love Chicago and would love to be able to do some shopping - but I am with a group from work and will only be there the one day. Check out the low temperatures on Wed & Thur . . . single digits. Brrrrrrrrr

Enjoy your life!

TONIGHT	TOMORROW	TUE	WED	THU	6-10 DAY
Snow	AM Snow Showers	Light Snow	Snow Showers/Wi- nd	Partly Cloudy	Extended Forecast
High: 33° Low: 25°	High: 28° Low: 21°	High: 30° Low: 29°	High: 29° Low: 2°	High: 15° Low: 3°