Flora and Fauna

One thing that I've come to really enjoy about my daily runs is the amazing plant and animal life that thrives along the paths surrounding my house.

I don't run on the paths every day and I never run the same route two days in a row for fear of encountering a creeper. But the days that I do run the paths I enjoy taking in all of the amazing scenery.

Here is a partial list of the wildlife that I've enjoyed watching throughout my summer runs:

Animals

Deer (one so close the other day I could have reached out from the path and touched it)

Chipmunks

Squirrels

Groundhogs

Birds- and this is just a small list, I cannot identify all of them- but I kinda want to take up bird watching as a hobby now (who cares if I am not a retired old man)

Bluejays - my personal favorite

Cardinals

Orioles

Crows

Kingfishers

Sparrows

Woodpeckers

Morning Doves

Carolina Chickadees

and lots of different butterflies.

Anyone have a favorite place to run?

"What is the hardest part?"

A few weeks ago, in reference to my "Summer of Run" challenge, my cousin Daniel asked me, "What is the hardest part?"

So in response to his question, I've made a list of possible answers to that very question.

Here is what I had contemplated as challenges before beginning a few weeks ago:

1. Getting up and running every day - Nope, not for me.

I try to make a point of running within an hour or less of waking up. I also try not to sleep past 8am on any given day so I can run early (except my 10+ hours I usually get each Fri. and Sat. night).

I know, I am getting a lot of sleep- but I am banking it while I can. Eventually kids will be part of the equation and I will NEVER sleep again.

A few days I've waited all day to run and I always regret it.

2. Having the energy to get through a mile - Nah, that's not it either.

A mile is not a big deal for me to complete. Trust me, it used to be! As I mentioned here- athletic people do not win the "Most Versatile" cheerleader award. I actually wish I were logging more than my average 1-2 miles each day and I think I could be if this hadn't happened. Oh well, I will add on sooner or later. As of today I still have 47 more days to go.....

3. Finding the time to run - Definitely not.

It is summer and I am a teacher, enough said.

4. Recovering from sore muscles/aches and pains - Bingo!

That has been the hardest part BY FAR and was compounded by my falling down stairs. My knees and hips ache daily. My left knee (the entirely too long post about that is here) has been feeling great! It is mostly my left and right hips that are the most sore. Well, the last week my back pain has superseded any other pain I've felt.

**Take my poll on the left side of the homepage to share what would be the biggest challenge for you!

So- other than the aches and pains from not having any rest days, I am running along just fine.

Although, a few times I've either had a dream in which I missed a day or I've had moments of panic at the end of a day thinking that I forgot to run. Crazy- I know.

I'll be back with a post later this week about how I deal with my aches and pains (the normal ones, not the ones from falling down wet stairs).

What do Navy Seal Team 6, extreme couponing, and running a mile every day have in common?

Believe it or not, all 3 do have something in common....they are my goals for the summer of 2011.

I know what you are thinking, Navy Seal Team 6? As a 5'0'', 110lbs woman my chances of being a Navy Seal, let alone a member of the elite Team 6 is slim to none. But, #1- it's good to dream and #2- I can wish to be as bad-ass them, right?

Extreme couponing is certainly more attainable than my previous goal. Yet after hearing what I consider horror stories, of coupons in file cabinets, binders, etc. and 20+ hours a week spent researching and organizing coupons- that goal was removed from the list too.

**I still plan to spend more time this summer following local grocery store ads and being more aware of available coupons, but not to the point where I become known as a crazy coupon lady!

So- I am left with the more feasible goal of running at least one mile every day of my summer vacation. Running a mile each day may seem like a drop in the bucket to many runners. Actually, most of my high school students who run track and cross country chuckled at my plan for the summer. But this girl has struggled with running consistency for a long time and I intend to break the cycle.

I did not plan to blog about my experiences this summer until my goals came up in a conversation with colleagues a few weeks ago. The reaction to my goals were a good mixture of, surprise, support (not so much for Team 6), and teasing. Not to mention, comments such as: "I think you are funny, but crazy", "Team 6, huh?", and my favorite reaction (the catalyst for the blog)- "you cannot run every day, it is against human nature."

This quote came from Lynn, a fellow teacher, whose constant banter with me is a running joke in our department. I decided to challenge him and the outcome was the following bet: I run everyday at least a mile, he buys me two lunches when we return to school. But, if I miss even one day, I buy him two lunches. Another member of our department couldn't help but get in on the bet too- Adam will also buy me one lunch or vice versa if I lose.

The outcome of the bet is not what will drive me this summer- it will be the sheer pleasure of proving Lynn (and "human nature") wrong.