I haven’t been so good on keeping up on my blog, I guess you can say i’ve been busy. I’m trying to get alot of little things done now, before I start training again, because I know that demands so much of my time. I only got outside one day this week (thursday), and had to do my 11+ mile mid-long run on the treadmill, that sucks.

Regardless, the upcoming week is supposed to be a little nicer (at least Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I suppose), so i’m looking forward to getting outside. I have to make a trip to the running center for my winter gear to stay warm, they sent me some kind of buying guide so i know how to layer myself for the cold, so i’m going to stick to that. I’m even considering doing mailorder instead of driving to Clarks Summit, we’ll see though.

Despite the fact it was real cold today, I did do the Wyoming Valley Striders Fall Trail Run at frances slocum park. I never did a trail race before, and WOW, did it kick my butt. I completed the race in 45:54 and the course was about 5 to 5 1/2 miles. Lots of hills (up and down), lots of mud, roots, leaves, puddles, etc, although it was a cool experience. I think I needed a change of pace with running to remind me why I started running, and this did it. Theres nothing like finishing a course and seeing the mud all the way up your legs, its cool. I finished in 16th place out of 43 runners, so I guess thats not too bad.

I wasn’t able to get split times, because they were not marked, and i’m not even sure if they will post results or not, but i was satisfied with my time. I think I may be sore tomorrow from all the hill running, and there was even point where I almost lost my shoe in the mud. We were crossing a road on the trail, and the water and mud was deep on the one side as we started to incline … I hit the mud-puddle, and felt my show almost come off … I could just picture myself standing there with one shoe totally submersed in mud .. that’d be funny.

I hope to get my Pilates workout in today, on top of the race, but we’ll see. The time-change last night messed me up a bit, so i’m real tired.