you're a bedtime story. one that keeps the curtains closed.
NB: Fitness talk. Also wildlife.
Ran 8.15 miles this morning, and while it was hard getting starting (I was underslept and my shins hurt for the first two miles.) I did the last 5 miles or so in 11-minute miles, running mostly a little above threshold. I found this slightly longer stride, kind of a lope, and while it was pushing, it was a comfortable kind of pushing.
Yes, I am pleased. It's a gorgeous cool Autumn day, and I'm frankly sad to be back inside the house. See?
I forgot to mention in my last running post that I saw a melanistic squirrel. I did not see it again today, though I followed roughly the same route. However, as I was coming back through the woods by the marsh, I noticed a small-crow-sized bird in the middle of the greenway trail. It was obviously picking at something, and as I got closer I could tell that it was not a crow but some a gray bird with a ruddy underside kind of accipiter-style raptor. I got within ten feet of it--close enough that I had actually started to skirt the path to go around it, since it was obviously guarding a meal--when it spread its wings and took off right across my path, dangling an unfortunate chipmunk from its talons.
I think it was a Cooper's Hawk, a small female or a large male.
If that's an omen for the coming year, I hope I'm the hawk and not the chipmunk.
Now I'm off to shower and celebrate Hobbit Day with second breakfast. YAY! In celebration of a beautiful morning, I leave you with a little Pat Benatar, one that was my personal theme song for the latter part of high school... not in the least because I can sing in her range.
Here's to kicking that much ass when I'm 48.
Ran 8.15 miles this morning, and while it was hard getting starting (I was underslept and my shins hurt for the first two miles.) I did the last 5 miles or so in 11-minute miles, running mostly a little above threshold. I found this slightly longer stride, kind of a lope, and while it was pushing, it was a comfortable kind of pushing.
Yes, I am pleased. It's a gorgeous cool Autumn day, and I'm frankly sad to be back inside the house. See?
I forgot to mention in my last running post that I saw a melanistic squirrel. I did not see it again today, though I followed roughly the same route. However, as I was coming back through the woods by the marsh, I noticed a small-crow-sized bird in the middle of the greenway trail. It was obviously picking at something, and as I got closer I could tell that it was not a crow but some a gray bird with a ruddy underside kind of accipiter-style raptor. I got within ten feet of it--close enough that I had actually started to skirt the path to go around it, since it was obviously guarding a meal--when it spread its wings and took off right across my path, dangling an unfortunate chipmunk from its talons.
I think it was a Cooper's Hawk, a small female or a large male.
If that's an omen for the coming year, I hope I'm the hawk and not the chipmunk.
Now I'm off to shower and celebrate Hobbit Day with second breakfast. YAY! In celebration of a beautiful morning, I leave you with a little Pat Benatar, one that was my personal theme song for the latter part of high school... not in the least because I can sing in her range.
Click to viewHere's to kicking that much ass when I'm 48.