Running Knits

Today's Run: 
3.8 miles/ 36 min

Granny's Dishcloth Pattern

It is official, I run much slower while listening to a book. Or maybe it is a combo of listening to a book and the 1000 degree heat. I have grand plans of running a 10k on Labor Day, but I've delayed registering waiting to see how darn hot it might be at 8:30a. I really should stop putting it off and start getting outside more in the middle of the day to help acclimate myself to the weather.

When I started running in October, I absolutely didn't think I'd run outside during the summer. My body really doesn't tolerate heat very well. I have to admit that I think I'm getting used to it. I've started running around 7:30a lately which makes the end of my run much warmer than it would be if I had set out at 6:30a. Although it might be 70 degrees at sunrise, once the sun comes up it is a game changer (for me at least).

I mentioned that I was listening to a book about knitting and I picked up my needles again on Monday evening for a refresher before picking up an unfinished project. Muscle memory is an awesome thing and my hands seemed to go on auto-pilot. I whipped up this dishcloth in a couple of hours while watching the Red Sox game.

I love a cotton dishcloth for many practical reasons, but as a knitter - it is the ultimate in instant gratification. You can finish a usable project in a couple of hours, which is especially helpful when working on long and involved projects, where there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.

It feels really good to pick up my knitting needles again and I think it really compliments my running in some ways. Feeling my hands create something is like feeling my legs carry me forward on my runs. Figuring out a difficult pattern is like pushing through that voice in my head that says - it's ok to stop, no one will see. Building up the endurance to finish 13.1 (without dying) is like maintaing the focus necessary to finish a lengthy sweater or blanket. I think I may build in some knitting time post-run, while I ice.

Running Buddy

Today's Run:
6.25 miles/ 62 min

It was a hot, sweaty run this morning, but I feel back on track after a weird week of trying to get settled after being gone for a week and then getting back in the car to travel for work. I don't know what it is about a long run, but it seems to center me a bit.

Riding back home, post-run

I listened to an audio-book for the first time on today's run and I have to say, for long runs, I think this might be a great way to keep my pace moderate and my mind focused. Today's book was the second in the Friday Night Knitting Club series by Kate Jacobs called Knit Two. I taught myself to knit five or six years ago and loved it for a long time. I've not knit in two years and I'm not sure why (ADHD?). I have several unfinished projects in bags that I want to get back to, but never do. Listening to these books make me want to pick up my needles again. Maybe this week it will happen.

My husband calls me Dr. Doolittle. My family has called me Elly May Clampett all my life. If it is furry, I want to have my hands on it. My children have four legs - both retired racing greyhounds - and many people would think that they make good running partners. Greyhounds are sprinters by nature, so running more than half a mile - a mile at most - isn't in their DNA. I'm hoping I can convince my youngest (Roxy, 8) to join me this fall when it is much cooler on some shorter runs during the week, but that is very questionable.

We live out in the country so occasionally, I will have a neighborhood dog join me on my runs. Most of the time they are younger dogs who think I'm playing and they will hang with me for a little bit before returning home (or I run them home). Today I took a new route and ended up picking up a running buddy about half way through my run. This cute, black lab somehow knew I needed a pick me up and nipped at my heels and ran along side of me just as I was slowing down. She was so happy and so excited to be running that it helped me pick up the pace. I figured she'd realize she was out of her "home zone" and turn around, but she didn't. She followed me for about 3.5 miles, all the way home. She had a collar on - no tags, but I remembered where she approached me, so after some water and some shade, I put her in the car (very reluctantly) and took her back to where she came from.

I may have made a couple of drive-bys to see if she was sitting there waiting for me to return, but she had moved on. I'm calling her Ruby and I will do my best not to dog-nap her if she shows up again.