Finding the drive

I've lost some motivation.

For some reason not being able to run with Augie this week has made me lose some of my drive to run at all. Maybe it's because I do better when I have a set schedule that in my mind I have to stick to and with Augie in rehab, that schedule was put on hold. I know that may just sound like an excuse, and maybe it is, but I'll be the first one to admit I'm not the most ambitious person on earth. Or even in Gilbert. The only reason I go in to work day in and day out is because I know I have to and because it's on my schedule. Running in the early mornings was always on my agenda too until Augs hurt his leg. And because HE knew it was on our agenda, he helped me make sure it happened. Now I kind of feel like I'm floundering. 

At least I've still been working out this week. It's not like I quit exercising altogether. I just haven't been doing as much running as I think I should with my first half marathon coming up in 23 days.

So the plan is to do a long run tomorrow morning - anywhere between 8 and 11 miles depending on how I'm feeling. But that's only if I can get out the door without feeling horribly guilty because he's looking at me sad and confused because he doesn't get to go too.

Hopefully by Monday morning, Augie's leg will be 100% better and we can go back to our "normal" life.

Guilt

Augie is still limping. He's limping less than he was a couple days ago but it's still a limp. I've decided to keep his activity down for a full week to let whatever the problem is heal. But I feel so guilty getting all dressed and ready for a run and then having to look at his sad face as he realizes his mom isn't taking him with her. I just can't do it when that's all he really has to look forward to each day.

So I'm headed to the gym after work for a quick run on the treadmill.

I figured if I go to the gym before I go home he'll never know that I cheated on him.

I sure hope his foot gets better soon so I can have my running buddy back.

Warriors

My sister Lisa and I signed up for the Arizona Warrior Dash today.

The Warrior Dash is a crazy 5k course with obstacles thrown in for good measure. For example, while you're trying to complete a run of 3+ miles, you must also jump over fire, climb over giant hay bales, scramble under barbed wire through a giant mud bog, and crawl through dark tunnels. We happily paid $50 for this experience.

Yep, $50.

And get this; one of the Rules & Guidelines states that "Urinating or defecating on or anywhere near the course is strictly prohibited". That should give you an indication of the types of idiots participants this event typically gets.

But hey, we do get a t-shirt, a warrior helmet and a free beer at the end of the day.

And I've been wanting a warrior helmet my entire life.

RIP kitty

I had to run without Augie this morning. He's had a slight limp for about a week and I selfishly kept taking him out on runs with me. (I know, I'm a bad mom. But I enjoy his silent company and I feel safer having him along especially during my pre-dawn runs). But today I decided that he will get as much time without exercise as he needs to heal and get healthy again. So I gave him a treat and headed out the door alone at 4:17 am.

As much as I complain about the stops Augie has to make on our runs, I admit I secretly (shhhhh, don't tell) welcome the chance to stop running for a minute and catch my breath. When he's not with me I don't let myself stop and I have to say, it's tough.

Anyway around mile 2.5, I came across a dead cat that had apparently been hit by a car and was laying in the road. Even though it was already dead, I felt it needed to be taken off the road so it's body wouldn't suffer any more damage. I picked it up and moved it to the grass next to the sidewalk. If that was one of my cats, I would hope someone would do the same for her/him. Then I headed back on my way wondering if the cat's owners would ever know what became of him or if they would always be left to wonder.

Maybe it's better to not always know the details of those things.

Day one, blog one

Hi. I'm Terri and I've decided to join the world of blogging. My life is really nothing exceptional, just thought I would join the 21st century and blog about the things I experience and think about on a daily basis.

I suppose a good place to start would be with an explanation of my blog title....

I became a huge lover of the fun, simple and inexpensive flip flops when I moved to Arizona in March of 2008. I get quite a bit of joy from putting on a pretty pair of flip flops and painting my toenails a vibrant color. This was something I couldn't do much of while living in the mountains of Colorado for 16 years.

In the summer of 2010 at the age of 49, I decided to take up running (hence the Saucony name in the title), mostly because I rescued a boxer named Augie who needed a LOT of exercise. Our journey began with long daily walks, which turned into walk/jogs, jog/walks, walk/runs, run/walks and eventually evolved into plain ol' runs. I now officially have the running "bug" and am well on my way to running my first half marathon (on February 20, 2011) and maybe, just maybe, a marathon later in the year.

That's me in less than a nutshell. More to come later. Let the journey continue....