Day 224 - 154.2 I'm leaving on a jet plane

Tomorrow I'm flying out to see my girlfriend LeAnne in Arkansas. Almost 3 whole days that are just about me. Can I tell you how amazingly special and rare an occasion that is? She's taking me to PF Chang's tomorrow night (SCORE!) and we have our Spa day (a massage and then a mud wrap--never had one of those before, I'm so pumped) on Saturday. Then I fly home on Sunday and get back in Evansville at 4:30 p.m.

I've got my books ready, which are the cornerstone of any travel event for me--Watermelon by Marian Keyes (I'm working my way through her Walsh Sisters books) and Women Who Run by Shanti Sosiensky.

I did my laundry last night and am planning my wardrobe in my head (what fun it will be to enjoy how I look and dress in cute clothes!). It's supposed to be in the mid 80s over the weekend, about like it is here.

I'm getting another run in today, so that will be 4 this week and I'm taking the weekend off (I think--unless my girlfriend has picked running up again without me knowing it.... I'm packing my running stuff just in case). But there's no pressure to run, if it doesn't fit in the schedule.

I'll pack the kids up tonight. They are staying with my mom Friday and most of Saturday. You didn't think my husband would keep them for 3 days straight, now did you? Oh please, he's a great dad but he can barely keep them both for 3 hours let alone 3 days.

I'll pack most of my stuff tonight, but will probably make last minute changes tomorrow morning. I'm a last minute kind of packer.

I'm getting my toes and nails done today, so they match and look all pretty for my trip. French manicure and pedicure. I am such a girly girl.

I'm charging my cell phone, my iPod, my palm pilot. Making a last minute trip to Target. And tomorrow morning I'll hug and kiss everyone goodbye and at 10:30 a.m., I'll board a little tiny jet to fly my way to Arkansas via Cincinnati.

YeeHA!
*****
So, for yesterday's report. I ran just shy of 4 miles, in about 50 minutes. I walked quite a bit, and don't have the exact time because I forgot to restart my stopwatch after one traffic stop. It was pretty hot yesterday and I guess that slowed me down.

Plus, and this was a FIRST, I ran without my iPod. I'm going to try some runs without it, to get the benefit of a "zen" run, which just doesn't happen for me with tunes blaring in my ears. It was okay. I was surprised by the rythym of my breathing--I just never noticed it before. I got to chat briefly with the cross country coach of the beautiful teenagers that run the same park I do... you know, the ones who FLY by me and are buff and beautiful. He was walking ahead of me, and stepped aside as he heard me running. He said "Pick up some of my kids when you see them, okay? " I replied, "Are you kidding? They fly past me!" He said "They're just having fun today." I said "Well, they're 20 years younger than me, so that's my excuse." "At least you're out here running, that's the good news." "Even if I'm slow!"

It made me wonder-- what's a fun run for a cross country kid? 15 miles instead of 20? I would have no idea, as running in high school was something I only did as punishment from our Freshman year gym teacher.

Anyway, I liked running without music, but I'm not giving it up completely. At least, not yet. My last mile was my best mile, and if I'd had more time I'd have kept running.
*****
Last night at the Fall Fest, I ate 5 bites of a stromboli (sausage, mozzerella cheese, tomato sauce, banana peppers, on a hoagie--yummy) and 2 corn fritters, which is deep fried corn casserole balls dipped in pancake syrup (I know, it sounds gross, but it's good). Not too bad, considering the damage I could have done.


This is probably the last time I'll post until Sunday night or Monday. I hope you all enjoy your weekends. I know I will!