Everyone's entitled to a bad training run, right?

This morning I planned to run 16 miles. It didn't happen. I barely got in 14.

It was really beautiful this morning. A perfect day for running and I was actually excited about it. Almost instantly, I felt bad. Heavy, sore legs and hips. And my feet! My neuroma started hurting almost right away. My breathing felt funny and I could feel my heart beating in my throat a bit. My nose was a faucet and I had to clear my throat often. I was just so off today. I hope I haven't caught my son's cold. And I hope this isn't what it's going to be like from now on. I actually felt pretty good last week during my 15 miler so today's run was a huge disappointment.

My music was even off today. My shuffle played "Come on Feel the Noise" three times in a row! Yes, I have Quiet Riot on my running playlist! It has a good beat for running. But three times in a row?!? I finished my last, slow mile with Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff"....and by then, I felt like I was broken.

This morning wasn't a total let down, though. It was incredibly beautiful. Cool temps, bright blue skies, tall trees with leaves changing, the smell of fall, friendly runners and walkers on the trail. Also today was the first time I actually saw people riding horses on the trail. Usually I just maneuver around the piles of horse poo left behind on the trail. I also felt lucky to see a beautiful fox running along the trail. And an excessive amount of bunnies today, too.

Next Saturday I am running the Denver Rock and Roll Half Marathon with some wonderful friends from church. I'm very excited about it. I'd like to finish in 2:10. I'm hoping and praying that I don't have another day like today.

Fundraising for the John Ritter Foundation is coming along. I really hope to reach my goal of $3000 before November. I'm planning a Halloween party/fundraiser for adults and kids at my house on Oct. 20. If you are reading this, you are invited! Hopefully I'll be able to raise a lot of money that night. I still working on getting over my unease with asking people to their face to donate. I absolutely believe in the Foundation and its mission, so I'm working on getting braver. And I do believe that my friends want to support me and my goals. Many of my friends were there, supporting me and my family, when I had surgery and my recovery. I have great friends.

Even though this morning's run was a challenge, I'm still loving this journey!!

Observations on the trail

Today I ran 15 miles. It was hard. But I did it and I am still very confident that I will finish the marathon in a respectable time. I'm now running on the Highline Canal Trail just outside of Denver. This is a beautiful trail which winds through the wealthy neighborhoods in Cherry Hills and Greenwood Village...lots of horse estates and sprawling mansions. The first time I ran on the trail, I was very distracted looking at the beautiful homes and wondered what the people who live there do for a living. Now, I just run past them. They are starting to all look the same to me.

I love the people on the trail with me at 7 a.m. Die hard runners, old folks walking their dogs, the occasional biker and me. Everyone is very smiley and friendly. Ninety percent of the folks say "good morning" to me as I huff and puff past them. I enjoy this trail because it is gravel, so there are not many bikers on the trail. I've tried the paved Cherry Creek trail in the city and almost lost an ear and arm to the "Lance Armstrong" wannabes, flying through the city, trying to get that yellow jersey! I love, however, to see lots of people out, enjoying the beautiful mornings and getting some exercise.

This morning was actually the coldest morning I have experienced while running. I could have used gloves and knit hat for the first two miles. Finally, it warmed up just enough to be very comfortable running 15 miles. I imagine that NYC, in November, will be chilly before and during the start of the marathon. I read somewhere that a lot of people wear cheap sweat suits and gloves while waiting to start, then leave them in big heaps on Staten Island before the start of the race. Some folks come out to collect as much as they can to salvage for the homeless and second-hand stores before the sanitation workers show up to discard everything.

Today during mile 7 or so, I swear I ran by Troy Aikmen. He's got a unique look, so if it wasn't him, it was his long-lost twin. I'm not sure why he would be in Denver, running on the Highline Trail, though. Maybe he's here to cover the Bronco home opener tomorrow? Not sure. Maybe, I was hallucinating?!? If that was the case, I wish my brain would hallucinate someone else, perhaps a Hugh Jackman, or David Beckham? I did "see" Aikman during mile 7. This seems to be a tough mile for me lately. My neuroma on my right foot is screaming and my legs are sore. During this time I have to fight the urge to curl up into the fetal position in the middle of the trail and become road kill for the many runners, including various high school cross country teams, out training. After mile 8 or so, I'm much, much better and feeling energized and invincible.

Today I saw a funny shirt. It read SHUT UP LEGS. I must get one of those.