The countdown begins

My last ten mile run was back in the dead of winter–sometime in January–as I prepared for the Austin Half Marathon.  I completed that challenging, hilly, race feeling quite good given how much running on snow and ice I did to train for a course of rolling hills in Texas where the temps were only in the 70s in February.  What followed that race was a series of small injuries and setbacks that have me craving the miles and paces of last winter.

Today’s run was nice and steady.  A distance long enough to challenge me and help me feel that my next half marathon in Naperville next month might just turn out okay.  The past few months have been all about getting enough sleep, hydrating constantly, stretching and keeping my nutrition and diet in check.  The Naperville Half won’t be my fastest but it will provide the necessary confidence builder to continue working on making my body stronger, faster, and more resilient.  After this race I’ll do the thing I didn’t do last year: take and relish an off-season.  Until then, the slow and steady build continues.

What’s a blog for, anymore?

I’ve been pondering this question ever since I discontinued my first blog, Cookin’ in the ‘Cuse, nearly three years ago.  I loved blogging when I first started nine years ago and in that time so much has changed.  I used to say, “Facebook killed my blog” since that seemed to be where all of the action was.  I guess I set things up as an “either/or” competition. Yet my desire to write in ways not so conducive to Facebook remains.  So we’ll see what happens here.  This will be my catch all place to write about all the many “loves” of this wondrous life.  As before, I’m writing for me–and I’d love your company if you want to join me on this ride.