Pumpkins

The Harry Potter soundtracks are playing at work today. It was 22 degrees this morning and i had to scrape ice off of my windshield.

We had a work party with baked potatoes, chili, and pumpkin carving.

Happy. Happy. Happy.

Jack 0'lanterns at our work pary

Me with my two assistant managers

High on October

i had a pumpkin flavored Jamba Juice this morning ::giggle::

My girl friends baked apple pie with me this week. It tasted as good as it looked.

My friends came over to watch "Arsenic and Old Lace" which is one of my FAVORITE "Halloween" movies of all time. i love Peter Lorre. i LOVE Carey Grant. i love LOVE Frank Capra. If you haven't seen it yet, please promise me you will find it and watch it!

But one of my favorite things about this month has been running through and walking through and crunching and gathering and looking at the gorgeous leaves.

There are only one and a half weeks left. i have the best Halloween costume idea and can't WAIT.

Too many running pictures?

...but i LOVE sharing them.

Actually, i am just not sure how i missed posting about my fourth half marathon. The weekend before Ragnar Napa Valley, (Sept 13th) i ran the Big Cottonwood Canyon half. It was freezing at the start line, and pretty hard to shed the layers up in the canyon at the race start.

The race was the biggest (except for Ragnar) that i have done and was beautifully organized. There were huge mile marker signs along the course, texts sent to my family members as i passed certain check points and photographers along the way snapping shots of the runners. 

The course was stunningly beautiful. The leaves were just starting to turn and the road was windy and interesting. 

yeah...i ran that

i finished the first 10 miles with a 8:50 min/mile pace. My last 3 miles slowed down a bit and i averaged 9:01 min/mile. Coming in at the finish, i was pushing so hard and fast that i felt like my feet weren't even hitting the ground anymore. And then i saw this picture and realized that they weren't! ;)

Home stretch

i got my best time ever.

i also wanted to share one of my favorite pictures of myself of all time. The Ragnar crew snapped it of me when i was on my last mile of my last leg of Ragnar Napa Valley. i was running on sheer will-power at that point. 

i love this shot because i had no idea that my picture was being taken. i was tired but i knew how close i was to finishing. i had never pushed myself so hard in my life and even though i thought at some points during the run that i wouldn't make it, when they took this shot, i knew i was going to conquer. For me it captures the essence of me, the reason that i run and puts an image with these words:

"Running strips life back to the bare essentials. When we challenge ourselves, it breaks down barriers. It brings us back to our essence and peels away the layers of ego we surround ourselves with. Emotions flow freely, the struggle is obvious, and most of the competition is with yourself." -Granak Cunningham

Things to Do when you are sad in October

* Listen to Halloween music (today it's the "Corpse Bride" soundtrack)
* Eat a honey crisp apple
* Hang lights around the house--all orange and purple
* Wear a big soft sweater (i feel like i'm wearing a hug)
* Buy a pumpkin
* Cry
* Sleep in a pile of blankets
* Drink hot chocolate
* Snuggle with a kitty
* Visit the library
* Walk (or run) down a tree-lined street
* Brew some coffee and breath deep
* Watch an "October" musical (yesterday it was "Phantom of the Opera")

i was very sad the last few days and did ALL of those things.

They help :)

It's finally here!

Yesterday October started. The leaves are barely starting to change and pumpkins are starting to decorate people's porches. For me it was a day full of leggings and boots, hot chocolate, hot bubble baths, windows open with the cold filling the house, and snuggling into bed with an Autumn book. 

Plus, for the first time in my life, i started October with a nice 10 mile run. i want to get in as many crisp outdoor miles as i can before i end up on the indoor track.

Tonight will bring tomato soup and grilled cheese, Halloween decorations and another 8 miles.

i love you, October.