16 miler tomorrow...

Yeah. Im running 16 miles tomorrow. I took the day off tomorrow because I just needed a little break. I am off 2 weeks from my master's program and I thought I would take a day off and enjoy a three day weekend. So what do I do, I plan a 16 miler. I am supposed to run this on Sunday, but I decided that since Mrs. H and I have a party to attend on Saturday night, there is no way I will feel up to running 16 miles on Sunday morning. It will be nice to relax tomorrow after the run, and feel good for Saturday night to enjoy some time with friends. So...16 miles on my day off it is!

I am purchasing a fuel belt for me to wear during my training runs. Ive never worn one, I usually train without taking in too much fluids, but with the humidity that we have here in the Nati Valley, Ive decided to give it a try. Ive learned that fuel is good before, during, and after a race. I have 3 months to train with a fuel belt and have decided this could lead to better running for me.

I am anxious for my run tomorrow too. I will be running up the dreaded "Gilbert Hill" for the second time in my life. I ran it for the first time during the Pig relay. Needless to say, I never wanted to run it again. Its steep, and long, and well...it sucks. Its really the only way to get up to Eden Park and to the eastside from downtown. Oh..to live in hilly southern Ohio and try to be a runner; its not always a pleasure. I know there are many out there that feel my pain. I figure Ill ease up into the hill and take it slow to get up to Eden Park. The rest should be pretty easy.

Motorists...well...SUCK!

Yep. You read that right. Motorists suck...to me...a runner. I've been running a long time and I can't tell you the number of times I've almost been taken out during a run. Tonight was no different. A lady was looking to cross traffic at an intersection, and as with most motorist, was only looking one way when leaving her stop, and she wasn't looking my way. Fortunately, I've learned the habit of clapping and shouting when coming up to a car to gain their attention so they will look THE OTHER WAY. I was always taught to look both ways before leaving an intersection. This rule has gone by the wayside with most motorists in my observation.

Motorists are impatient. They are in a hurry. They can't wait two seconds for you to pass the crosswalk. They are fidgety. They don't follow the rules. They drive too fast. They don't look both ways. They aren't considerate. They...SUCK!.

A little story...to elaborate on why motorists SUCK! I was running with my dog Rhoda one evening. We were almost finished and were at a major intersection. The light turned green in my favor, so I started heading across the intersection in the crosswalk. The motorist on the other side of the intersection looking to pass through saw me. He sized me up at the light. Planning and plotting how fast he had to go to bust across the intersection without hitting me OR my dog. Well. The light turned, and busted across he did. Fortunately, I am a smart, aware runner and saw this unfold. I stepped out into the crosswalk, but saw this inconsiderate motorist. He busted through the intersection, turning in front of Rhoda and I. I proceeded to flip him off and yell a few choice words at him as he was pretty darn close to hitting us. Even though I saw him, he turned wide, coming a little too close for my comfort.

So tell me why...why does this happen? If this motorist would have hit me or my dog he could have seriously injured if not killed us both. So not only would he have killed a man and his dog, he would have broken the law. You see, as a pedestrian in a crosswalk with the light, I have the right away. ITS MY TURN! You see, walkers were on this planet LONG before motorists. So I say to all of you impatient motorists, back off. Have some consideration. Please. Just wait two seconds. Two seconds isnt worth you going to jail for vehicular manslaughter.

There....I feel better.

What have I done?

So I ran tonight. Uggh...I wouldnt call it running so much. I would call it 'wading through mud.' Ive taken almost three weeks off from running. Ive run once in that time. And I havent cared. I really haven't. I love to run. But lately, I havent cared whether I run or not. Is that bad? I suppose it is. I ran so much this spring, that I think I became burnt out on it. So I gave it the old college try and got back up on the horse tonight. And my horse...was a plug horse. No thoroughbreds here.

So what am I to do? Simply. Run. That's all. Get back to running. A friend of mine and I have scheduled to run 22 miles over the July 4th weekend. And dang it. Im gonna be ready. I wanna run again. Further...so. I will.

So here is to getting back up on that horse. And turning it from an old plug horse to a Mine that Bird.

Divinely Luminate

So today was a beautiful day in Northern Ky. It was warm, sunny, little or no humidity; an all around great day. So Mrs. H. and I worked most of the day on the closet remodel project that we have been working on for a while. We are almost done. We have a few more panels and then trim to put up, and the closet will be finished. I am excited for this to happen.

So we decided to head out to dinner to relax a bit. We had a bite to eat at our fav restaurant down the street, and then walked back home.

The church down the street, Devine Mercy Catholic, is usually lit up at night. The steeple is usually lit every night, a staple in the Northern Kentucky night sky. It was so clear tonight, I decided to head down and get a few shots. The one above is one of the few good ones I got. I am still learning my new camera, and I love it.

A few pics for your viewing pleasure...

These are just a few pics that Mrs. H and I have taken over the last two days with our new Pentax. I hope you enjoy.