Wednesday, July 27, 2016

WWU - All Kinds of Critters

I've mentioned here that my walking buddy, Jenny, is always on the lookout for snakes - she likes them!  Last week, we came across one slithering along the path, and I took a picture - it's not the greatest shot, but it was a SNAKE and I wasn't getting close:
Ssssssssnake.

OK, I have to admit that it was kind of cute.  I know, in what world is a snake ever cute?  Well, this one happened to be the tiniest snake either of us had ever seen:
Here's Jenny pretending to be scared...
...but really, she was fascinated by it.  And it truly was a snake and not a worm - you could see the triangular head and it looked like a snake...a teeny, tiny snake.

We also saw our share of jackrabbits on that walk, but what we mostly saw?  Pokemon.  It was fun to do our regular walk AND capture Pokemon along the way:
 
 
We kept coming across the fish out of water - poor critter was flapping around and gasping for air - I guess this was because there is a pond at this park.

There were a lot more people walking around the park than we usually see, so kudos to the Pokemon peeps for getting everyone up and moving - it's working!

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Running is going OK.  I was struggling with it, on both the mental and physical front, because I'd run a mile without stopping and feel fine, but then I couldn't get to the second mile without feeling more spent than I thought I should be feeling.  Yes, yes - the heat and humidity has a lot to do with this, but still - why was it so hard??  Finally Jeff brought up a valid point:  at the beginning of June, I went from running two minutes at a time to running 13+ minutes without stopping.  And then I was trying to double that to make it two miles.  No wonder I was struggling!  That was a bigger change than I realized, and I think, because I managed to hit the first mile, I figured I'd just keep building on that for miles two and three and so on - but as with most things, there are bound to be setbacks and struggles along the way.

So I made some changes to my "long" runs (lately it's only been three miles).  For example, one week I ran the first mile without stopping, but my breathing was ragged and it took quite a while to get myself calmed down.  I ended up taking several walking breaks during miles two and three on that run.  But the next week, I ran 2:1 intervals for the first mile, which gave me time to get myself situated with my ridiculous OH MY GOD I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT running anxiety, and then I was able to run the next mile straight through.  Mile three had a couple of walk breaks but that's mostly because I didn't want to run up a hill.

This Saturday, I'm going to go for four miles, which will probably result in some walking at some point, but if I can just get through the run without freaking out internally, I'll be happy.  Baby steps...

18 comments:

  1. Snakes eww I hate them! I discovered a black racer snack in my hanging vine basket last week. The snake came out of the basket and jumped into the next basket to it when I was watering the baskets. I jumped back of course and needless to say I was done watering at that point!

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    1. OMG yes, I'd be back inside the house so fast!!!

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  2. I do not like snakes and saw my first one on a hot run during my staycation. I think my pace went from 12 minute miles to 6 minutes miles.

    I agree with Jeff and I think you should consider the run/walk intervals for the first half to full mile every single time you run. Not only will it serve as a good warm up, it will help you calm yourself down. Also,when you're struggling keep reminding yourself about the weather. I've been doing that this week and it has helped.

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    1. We had a much bigger snake slither under our trash can over the weekend. Last night Jeff and I went out to pull the trash and recycling to the curb, and I made him move both cans and check for that snake before I'd touch one. Good thing he was home; otherwise, no trash service for us this week, LOL!

      It IS the weather (mostly). And the intervals make such a difference...why did I decide to change NOW? Sigh...

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  3. That snake IS cute! I wonder what kind it is? Pokemon…wasn't that something else before it turned into this walking phenomenon?

    Hmmm. You are reminding me that it is almost time to get out for my "early morning walk." bah...

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    1. Pokemon was a card thing back in the olden days...my youngest was barely into it, so I really don't know what all of these critters mean nor do I know what to do with them once I collect them. I keep hoping to come across a kid who will explain it to me!

      No "bah" on your early morning walk - you've got a streak to keep up! Go Debby, Go!

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  4. My long run has only be 3 miles as well. I am SO far behind in my half marathon training. It's this darn heat I tell ya. I know that should be no excuse as I go to a gym and I even have a TM at home but I just can't bring myself to use it.

    I am intrigued with Pokemon go. I don't play but I would like to watch someone else do it as I don't fully grasp the concept yet.

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    1. That makes me feel better to hear about your "long" 3 mile runs. This heat is making it rough.

      Yeah, I don't understand Pokemon Go either, but I'm still collecting them when I think about it.

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  5. Yuck to snakes!!! But one so tiny would be cool to see!!

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    1. It actually was very cool. Hopefully it won't get any bigger!

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  6. I almost rode right over a snake yesterday. It was a big garter snake, too! I didn't see it until I was just about on top of it. Darn thing almost made me topple over LOL!

    I started the pokemon. I have no idea what I'm doing and have been asking my niece about it (she loves it). Of course, her help went from 0 to 600 and I have no idea of what she is talking about LOL!

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    1. I think I can go to a Pokemon gym now, but I suspect I won't get the kind of workout I need, LOL.

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  7. The first mile is always the worst for me - even before I hit a 1/4 of a mile my mind is telling me to stop - it takes me about 10 minutes in to get my groove! Eek to the snakes!

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    1. I suspect a lot of us are like this with running...it's not the first step, it's the first couple of hundred steps!

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  8. Ha! That snake looked SO much bigger in the first pic! So itty bitty and cute!

    That is so true about your walk breaks and going from one every two minutes to running a straight mile! It's smart to bring them back in a bit more now, especially since it's hot! You'll be able to go farther and farther without walking as you keep at it! :)

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  9. Awww....that teeny tiny snake is kinda cute!!!! the Pokemon Go craze has hit here in Vancouver. People are absolutely moving and getting out, but there are the few who are trespassing or blocking traffic etc. Seems people here have a real love/hate relationship with it.

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  10. eeeww - hate snakes.

    I can't get through runs without walking and I am learning to accept it.

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  11. I am so glad we don't have many snakes here. Luckily I have never run into one because I don't like them.

    The Pokemon hype is here too and I see a lot of kids playing it. Too bad they are only looking at their phone and don't look where they are going. I don't play myself but back in the days I didn't get the Pokemon hype either.

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