Good runs, bad runs, and bizarre runs (lions, tigers, and bees)!

Trinity and I

I should have known that today would be a bad, bizarre run as my last two runs were amazing. Yes, the minute runners get a bit too full of ourselves we are quickly reminded that running is hard, weather can make or break you, and rest is important. After having two 3.5 mile runs with an average pace of 10:20 and a high that could have self propelled me straight to the moon I was due for a crusher!

This morning came early. Let's be exact 4:45 a.m. type of early. This week I needed to get my long 8 mile run in while juggling a very demanding schedule with work, kids activities, and school. Yes, my calendar looks like it threw up all over itself!!! There are two choices when life is like this...throw in the towel and skip my run...this is not an option...or make time when you would normally be sleeping. So, I gave up two hours of sleep. Luckily, I have a great running friend that lives near and we are training for the same half. She is the kind of friend that is on my front lawn waiting for me when I open the door to run at 5:30 a.m. Love her!

Our run started out okay and we didn't need breakfast because we could just chew on the air. It was 73, thick, and humid...and oh dark. I forgot that the sun doesn't rise until 6:21 a.m. Yeah, that would be because that is the time I normally start contemplating waking up.

Our run actually started out okay, but quickly changed at mile 3 to being very difficult. I said how far are we??? What??? We have 5 left! Then that quickly went to my friend having stomach issues. Yeah, usually when you are pouring sweat, running at 5 a.m, know you have work ahead, are already counting down when you can get to bed and hear you have 5 more miles you feel sick to your stomach. Luckily, the woods were near and we will just leave it at that! lol! ;)

The real fun happened once we turned around on our out and back run. I would say we traveled about a

Miley ain't got nothing on this! lol! ;)

mile into it and I said hello to some sweet ladies that always walk the trail. I said hello, bee flew in my mouth, I gagged, choked, scraped, and spit out a bee that stung my tongue crazily while totally freaking out! The swelling started instantly and I tried to joke with my friend while I lisped that she better sign me up for speech therapy and if I fall call 911. She half laughed and was half concerned. Yes, she is a good friend. I decided to make the most of the moment and take a Miley Cyrus picture! Maybe Miley had a bee in her mouth during the VMA's!? Maybe that is a good enough excuse for her interesting behavior?! lol! I still think all you have to say is "Former Disney Star" and that covers any and every little thing she does. I am also wondering at this time what the sweet walking ladies thought happened to me. Doubt they'll say hi again and instead say, "Remember that lady, that morning....I still wonder what is wrong with her"...followed by, "I hear she is that Sexy Mother Runner and you know runners...I hear they poop in the woods and drop trow during marathons if they have to...hhhmmmm". Okay, I have a vivid imagination and it is probably went nothing like this.

As my tongue swelled, we still ran (because that is what runners do) because we needed to get home as both of us had work ahead and kids that are hopefully ready to go to school thanks to our amazing husbands. Our final stretch was ridiculously hard and hot, but we kicked the big hill all the way to the top! #Determination! When we arrived at our 8 mile stopping point which was my house my friend  grabbed her phone and viewed a text from her husband that said "You set the alarm for p.m. not a.m.!". She said, uh oh, gotta run and off she went! This is our running life!

Here is hoping that your runs were amazing today and not bad, bizarre or contained lions, tigers, or bees!

Happy Running!

~Danyelle