tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4587642811122846132024-03-07T00:41:03.932-05:00The Stampedemy journey - becoming a runner before i'm fifty.Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-86421514706922841792009-02-10T16:49:00.003-05:002009-02-10T16:53:37.181-05:00running in blue jeansthe other day was beautiful! it was almost 70 degrees; the last traces of ice melted away. miz nina and i ventured out to our trails for a quick two mile doggy walk. miz nina quickly decided that walking just wasn't going to do it for either of us. the sunshine, the warm breeze, the promise of spring made us feel exhilarated. do you remember when you were a kid going outside to play after being Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-37095722975998812912009-02-05T17:34:00.003-05:002009-02-05T17:38:52.994-05:00the big 5 OH is coming at me like a freight trainmy 50th birthday is exactly one month from today. i'm going to be HALF A CENTURY OLD! egads.i'm starting my running program over again - from the beginning. it's never too late, right?it's been a hard year and i put my running on the back burner. long story short: i went through three, count'em three jobs this year. each one led me to a bigger and better job but sadly the last, and best one Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-6826343874515930742008-06-28T11:41:00.003-04:002008-06-28T11:49:20.735-04:00the virginia muggieshey! so i've been out there a couple of times since i last wrote - jogging up and down my limited trails. it's been rather humid, hot during the afternoons, and there's been some worry about air quality. with work, the best time for me to get in a quick run is first thing when i get up - about 6 a.m. when it's still cool. i've been delighted to see several of our forrest rascals out there: angry Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-18579453533688936152008-06-22T15:51:00.002-04:002008-06-22T15:56:18.125-04:00Getting Squared AwaySummer is here! 2008!I was able to visit my lovely daughter at Quantico today. She's 3 weeks into OCS and looks fierce, and has some awesome bruises. She's working hard, trying to make it. Let's send her good energy. Oorah. My boy is doing well in his Marine corps career. Both of my babies are still in Virginia, which makes a Mom feel good. Mr. Wonderful is far away still in "Dog's Breath" but Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-14132372350019751102008-06-01T09:15:00.002-04:002008-06-01T09:18:07.895-04:00running in my headrunning in my head. only.short version: i got lazy. then it was harder to get out the door. now i'm recovering from "the crud" which has left me coughing, breathless and exhausted. please send me some good JUJU.breaking news: my daughter reported 5/30 to quantico for OCS - or as she puts is "summer camp on crack!"Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-69169276028069308522008-04-16T08:35:00.003-04:002008-04-16T08:48:46.033-04:00the benefits of florida sunshinemy visit to south west florida was lovely. i spent ten days with my folks and was spoiled rotten. the weather was fantastic and i ate really well. i ran a bit too, enough to work off the extra calories from eating fried grouper. oh yum.now i'm back home, overseeing work being done on my house. lots of banging and miz nina is not pleased, although she is now resigned to the workers being here for Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-32085684187764330572008-03-26T20:33:00.002-04:002008-03-26T20:44:11.033-04:00Oh, hai! me & the kiddos - the early years i have become a terrible blogger, i admit it. sorry. i have thought of you every single day since i last posted. finally, i'm stopping by to add a few lines, and let you know, that i'm still breathing, i'm still running, and i'm doing ok. here's a list of all that's happened since i last signed on: 1- i quit the shoe job. no big surprise.2 - #1 son becameLaufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-20036164987928583412007-12-31T20:06:00.000-05:002007-12-31T20:07:50.147-05:00end of 2007!happy new year's everyone! :-)hope all is GR8 in 2008!in my running life --i got a job and only ran 3 mile in december? wtf! i'm quitting.the ladies' shoe department - so not worth it. i haven't run. people have thrown shoes at me. ugh. i'm outta there!see ya!!...to be continued.Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-34164392414663715802007-12-14T20:31:00.000-05:002007-12-14T20:37:44.521-05:00i had NO idea...so....way into the selling shoes at the ladies' shoe department at the local Macy's....omg...i had NO IDEA that this was so crazy. i've done retail before, and i know it can be hectic; that customers are sometimes grumpy, impatient, and that the schedule can be freaky, and that it's physically exhausting all for minimum wage.... but shoes? lemme tell you, this is like nothing i've ever done. if Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-43442280086016473742007-12-06T23:24:00.000-05:002007-12-06T23:27:59.366-05:00just wanted to share...hi! just wanted to share a scene of our first snow in northern virginia with you. i was out early this morning, with miz nina. we only took a walk. it was a little too icy and i was due at work in the afternoon. i didn't want to risk slipping. speaking of my job.... how in the world can i get used to being on my feet all day, and keep up with the running? i think that until i get used to the Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-47338929034286888082007-12-05T17:29:00.000-05:002007-12-05T17:35:08.763-05:00First Snow!We had our first snow today. I was fortunate to be off work today, so I didn't have to be out in the horrendous traffic. We only got 1-2 inches, but, folks, gotta tell ya, people in northern virginia, just can't handle driving in the snow. I think it's mainly because there's just TOO MANY OF US here!Did I get my run in? Absolutely! My running took a nose dive the last few days since I began my Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-91469670488392191222007-11-29T14:24:00.000-05:002007-11-29T14:26:19.218-05:00the one with one of those job thingiesemployment.i found it.i'll be selling shoes at macy's.boring enough? yep. boring is good.benefits are good.employee discount is good.commission is good.Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-86686003781624764192007-11-21T12:58:00.001-05:002007-11-21T13:16:41.540-05:00Fun Times! #1 Daughter and I have been busy enjoying several local races. First up, we joined in the fun with the Masonic Veteran's Day 10K in DC. We drove into DC early that Sunday morning, and parked on a bridge near the starting area. The sun has just come up, and it was still quite cold!! It was a nice, fast, flat course -- I especially enjoyed it because it was an out and back route, and I was Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-51867718027849407372007-11-08T15:19:00.001-05:002007-11-08T15:21:41.776-05:00have a nice trip!Today when I went for my run it was only in the 30s. It felt really great! I hope you are enjoying the cooler temperatures like I am. I did my 5+ mile loop through the neighborhood. I was actually one minute faster today than on Monday when I was having my awesome run. As I started out, I was admiring all the fall foliage as well as the left over Halloween decorations that are still out. I was Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-53638123236391668492007-11-05T07:59:00.000-05:002007-11-05T08:03:41.760-05:00oh, the joyi had one of those runs yesterday. 5 miles around the neighborhood. pretty autumn colors. cool weather. i felt like i could go on forever. these "perfect" runs don't happen often, but when you hit it, you know it. everything clicks. nothing hurts. it's pure joy. i think that's why i keep plodding along, because i know eventually i'll get one of these precious moments. although fleeting, these Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-62715651748833130662007-10-24T13:13:00.000-04:002007-10-24T22:04:40.346-04:00keep on keepin' onso, at 2140 this past monday i got the infamous parris island recruit phone call home. it was amazing. #1 son was yelling, "this is recruit XXXX. i am calling to tell you i have arrived at parris island. do not try to contact me. i will contact you in 7 to 10 days with a phone call or a post card. i am fine. that is all." or something to that effect! i was trying to soak it all in. my boy was Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-57688650346414134092007-10-20T16:21:00.000-04:002007-10-20T16:24:45.080-04:00the last day with my baby boyafter today, #1 son won't be my baby boy anymore. :-(i'm so proud of him and his choice to join the marine corps.tomorrow i'm dropping him off. he's starting his 13 weeks at parris island. we're all excited for him! i'll be back to running next week. we all know this kid will be! ha haLaufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-51336339083116412932007-10-16T08:34:00.000-04:002007-10-17T16:00:02.728-04:00internal turmoilthe endorphins from finishing the army 10 miler lasted a little over one week! whoa. good stuff.now i'm crashing. i'm going through something. i can't find my hair clips. they're the flat "goodie" ones that ctclady gave me and i can't run without them. they're the source of all my power.mr. wonderful leaves tonight for a two year stint in "dog's breath." i'm not going. i'm staying in our cute Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-34551050502628437212007-10-10T09:18:00.000-04:002007-10-10T09:48:38.406-04:00october musingsi took an easy 2 mile recovery run yesterday morning, about 7:30 a.m. why 2 miles? it's just a logical loop through the neighborhood that i chose that happens to be 2 miles. i felt fine, although it's still just so dang muggy and i just get so dang hot that i can't go as fast as i would like to. i was surprised that i really wasn't that sore or tired after the ATM on sunday. my legs did ache a Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-15569395313800875762007-10-09T09:33:00.000-04:002007-10-09T09:55:38.893-04:00my ATM statsi got my time from the army ten miler. i did exactly like i thought i did. what's even better? since this was my first ever ten mile event, i PR'd!!!overall place: 16645division: female: 45-49division place total: 629/sex place/total: 6809/chip time: 2:15:16gun time: 2:38:56i've been reading the message boards at the http://www.armytenmiler.com/ web site. omg. lot's of discussion regarding the Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-86722242118748049522007-10-07T13:41:00.000-04:002007-10-07T20:23:46.689-04:00the one with the army 10 mileri did the entire army 10 miler.i beat the bus!i had an awesome time!washington d.c. is a beautiful city, and this was a wonderfully scenic course. i wholeheartedly recommend it to everybody!!my strategy today was to run 12 minutes and to walk 2 minutes as long as i could. it was quite warm and extremely humid, so i had to really take it easy if i wanted to get through the whole 10 miles. i Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-20353687679754473132007-10-05T09:04:00.001-04:002007-10-05T09:30:10.169-04:00just another race weekend?america's largest 10 mile race is being held this sunday in washington, d.c.yes, folks, it's the ARMY TEN MILER!!you know the old saying, "this seemed like a good idea 3 months ago?" when i signed up to do this race six months ago, when i was back in switzerland, i was using it as a motivator to keep me moving through the hot summer months because i was SURE that by october 7 it would be Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-44781618205166215902007-09-30T19:07:00.000-04:002007-09-30T19:22:14.184-04:00the one with the really long runthis is the famous tyson's corner landmark we all call "the toilet bowl." i stayed at a hotel across the street from it from the beginning of july until mid august. all that time i managed to run in spurts here and there. i really disliked running there. i'm very happy that now that we're all moved into our real house, i can enjoy running around the neighborhood, or even better, taking to the Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-86777160511596760112007-09-23T08:30:00.000-04:002007-09-23T08:43:14.031-04:00summer's last hurrahafter mother nature teased us all this past week with low humidity and temperatures in the mid 70s, on saturday she gave us a reminder what summer in virginia is all about. with humidity higher than air temperatures, i ventured out early saturday morning to join in a 5K run by the Navy Federal Credit Union. although the actual air temperatures were only in the upper 70s, my hopes of "PRing" Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-458764281112284613.post-48647931526062511952007-09-11T09:07:00.000-04:002007-09-11T09:18:05.208-04:00rare dinosaur sighting!did you know, i'm so excited today! one of my favorite bloggers has reappeared after a long silence!! see Dinosaur!in my personal running news: yeah...i'm still plodding along. the heat and humidity have been hard for me after my seven years in europe. ugh. but last weekend i was able to get in a little over 5 miles. it was nice and slow, and i was hot and uncomfortable the entire time, but Laufenweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00140040629287071698noreply@blogger.com2