National Running Day

Wednesday was National Running Day so instead of heading to the gym, I hit the trail at Wash Park.  As I was changing I realized I had forgotten socks.  Oh well I thought and decided to go run sockless.

With tunes going I had a great first lap.  There is some construction and restoration at the park which forces you to get off the trail at a few spots.  Navigating trail and off-trail made me feel like I was running cross country in high school again.

As I was running second and third lap I had to do a little work and emails because of the stormy weather that was coming later that day.  Yes I was running and watching clouds build, emailing and tweeting along the way for about 7.5 miles.

Too Beautiful Not To Run

I was going to take a rest/recovery day yesterday since I had a noon haircut and highlights at Posh Salon.  Waffling between doing a couple of errands and running at Wash Park....the run won.  It was just too beautiful of a day not to enjoy a little time outside.

So off I went on an easy 30 minute run before my hair appointment.  Wish I could have gone longer but that was all the time I had.

So much for the rest day!  Running in the park was way more fun.

I also got in some stretching for my hamstring - yes it's still bothering me - and enjoyed a nice 30 minute walk with my dog.

The Park People On A Run

Instead of just checking out into a world of solitude, which I do sometimes on runs especially on a loop at a park, I decided to really look at the people I passed and those that passed my.  Sometimes you just have to wonder what's their story.

As I sat down on the park bench to write today's blog, a woman with a floppy hat walking a blond labradooble and miniature pincher with a pink vest on walked by.  In a strange way, she kind of reminded me of the man in the big yellow hat from Curious George.  I'm a very curious person so a natural connection for me to make.

Off I went on a 5.2 mile run (two loops) at Wash Park.  Shortly after I'd started into my run this guy with a beer belly comes flying by and passes me.  He just kept chugging along.  He's one of those that doesn't look like a runner but can move.  And yes, frustrates me that he could just huff and puff along and still be faster than me.  So that started my run of what's their story.  He just one of those characters you see at the park.

Some of the other cast of characters at the park today:

The two ladies briskly walking in jeans and tennis shoes that were so into a deep conversation that they didn't realize they were taking up the entire path.

The chick with the ripped abs running so fast her dog was having a hard time keep up.

The pencil thin tall guy running short strides that I passed several times because he was running the opposite direction.

The guy that almost ran into a sign pole because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going.

The girl running on the other side of the street that I raced to get up the incline without her knowing it.  She was ahead of me to begin with. I caught and beat her.

The guy in a long sleeve black t-shirt that passed me from the opposite direction as he was just bookin' it. 

There were the sprinters, the joggers, the run/walkers, and walkers on the path. Oh and the geese.

There were the dog walkers, the college kids stretched out on blankets studying in the sunshine, the landscape workers with their small coolers taking a lunch break in the shade, the way out of shape group of tennis players on the courts, the ridiculously fit guy rollerblading with poles who's obviously is training for something, and the cyclists zooming around the park looking like they're in a race.  The ones that impress the most are the ladies running and pushing joggers or strollers.  That's tough to do.

Then there's me. The chick running at a steady pace of about 9 minute miles, soaking up the gorgeous day, letting my mind wander, people watching, and smiling when I caught myself singing out loud to Jason Aldean's "Relentless."  Guess that's a fitting song since I picked up the pace in the last half mile to almost a sprint in the last quarter mile.  Always finish strong!

Why I Love Walks in the Park

It's windy, but sunny and warm in Denver today.  So the perfect day to head to my favorite park, Wash Park.  I got in a 2.5 mile run then my friend Natalie Tysdal, who works with me at Fox 31/CW 2 joined me.  We walked for about 3 miles and just had the best time.  When you walk and talk with friends, the time just flies.

I use my runs to clear my head, brainstorm ideas, and work through projects.  Usually my run time is just me and my iPod pounding the pavement one step at a time.  It's my check-out time.

Yes I'm a runner, but I'm also a walker.  My mom has always been a big walker.  One of my favorite things to with her is a post dinner walk around the neighborhood.  So walking with friends is a shear delight for me.  Just like today, some of my best conversations have happened on walks.  Here's why - when you are walking and chatting you lose the distractions of everything else.  It's truly one-on-one time.  That is precious time to me spent with friends.

So my advice - give a gift to a friend and yourself.  Make a walk date instead of happy hour, lunch, or dinner.  It's a gift because you're doing something good for yourself and giving the precious gift of time together.

Later this afternoon, when I should have been working on taxes, I couldn't pass up taking my dog for a walk in the park.  It was windy but with temperatures in the low 70s for the first time since October 31st, I just couldn't pass up getting in another mile in the park.  

Windy Workout At The Park

Today I headed over to my favorite park in Denver, Wash Park.  I didn't get there until mid-afternoon because I'd dived into some projects I needed to work out.

By the time I got there the winds had already started picking up so it turned into a warm, windy workout for me.  The park was absolutely packed!  I loved seeing so many walkers, runners, cyclists, and even in line skaters and tennis players.  It's just fun to people watch as you go around the park loop.  The most unusual thing I saw was a group jousting with metal helmets on but no body armor.  The cutest was a spotted puppy that was trying to figure out how to walk on leash but got completely tangled up in it's owners feet.

I ran the first lap, getting in the 2.6 mile loop.  My knees were a little achy today and my left toes were really hurting but I still made it around.  Decided to power walk a second loop so I could just enjoy the 65 degree weather, the wind, the park, and the people.

Run in the Park

I didn't have much time but so needed to get in a run.  I needed a clear my head, de-stress kind of run.  I managed to take advantage of a beautiful day and get in a quick run in between work and my haircut and highlights appointment.

I had a great 2.6 mile run at Wash Park.  Wish I could have stayed in the park longer but that was all I had time for.

I'm A Runner Ballerina...Well At Least Today!

With the high of 65 today in Denver there was no way I was going to miss out on a great running day.  65 degrees on January 5th!  So I did a 2.5 mile run at my favorite park in Denver, Wash Park.

From there I bolted over to Pura Vida Club for a ballet body class.  There's a reason ballerinas have beautiful figures.  The instructor Elizabeth Vino is a classically trained dancer and it was an awesome class.  Great blend of ballet and fitness.  Yes it kicked my butt especially the plank, hamstring, and abs series.  I'm already feeling the soreness of going for the dancer body.  But I love it!

Got the Run Done at Wash Park

Today I had to squeeze in a run in between work and haircut.  I actually love the squeeze factor on runs because it pushes me a little more.  I did a 3 mile run at Wash Park - one of my favorite parks in Denver.  They were doing construction on the trail so I felt like I'd gone back to my high school days of cross country running.

I so needed that run today since I was literally on the run all day!

Wash Park Wednesday

It was one of those days where I had every intention of getting in a run at Wash Park before my noon haircut and highlight appointment.  But it was right at 11am when I got out of the station and I tried to bail on myself.  But no I headed over to Wash Park and got it done.  It was just a quick run in the heat (record high of 98 in Denver today) but checked it off my to do list.

Sometimes when you are crunched up against time constraints you have your best cardio workouts.  I needed that run.  Got the 2.6 miles done in about 22 minutes with a couple of minutes to stretch then off to my appointment on time.  It wasn't as far as I wanted to go but it was 2.6 miles farther than when I started!

Walking In Wash Park

One of my favorite parks in Denver is Wash Park.  It's a great 2.6 mile loop.  My friend Christy is in town so after a great brunch at The Local on South Gaylord we headed over for some power walking at Wash Park.  It was a hot day so we were sweating in the park as we got a nice workout and chat in!