Friday, October 14, 2011

Autumn in NE Ohio is a gift from God.


Us northeastern Ohioans are absolutely spoiled and blessed to have access to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  We are also spoiled and blessed to have a gorgeous autumn (my favorite season!  And not just because of Thanksgiving, although, that is a major plus).    Would you like to see how I spent my 110 minute long run yesterday?  :) 









Although the run was at a pretty slow pace, my quads are a little sore today from hills.  It may seem like I would get sick of this park (since I run there 2-4 times a week), but on the contrary!  I use the park for many different types of run workouts: the flat loop around the lake is almost exactly 1 mile, so naturally, I use that for mile repeats; I can't count the number of different places at this park where I complete hill sprints; my tempo runs are fun and interesting here (tempo run example: 15 minutes at a fast pace with 1 min recovery run repeated 2-5 times); and this park is the place to go for long slow distance if you want your muscles to learn how to handle fatigue from inclines.




 After a tough Thursday workout, there is no better way to relax than with one of my girlfriends where I treat myself to a glass of pinot noir at a fun pub in the valley.  Regan is sweet, tough, tenacious, and lovely.  :)




Homemade vegan (cooked, not raw) pizza!  Tomatoes, spinach, onions, mushroom, and veggie soy "cheese" (which is actually quite tasty).

Friday, October 7, 2011

Must Love Dogs 2! :)


Here's another video for your enjoyment.  :)





And, by the way, I found the perfect home for Sampson yesterday!  A family with 5 active children who live on lots of land and the mother is a stay-at-home mom.  Super wonderful family!  I'm so happy that Sampson will have a happy life.  :)


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Must Love Dogs


I love helping a family member when the opportunity  arises.  When it includes helping an animal as well...even better!


A hobby and passion of mine is training dogs.  For a few days this week I have been working with my cousin's 8 month old black lab.  I am a firm believer that no dog is a lost cause!  I am also a firm believer that unless a dog is able to release their energy via running, swimming, or fetching, their energy will manifest itself in "naughty" ways (chewing, jumping, barking).  A tired dog is a happy dog!  After only two days Sampson has become very obedient and respectful! He is very intelligent, loves to please, and loves the outdoors as much as I do. 

What better way to enjoy fall weather and improve your own running abilities than running with a dog?  :)










Sampson and I have been running together in the lovely Cuyahoga Valley National Park:






Whole foods has the best food bar!




Seriously. How cute is Sampson?  :)