My Garmin took forever to find satellites today. I don’t know what the deal was, but the bar would inch forward a bit and then go back to nothing. Finally I just went outside and started running and within 0.1 miles it got signal. I did not feel like using the “hold arm up in air over head” method today.

Maybe it would have helped if I had actually gone outside for it to locate satellites, though.

I decided to run 4 miles today, as a mini tempo run, meaning miles 2 and 3 were faster. I have decided that if I want to get fast I need to start running faster. Yes, I have started doing speed work on the track. In addition to that I think I need to include faster running in more of my weekday runs. Added challenge to today’s run was that I ran on the roads around our house, which are very hilly.

Towards the end of mile 1 a car drove by on the right side of the road. As it passed the driver made a sudden, loud, high pitched noise that made me jump and bite my cheek. I tasted blood for the next mile or so. No fun. Miles 2 and 3 felt tough, but I hung in there. Mile 2 clocked in at 9:09 and mile 3 was run in 9:15. The end of mile 3 was tough because it ended with a hill that was 2 tenths of a mile long. I just kept thinking get up this hill and you can be on your cool down mile, and I did get to the top.

Speaking of hills, here is the elevation profile according to my watch for this past weekend’s Varmint 1/2 Marathon.

Tomorrow I am traveling for work, but it is just an overnight trip. I don’t like being away from Barry and the dogs, but it does mean I get to run in a new town. I always enjoy that. It’s one of the best ways to explore a new place.

If you use a GPS watch, do you ever use the “arm in the air over your head” means of gaining satellite reception?

What method do you use to “get fast”?

Are there a lot of hills where you live?

Do you travel for work? If so, what is your favorite way to explore a new city?

I read this on Olive to Run’s blog last night and thought it would be fun to re-post!

#1. Would you rather bike 100 miles or run 100 miles?

I would rather run 100 miles. I think if I rode a bike for 100 miles my rear end would be awfully sore!

#2. Wear TOO many clothes and then have to carry them because it’s too hot
or wear TOO little clothes and endure a little coldness?

I would rather wear too little clothes! I tend to dress on the cool side. I hate being cold but I’m usually quick to warm up once I’m running. I also really hate having a shirt or jacket tied around my wait while running so I will avoid that at all cost.



In the above picture I am in the process of tossing my gloves to my dad, who was taking the photo. Obviously even a pair of gloves was too much of a hassle for me.

#3. Would you rather run without your GPS or without your Music?

Give me a music-free run over a Garmin-free run any day! I feel naked if I run without my watch. I don’t obsess over the numbers, but I like having them!

I did run without it a few times during the month of May and it was tough. More than once I would reach down to stop my watch when I had to stop at an intersection and find my wrist bare.

#4. Would you rather run socially or run competitively?

I think I would rather run socially. If I only ran competitively it would take most of the fun out of running for me. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to be a bit more competitive with my running, though, which is why I recently took up speedwork.

Hello, track. I dread you every time I toe the line for the start of a workout, but man I feel great at the end.

#5. Would you rather start a race in the front or in the back?

Hmmm I think I would rather start in the back, as long as it wasn’t some monster race with 20,000+ participants. If I started in the front I would be getting passed the whole time, which would be demoralizing. But if I start in the back I would most likely be the one doing the passing.



I would be giving the thumbs down if I spent the whole race being passed.

#6. Would you rather run a race to raise money for a charity or in remembrance of someone?

I don’t see why I can’t do both. I ran my first half marathon in 2007 with Team in Training and it was a great experience.

#7. Would you rather have an awful race experience and PR or have the time of your life and NOT PR?

Time of my life and NOT PR, please! I love running a personal best time, but I love a good race experience more.



I didn’t PR, but I had a lot of fun at the Haunted Half in Kingsport last fall. So many costumes!

#8. Would you rather run on the right side of the road during a race or the left?

For whatever reason I prefer running a race on the left side. Usually the only time I run on the right side is if there is a right turn coming up or if my dad is going to be standing on the right side of the road.

#9. Would you rather shower and take a nap after a long run/race or shower and be productive?

I am usually (annoyingly) a very productive person after a long run. During my long run or race I like to day dream about how I am going to go home and relax and do nothing. But once I get home all of a sudden I have all of this motivation to get stuff done. Endorphins, anyone?

By the way… do I have to shower??

#10. Run with your significant other or your friends?

I like running with both. My significant other has a tendency to leave me in the dust because he’s so speedy. So if I start out with both the majority of my run is with friends and the start/finish is with Barry.



We are the couple that runs together but not together.
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Now it’s your turn! Feel free to answer any or all of the questions in the comments. Or re-post on your blog. I’d love to see your answers! Be sure to link back to Olive to Run if you do.

Not much happened in the world of chicks this week. We didn’t get any more work done on the chicken coop or chicken run due to long work days and rainy days. We got half of the chicken run covered with chicken wire last week. We have the backside, where the 4 foot fence separates our yard from the field, covered. The front side, where a 5 foot fence separates the chicken run from the yard, is still uncovered but the chickens cannot fly high enough to clear this yet.

The chickens enjoyed time in the chicken run area nearly every day this week. They continue to entertain me when it’s rainy. If it starts pouring down rain they will run into the chicken coop as fast as they can. Once the rain slows down or stops they will slowly start coming back out. On Wednesday we had on and off rain throughout the day and I got to watch this play out numerous times in the evening.

The chickens have also developed a routine. As it gets dusky outside they will start to fall asleep out in the chicken run. But as soon as the sun actually sets they will all go back into the chicken coop. Then when Barry or I go out to close the hatch door between the coop and chicken run at night the chickens are already inside.

They also occasionally lay on their side and “sunbathe” on this overturned black basin. The first time one of them did it, I thought she was sick or something. It’s funny to see… they will just lay down on their side and spread their top wing out. I’ve been trying to get a picture of it, but haven’t been able to yet. Sometimes two will try and lay on it at the same time and they both end up falling off.

I bought more cantaloupe and honeydew last weekend and cut them up midweek. The chickens got to enjoy special treats consisting of leftover melon flesh and seeds.

Last time we gave them the rinds and the flesh that you scoop out from the middle of the melons. They didn’t eat the rinds, but they did pull every last bit of melon off of it that they could. However, this left a big mess of melon rinds in the chicken coop and the chicken run area that I had to clean up. I didn’t want it sitting in there rotting in the coop because that would be gross and would also attract pests. Out in the chicken run area it’d be likely to attract a raccoon and we definitely don’t want that. SO (sorry that was such a long explanation) this time I shaved as much melon off of the rind I could and just gave them that instead of the leftover rind.

Once again the melon was a big hit and all of the chickens swarmed the bowl to get a treat.

Don’t mind my poor photography skills… this was taken with my phone

 They really enjoy the melons, but strawberries seem to be their favorite. We have a bunch right now, so if they start getting soft the chickens may get an extra special treat and help us finish them up before they go bad. Usually they just get the tops off of them. I bet they’ll go wild for whole strawberries.

Today Barry and I ran in our second Varmint 1/2 Marathon in Burkes Garden. There were a lot more runners there this year than last. I believe I heard the race director say there were about 180 running the half last year and that this year it was closer to 400 running the half. I think a big reason for the increase is the new ‘The Beast’ race series this year. The series is hosted by a race organization group called We Run Events and it challenges participants to run five different half marathons in the area throughout the year. Those who complete all five will receive a special Beast medal and achieve “Beat Status”.

Don’t mind muscle man behind us

I think we will be back at this race again next year. It is a challenging race that takes place in a beautiful community. I am hoping to better my time from last year. Here’s to black sheep in 2014! 🙂

Maybe I will remember to keep my eyes open in pictures in 2014!

Tomorrow morning Barry and I will be running the 20th Annual Varmint 1/2 Marathon in Burkes Garden. This race has a pretty neat back story and I’m excited the race is finally here so I can share the story with you!

There’s a reason this race is called “The Varmint”. Back in 1952 a coyote terrorized the Burkes Garden community, killing over 400 sheep and causing over $32,000 in damages. The coyote was referred to by the residents of Burkes Garden as “The Varmint”.  It was finally killed when residents hired a bounty hunter. It is now on display in the Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell.

This is pretty large for a coyote

This back story is where the race gets it’s namesake. But there’s more. People who place in their age group, as well as overall winners of the race, receive trophies in the shape of sheep to commemorate the destruction caused by The Varmint. Aside from the beautiful, but challenging course, people often flock (yes… pun intended) to this race for the coveted sheep trophies.

Barry and I ran this race last year and we were lucky enough to bring home some sheep trophies. I placed second in my age group and Barry placed third in his. Technically I was third in mine, but I bumped up because the first place girl in my age group pulled for an overall award.

Later that day we had to make a trip over to the Crab Orchard Museum and get our picture with our sheep next to the Varmint.

So now we are going back again in pursuit of more sheep for our mantle. The race continues to grow each year, so I expect it will be more competitive than last year. My main goal is to beat my time from last year (2:15:59). I am also, of course, hoping to place in my age group. I know Barry will be competitive in his age group and I can’t wait to see how he does tomorrow!

What are your weekend plans?

Anyone else racing this weekend? Good luck!

Have you ever run a race that has a back story like The Varmint?