houses I love you

View Vista Dr. & H Street, Livingston

Earlier this week I got in two runs wearing shorts.  I have never run in shorts in February before so thanks global warming!  Today was the exact opposite: freezing cold snowstorm - back to the dead of winter.  But it actually turned out to be pretty fun in an Ernest Shakleton, suffering for arbitrary greatness kind of way.  Tolerating freezing appendages, crusted-over eyelashes, and a burning windpipe for 7.5 miles can turn into a fun game once you start pretending you're a famous explorer on an adventure.  Like old Ernie said, "optimism is true moral courage!"

Today's mission took me through the four neighborhoors of Livingston proper: oldest (turn of the century) which is where we live, sort-of-old (mid-century), my personal deja-vu era (1970s-80s) which reminds me of the neighborhood I grew up in, and new (new)...(pre-recession).  Looking at houses while walking or running is one of my absolute favorite things to do and can remember doing it even as a small person.  This is cheesy but the reason I love looking at houses is because I like trying to figure out what each houses's story is: the people that live or lived there, the historical era it was built in, the decisions made over its lifetime, all the personal experiences that its walls contain.  Its like being at a bookstore and having all those untold stories at your fingertips.  Within a few parameters, my imagination is free to build that story and I find this endlessly captivating.

Now it is time for me to use my imagination for my school project.  Tomorrow is a holiday but my instructor is making us come into school anyways, which of course is awesome.  Spring break, hurry up!

surge 1 commences



West Gallatin & North Main Street, Livingston

 Thankfully I had a 2.5 mile recovery run today to help me procrastinate starting my school work.  The wind has died down, its pleasantly warm and almost feels like spring except for all the exposed dead grass and leafless trees.

The run felt good and I am getting more and more excited to train up for the half marathon as the first stage in a series of successive build-ups.  I haven't been running with much purpose for the past 4 months and have really noticed the changes to my fitness level and in the shape of my body. But this hasn't bothered me as I purposely took some off during these dark winter months as a way to re-energize before starting a new year of focused surges.  Its the old two-steps-forward, one-step-back approach with the dead of winter being a very, very large step back.  I relish the experience of watching your body transform as it gets stronger and leaner and fitter.  This weekend was officially the start of surge 1.

chinook



railroad crossing on Old Clyde Park Road



School has been kicking my ass!  I've managed to continue doing a little running but the blogging became the first victim of my super busy schedule.  Blogging and sleep. 

Today's 6 mile run was the first of my Saturday long runs as I ramp up for a half marathon in March - the Run to the Pub put on by the 317 Pub in Bozeman in honor of St. Patty's day.  This race is the first of 10 races I'd like to do this year...10!  Last year I did 5 races so if I can at least beat that I'll be happy.

Right now the infamous Livingston wind is RAGING!  My 6 mile route took me out through town, heading northeastly for the first 3 miles running with the wind.  Occassionaly the wind would physcially push me forward, like somebody actually shoving me in the back.  It made for easy running and I felt good about myself despite my recent lack of training.  Then I turned around at the railroad tracks on Old Clyde Park Road and headed back home, straight into the chinook.  Instantly my breathing grew heavy and I finally started sweating.  The wind pushed on my chest so hard that it was difficult to breathe.  But it wasn't impossible to continue on, the afternoon was beautiful, warm and sunny and it felt so good exercising in the western outdoors that even this great wind couldn't keep me from smiling and hopping merrily across puddles and mud.