Waxing Moon and Fiery Autumn 8 Miler

Waxing Moon and Fiery Autumn
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Just too beautiful a day not to jog. Shot this Halloween photo down Caughman road. The run was good - 8 miles at 10:06 a mile for a time of 1:20:55. Started getting some pain in my thigh joint at about 5 miles. I think I need to switch back to my NB 851s for long distance since these Mizunos tend to break down as far as support pretty early. I'm at 200 miles on these shoes and they feel spent. My 851s will give support well over 400 miles. Can't afford to get injured again. Will take a day off tomorrow and decide what to do Saturday. A tempo 10 sounds like a good idea.

toadshade

The Semi-Tempo 5 Miler and a New Runner

It's been raining so much that I haven't been able to jog in a couple of days. It cleared up today and was nice and mild. I had a fairly quick tempo run at 49:47 at 9:33 a mile. The autumn is really setting in with all the colors deep and rich. The recent rains gave a lushness to the terrain and the field was ripe with puddles and crows. Heard my first White-throated Sparrow of the season and saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet back to spend the Winter in our front yard. It's getting cooler in the evenings but no killing frost as of yet. My herbs are still going on the front porch and I should harvest them after the first freeze. Met another marathoner at the end of my run who is training for the Richmond Virginia Marathon. He's pretty experienced and has done a lot of the same ones I have. He's trying to finish in 3:30 to qualify for Boston. His personal best at that distance is 3:59. He's a solitary runner like me and I'm sure we'll cross paths from time to time and compare notes. His name is Charles. He's 49 years old and a little faster than me.

toadshade

Tulip Poplars Turning Yellow 12 Miler

Tulip Poplars Turning Yellow
Originally uploaded by toadshade

It was about 60 and dry today so I couldn't pass up the first decent opportunity for a 12 mile run. It's been 3 weeks since I did one and I didn't want to get too far out and have to start over. Temperature does make a difference and the last 12 miler was run in the upper 80s and totally wasted me. This was a lot better. I did it in 2:02:00 at 10:10 per mile. The fall colors were everywhere with these Tulip Poplars abounding. There were plenty of the crystal blue Mistflowers growing growing on Sunview Lake along with Lobelias, Golden Asters, Camphorweeds and Goldenrods. The sun peeked in and out of the clouds providing a mini snapshot of the fall landscape. I stopped to take some Halloween pictures that I just posted on Facebook. Great day to be alive.

toadshade

The Aster Afternoon 5 Miler

Aster
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I know my readers have been clammering about finally doing an Aster close-up, since I've been mentioning them as a major fall wildflower and giving so much ePress to Goldenrods. Well your wish came true!! I took this on my afternoon standard 5 miler across Dickcissel Fields where I took this picture. Saw some Sparrows, probably Song Sparrows, out there along with a few crows. Plenty of Goldenrods and Camphorweeds growing on the roadsides. It was a humid 78 and the humidity slowed me down and taxed my breathing some. Still the time was decent at 49:16 at a 9:51 per mile pace.

toadshade

Early Goblins on Ulmer 8 Miler

Early Goblins
Originally uploaded by toadshade

The light was just right to catch these Halloween sucubi. I've always loved Halloween and this time of year. I needed this run to clear out the cobwebs and get back on schedule with my exercise program. I've been in a funk lately, letting the same-old same-old tedium of work get to me and falling into a few fears and insecurities. I couldn't have picked a better day to exorcise these imps of the id as these trusty Goblins scared them right out of me. It was a glorious day and my best 8 miler in a long time with a time of 1:18:08 at 9:43 per mile.

toadshade

Peachtree Rock with Viv and Med

Went out with Viv and her husband Med to Peachtree Rock located southwest of Columbia. This is an area of Sandstone that was sea bottom a few million years ago. Streams carved out all the land around the sandstone leaving the harder rock exposed and making for an interesting and beautiful hike to those interested in nature in general and Geology in particular. Fall was just hitting the leaves, mainly Sweetgum, Oak and Sassafras. Saw some Silver Leafed Grass, Maryland Golden Aster, Gerardia and plenty of Maple Leafed Viburnum which always reminds of the mountains where it is so prolific on the Shut-In and Buck Spring Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It has, supposedly, the only waterfall in the coastal plain. Not exactly a 'roaring cataract' but it fits the definition - water falling. It was about a mile and half hike and a good escape from the dreary rain soaked midlands.

toadshade

The Henbit Drizzly 5

Ran this run in spite of the drizzle. Just had to hit the road. I did it in 48:31 at 9:43 a mile. It was a near perfect run in spite of the weather and, maybe, because of the weather. The cool wet air energized me. It drizzled for the first 3 miles but I felt great throughout. Took some pictures of some more Morning Glories, the field and some Goldenrods and Asters, the showcase wildflowers of the fall pictured above.

toadshade

I'm Still Here!!

I'm still here. Just been rained out the last few days. Hope to get back with the program tomorrow. The weather is starting to turn Autumn cool and I just put on some long johns. I won't provide a picture of that.

toadshade

The Carolina Renaissance Faire Stroll

'Crazy Man Michael'
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I went with friends Raven, Ann-Marie and Viv to the annual Ren Faire in Charlotte today. I really love these things and didn't know about this one until last year when one of favorite bands, the Mediaeval Baebes, was playing there. My aesthetics and musical leaning go back to the Middle Ages and I tend to listen to this type of music all the time - not that I want to live in that era mind you. No dental care, plague and short life spans were not good selling points. But from these came the reason I like the period so. A lot more death brought on a lot more of the sacred; more thoughtful mediations on life and death. It shows in the music and the poetry of the period. But Ren Faires bring out all of the baudy fun and vitality of the age. Gives a people a chance to play dress up and blast out of this millennium and live in a world of beauty, love, adventure and music.

toadshade

The Ulmer 6 Mile Tempo

I ran this hilly run and it was a little too summer hot for me to attack that sharp uphill in the 5th mile. So I walked the quarter mile up the hill and still had a time of 58:02 at 9:41 per mile. My training is really going well but I'll be taking a few days off for the Ren Faire in Charlotte.

toadshade

The Evening Morning Glory 5

Morning Glory
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Found this Morning Glory blooming in the late evening on Universal Drive. Technically this is Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium) and is a vine that tends to choke and eventually kill whatever it's host is. Sort of like Japanese Honeysuckle. I don't know if Bindweed is an invasive like Honeysuckle but I know I grew up loving them both - long before I knew anything about wildflowers. I suppose there's some value to be placed on aesthetics and the human spirit.

toadshade

The Butterfly Meadow 4 Mile Hike

Went with Ann-Marie this morning to see what nature had to offer at this local park. As far as new wildflowers, several types of Aster were growing, and as far as birds, there was a new or migrating Thrush species. Couldn't tell if it was a Hermit Thrush (that over winters) or a Veery (that passes through). But the real treat turning out to be butterflies. With all the Goldenrods, Vervains, Gerardias, Gaillardias, and Camphorweeds out there, there were plenty of Butteflies to go around. Most common were the Gulf Fritillaries and the Common Buckeyes. Did run across a couple of Pearl Crescents. Snapped a photo of one of the Buckeyes. Fall is beginning to even more glorious.

toadshade

The Ulmer 8 Mile Sunflower Run

Took this hilly 8 miler to see how I was doing at pace after the hot summer. Did it in 1:18:56 which is under 10 minutes per mile. It was 77 but muggy. Saw some Woodland Sunflowers along the way and marveled at the dominance of the Goldenrods that were so rare just a few weeks ago. All in all a great run.

toadshade

The Southeast Woodpecker 2

I was going 4 miles on this but the birding was so good I had to stop and take notice. A cold front


had come through and the temps were cool and the color was fall brilliant and beautiful. Migrating birds move on cold fronts so I was in for a treat. Saw 2 Wood Thrushes which are, usually fairly common, but the first ones this year for me. Saw an Acadian Flycatcher gleaning insects from the pond. Saw 2 Yellowthroats along with the usual Crows, Mockingbids, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Carolina Wrens. But the real treat was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, our only migratory Woodpecker, along with 3 others types: Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy and Northern Flicka. It was nice just to watch them come and go. Pictured is the trees and bushes I saw them dashing about.

toadshade



-- Post From My iPhone