Phoenix long run adventure.

Chillin' in the desert with Audrey and Sue this weekend, I wanted to log 10 this morning. I took Sue's advice and ran out on Cave Creek Hwy, and it sort of sucked- four lanes of traffic and sharing a small shoulder with a "bike way." (Though I did see "Paint Your Wagon TR" as an actual street name...) Anyway, got sick of it and decided to make a left on a random street. It ended, so I turned right. That ended at a sign that said "Cave Creek trail," a doubletrack that was rough from the horses in the wet spring, but totally run-able. Then, that ended at a desert preserve.

I opened the fence, entered the preserve, and followed some random path. It soon got rocky enough that I needed to walk instead of run. In about half a mile, I found first a dog, and then its owner. "I'm a little lost," I said, not knowing where this trail led, and asked her about it. She offered to show me through the rest of the loop trail and back to the gate, personal.

We had a great chat, and then i ran off on the trail, back the way I came. I had told her that my hosts expected me back by 9am and that the slower trail pace was making me late. Well, 3 miles up Cave Creek, a car pulled over, dog nose out the window, and it was the kind woman, asking if I needed a ride to get back in time. "You have just 6 minutes!" After I refused, she made an immediate u-turn-- she had gone out of her way to check up on me. I kept running and made it back not-that-late, but it was one of those things. It was supposed to be a run, it became a great glimpse of nature, meeting a great woman, and some good times.

Eating my fill, and then some.

This is Ben, our household chef. Since Ben has been cooking, our diets have changed pretty significantly.

When we were both working full-time, we lived on pre-made stuff, take-out, pasta with jarred sauce, and similar overpriced, under-nourishing nonsense. Now that he has the time to do some quality grocery shopping, and some awesome cooking to match it, that's all changed.

Instead of a bowl of cereal for breakfast, it's been fresh fruit with rBGH-free yogurt and flaxseeds. Instead of a lunch I pick up at whatever fast food place nearby, it's been great homemade pita sandwiches and fresh sliced fruit. Snack is a bag of whole grain crackers with sesame seeds, walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries, and occasionally a treat of mini chocolate chips. And each night I come home to a home-cook meal that reflects the fresh produce Ben's nabbed lately- asparagus, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, and other deliciousness.

I'm eating a ton. I'm stuffing my face. But I haven't gained a pound. It's hard to believe that my diet used to be full of crap that I was hungry for hours of the day, whereas now I'm always munching on something colorful and always satisfied, yet not gaining. I even managed to drop more than 30 lb eating the way I did. Imagine what... naw, nevermind.

I guess I'm really, really thankful that we have this opportunity. Times are tough, and of course we'd rather that Ben be working at a job instead of exploring the world of organic watercress. But it is what it is, and he's certainly made the best of it. And it tastes great.

Some days it's hot. Some days I work. I work alone.

(If you know the reference from this title, you need to come over and watch that movie with me. So awesome.)

So, the weekend was packed with workouts. Friday AM, 5 miler. Friday PM, 90 min on the computrainers with teammates. Sat AM, 2 hour trainer class. Sun AM, 12 miler. It overwhelmed me. But I cranked it all out. I'm now exhausted. My feet hurt, too. Last night I slept more than 10 hours. I needed it.

Things are just kind of a bummer lately. It's that incredibly grey time of year where after fighting the malaise of winter for months it's starting to root into my brain and make me sad and cranky.