That Rock…

I’ve been hiding under…

I’m finally crawling out from under it for a day or two. Since it’s been over a month since I wrote a blog post, I figured the best way to bring you up to speed would be some lovely iPhone photos…

Justin and I toured Mt. Washington

I increased my mileage up to 6.5 miles


I traveled back to Indiana for work and found this gem


We had our annual work conference in Orlando and stayed at the Disney Coronado Resort. My room key was this awesome bracelet.


While we were there we went to Universal Studios…they closed the park for us…NO WAIT TIMES!


We tailgated and went the the UT/Vanderbilt game


It was sooo cold out! I had on a bazillion layers…but the free pom poms made it all worth it


Speaking of cold, it was 24 degrees on Thanksgiving morning. I was still able to convince Dad and Justin to run Fast Freddie’s with me. It was my 11th race, dad’s 2nd, and Justin’s 1st!


My goal time was 46 minutes…I killed it!


Mom sent me a St. Nick’s gift


Which I have used pretty much every day since


My dog, Hinkle, helped me decorate the house for Christmas


I think it turned out pretty nice


Justin was a groomsman at his friend Daniel’s wedding


And last but not least…this is the to do list that is standing between me and Christmas vacation…


Only 5 more working days this year!

Enough about me already...what have you been up to?

National Running Safety Month

Running safely is always important, but it’s especially important this time of year. Daylight savings was yesterday and for runners that means running before the sun comes up and after the sun goes down on most days.

Running in the dark is dangerous for many reasons. Drivers aren't looking for runners. Also, in the dark, it’s harder to see other dangers in the road such as potholes, branches, and slippery leaves. If you’re like me though, you have no choice but to run in the dark mornings/evenings. As your head out for your runs this fall, keep these tips in mind.

Run Safe in the Dark:

Be Visible

Wear bright colors and reflective gear. I have my eye on the entire Brooks Nightlife line, but for now, my Target Gear works just fine. I have 2 blinking lights that I clip to my tights for extra visibility.

Obey all traffic laws & run against traffic

We’re all guilty of assuming the car will stop as we cross an intersection as we dart across. Crosswalks, especially the ones regulated by stop signs, are very dangerous for runners. Try to make eye contact with the driver so that you know they see you before crossing

Carry Identification

When I lived close to my parents, I used to write their phone number on the back of my hand before I went on a long run by myself. I’m still trying to get into the habit of carrying my license with me when I run by myself. You could write your name and phone number on the tongue of your running show too.

Pay Attention

If you’re like me, it’s easy to zone out while running. Stay alert and pay attention to your surroundings.  Also, leave the iPod at home when running in the dark. You need to be able to hear traffic and other people who might be out on the road.

Power in Numbers

Schedule your run with a friend. Not only is it safer to run in a group, the conversation will make the run go by faster. If you don’t have a running buddy, ask a friend to bike next to you while you run. If you do have to run solo, make sure to let someone know what time and where you are running.

You can find more nighttime running tips and information about National Running Safety Month here. 

What are your tips for running in the dark?

What is your favorite reflective gear?