don't like my running selfies?..don't read this post.

I have not been updating my blog very much this month.

if i had been keeping up with it i would not be needing a full entry of running selfies.

these selfies are more for me than you.

for real.

i don't really like taking photos of myself.

i see things i'm not happy with.

one eye is open more than the other...

my face is blotchy...

i have bags under my eyes...

my smile is crooked...

stupid things to dislike.

but i'm determined to take these photos, 

every time i run.

i'm beginning to enjoy taking them.

the most editing that i allow myself to do with them is lighten them.

i am showing me.

this is who i am.

i get a red blotchy face when i run and sweat.

i have one eye that is open more than the other. i just do.

i'm a mom of two young kids...i hate makeup... so that is what i look like.

so, you may not care for my running selfies.

fine.

but it makes me get in front of the camera and do it in a fun way.

day: Mon Feb 3

time: 1:50pm

distance: 5K

temperature: -5*C

date: Wed Feb 5

time: 9:45am

distance: 6K

temperature: -10*C

date: sat feb 8

time: 8:40am

distance: 7K

temperature: -10*C

weather: snowy

date: mon feb 10

time: 1:15am

distance: 5K

temperature: -7*C

date: wed feb 12

time: 12:15pm

distance: 7K

temperature: -9*C

this morning the OPP stopped by while waiting for the bus.

they were looking for someone.  

if i saw someone in our woods i was to call 911.

no danger to me or the kids.

needless to say, i didn't rush out to go for a run that morning.

when i did go i saw no one on my run...

until i was on my way home.

there was one man walking along the road.

was the the axe murderer?

was he the sadistic serial killer?

(i have a bit of an imagination..but i kept running toward him - 'no danger to me')

i smiled when i realized it was a friend from church.

he laughed and said to me 

"there's no one chasing you."

oh, the funny joke to say to someone running..

he didn't know what had just gone through my mind...

it made me laugh a lot harder than i probably would have if there wasn't an axe-murderer stalking me in the woods.

date: sat feb 15

time: 9:30am

distance: 8K

temperature: -10*C

our kids had slept at a friend's house for the night.

the husband had to get up with our girl in the night because she was throwing up..

i went and picked her and the boy up, and after we got settled in the house i headed out for my run.

she threw up 2 more times while i was running.

ugh...i hate the stomach flu.

date: 'Family Day' mon feb 17

time: 6:05pm

distance: 5K

temperature: -8*C 

the kids and i had spent Family Day 

(yes, it's an actual holiday in a couple provinces in Canada)

at a nearby camp, enjoying the outdoors, the snow...an absolutely beautiful day.

when my husband came home from work i headed out on my run.

i haven't had to run in the evening for a long time...

i brought my flashlight with me, and needed it to be on about 10 minutes into the run, 

when dusk began to settle in.

my next scheduled run did not happen.  

Family Day night i went to bed...

but woke with the stomach flu.

my turn.

feeling a little better now, 

hoping to be able to run on saturday, when i'm scheduled for a 9K.

Winter activities.

I'm watching the Opening Ceremony for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

i say watching.

i'm catching glimpses.. and listening to my t.v.

i love the Olympics.

the hard work and dedication that people pour into a sport they love.  

a lot of times they started out loving it as a young child, 

and had the gift and talent to go big within the sport.

when i see the countries walk into the ceremony with one or two athletes i actually get teary 

(not so much when i'm only listening) 

the drive, the dedication, the passion of those individuals speaks so loud. 

i'm a sap.

it makes me remember what can be exciting about the winter.

the sports, the activities, you can do.

Last week (and weekend) i enjoyed the winter.

individually, with a friend, and with my little family.

Date: Wed Jan 29

time: 11:20am

distance: 5K

temperature: -14*C

weather: snowy. very snowy.

the snow was blowing in my face the whole run out.

i could barely keep my eyes open.

the way back was great though.

Friday:

Jan 31.

i went snowshoeing with my friend down main street.

that's right.

i said down main street.

our little town held a Winter Comedy Carnival.  

they brought in loads of snow to cover a section of main street.

there was snowshoeing, nordic skiing, fat bikes.

but friday morning it was quiet on the street.

we had fun racing down the middle of it in our snowshoes...

(i won...until my snowshoe decided to come undone and fall off)

Saturday Morning.

i went for my run.

after this guy got home.

(my encourager, my inspiration, my trainer, my running schedule maker)

date: Sat Feb 1

time: 8:45am

distance: 6K

temperature: -12*C

enjoyed this run...a little sore, but the weather was beautiful.

i couldn't complain.  my husband just ran 11K, i was only running 6. 

Saturday right before lunch we headed into town to give the kids an opportunity to see downtown.

we didn't end up eating lunch until around 2:30.  

they wanted to enjoy all the activities.

free trial of nordic skis, snowshoes and fat bikes.  

Look! there's the boy trying Nordic Skis for his first time.

his dad teaching him.

our girl running in snowshoes to see them.

he loved it!

he actually asked for some skis of his own so he could go with his dad again.

the girl and i went and got her face painted.

she has never let anyone other than me paint it.

she loved the pegasus she got.

thank you Painted Kids

then onto the Burton Riglet Park.

learning balance for snowboarding.

i don't know how many times the boy was pulled around.

he loved it.

the AO employee who took him around, again and again, gave him tips too.

there were other activities to enjoy.  

these were just the things we did.

when we got home the boys of the family went out and started digging out our quinzee.

what a great weekend.

great time of year.

so many people were frustrated with winter, with snow.

but the temperatures were spectacular.

and even though it snowed on the saturday, everyone who was there actually enjoyed it. 

it made sense to have a winter carnival with it snowing.

i sure hope they do it again.

 *all photos taken by me.

with Gertie.

edited with adobe photoshop

See what main street looked like the first time they covered it with snow: HERE