When is it too cold to RUN?

For my running co-hearts...do you run in the cold?  Yes, I've been doing my best to stay on track training for the upcoming LRM10k in March.  It has been a challenge, indeed.  It requires running when the temperatures are quite very very cold.  I manage to run when the temperature is in the 30's or 40's - which is cold to me.  However, I draw the line when it's below 30 and find myself balking when it's in the low 30's - more like below 35.

Brrrrrrrr - my COLD run today!

Today it was 43 degrees but felt like 36 degrees.  That's borderline too cold for me. I find it a major challenge - physically and mentally. It's quite a task to complete.  I've bought every cold gear clothing you can imagine. I buy every piece I can find if I think it's going to help me get through that run. From neck warmers to all different thicknesses of headbands and gloves.

I certainly am yearning for the temps to rise and the opportunity to run in some nicer weather.  I pray for the weather to be nice this year for the LR Marathon.  Last year, it was extremely cold - around 25 degrees that morning waiting in the starting line.  I sure hope this year it's a little warmer - actually, hoping for it to be a lot warmer. 

Thanks for letting me somewhat vent with this blog post today. 

Hello 2014...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

It's January 4th and I'm just now deciding to acknowledge 2014.  Why? 
 

Because, I am not a big fan of January 1st.  Here's why...  You see, New Year's day musters up a pit in my stomach.  I found the lump in my breast, which turned out to be malignant, and the start of my battle with breast cancer on New Year's Day 2005.  Now, I try to let it pass without a lot of fuss and attention to the day . Perhaps, it's a fear that pit in my stomach might return.   I even avoid taking a shower on New Year's Day - silly, I know!  I found the lump in my breast as I showered and soaped my body.  I guess I think if I don't shower on New Year's Day I can't find another lump - I don't have a very good explanation. 

I also saw my oncologist on Thursday, January 2nd.  She reminded me that my breast cancer was "TRIPLE X" and there was a higher percentage rate of recurrence in triple X breast cancers.  I knew that.  She continues telling me that since I've got 8 years of survival behind me now, I'm considered cancer free.  I knew that, too.  You would think I'd clap and jump with joy.  Internally I did, but externally I broke down and couldn't hold back the tears.  I tried to explain to her they were tears of joy.  She says "well, I am sure they are - but, whether they are or not, you don't look good; you look tired.  You need to rest and take care of yourself."  Well, not exactly what I expected her to say and not really what I wanted to hear, either.  But, that's my doctor and I know, without a doubt in my mind, she said it to help me, not hurt me. 

We talked some more  - my blood work was good - she asked about my running - she asked about my daughter.  We chatted about this and that.  I pulled myself together - she hugged me and departed with kind, sweet, and loving words for me to take with me.  All's GOOD! 

I seldom make resolutions for the new year, either -  never have, really.  I don't think I'll start now.  I do, however, have a bucket list of things I'd like to do someday.  I hope to check off a few of those items in 2014.   It's four days into the new year and I'm ready to be a part of it - I don't know what's in store for me - but whatever it is, I hope it's GOOD! 

Wishing you good things in 2014, too!

       

A Year in Review - 2013

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 

A Year In Review - 2013

 

As I look back on this year...
 

The year started off in a sad state as our little dog's health started to decline.  She hung on for the holidays (2012) and I know in my heart she hung on to see her favorite person in the whole world, Blair.  Blair was home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas (2012) and showered Casey with attention.  Our precious little Shih Tzu, Casey, passed away February 7, 2013!  Very sad day.

 

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Valentine's Day Flower Pups...

 

A Valentine Couple of Pups

Just the cutest thing you've ever seen?  Valentine's flower pup arrangement.  She has her fancy red hair bow with a silver glitter heart in the middle of it, and he has his bow tie!  She's holding a single rose from him, her best friend!  A special bond between these two pups! 

 

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March 3, 2013 - Little Rock Marathon 10K

My first 10K - Yay!  What a feeling!  And, what a moment captured in the 2nd picture!!

 

My First 10K

Yay!  What a Day!!!

Crossing the finish line!

What a Picture!!! Such a good feeling!

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April 22, 2013 BostonStrongLR event, Murray Park, Little Rock.  Runners gather to show their support and make a donation to The One Fund of Boston. 

BostonStrongLR Event - Murray Park, Little Rock



I ran 3.1 miles (a 5K) for my daughter, Blair, who graduated in 2012 from Emerson College in Boston. The devestating tragic events at the Boston Marathon in 2013 will forever live in our minds.

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April - July 2013 -- Renovated my backyard garden.  As I strugged to move on after the death of our little shih tzu, I decided to revamp the backyard. 

I started working on it in April and finished it in July.    There are many blog posts about the transformation as each project was finished.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

JULY

A 10 day trip to NYC to see Blair and celebrate my bithday! 

Gemze and me - July 22, 2013

Gemze's apartment in NYC

58th Birthday Photo - July 17, 2013

Gemze's NYC apartment

Blair - C & C time (coffee and chat)

Almost daily a trip to the corner diner a couple blocks from Blair's apt in NYC

Me and my doggie bag from the diner.

Ten days in NYC with my daughter was a great little mid-summer trip.  Refreshing to get away from my backyard gardening and to spend face-to-face time with my favorite girl in the whole world.  Celebrated my 58th birthday while there. A great week!! 

 

July 17th was my 58th birthday - a few photos of a couple special birthday wishes...

A birthday cake made of fresh cut flowers from a very dear friend - I love flowers and this is the perfect cake for me -- it's not edible and the flowers bring me much more joy than eating a piece of cake. 

A sweet card from my aunt with a note reminiscing and sharing her thoughts with me on the day I was born in 1955.  Priceless

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AUGUST

 

A very hot month of temperatures in the high 90's with very high humidity.  It was tough to do anything except sit by the air conditioner and read a good book.  Other than lunching with friends, and celebrating a few birthdays of special people, that's pretty much what I did. 

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SEPTEMBER

 Back on track with my running. Other than that, September was a pretty calm month. 

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OCTOBER

My daughter, Blair, was home for a visit the first week in October.  We celebrated her 24th birthday, went to see the musical Wicked at the Robinson Center and spent a lot of time enjoying my back yard garden.  It was her first time to see all the work I did renovating the back yard this year.

October 19, 2013 Little Rock SGKomen 5K

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  The 20th Anniversary of the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure 5K took place October, too.

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NOVEMBER

Most of November is usually spent gearing up for the upcoming holidays and making decisions on how they will all come together. 

 

I flew to NYC to be with Blair for Thanksgiving.  She is in the early stages of her career, and being on the bottom of the seniority, means she had to work holidays this year.  Never fear, I'm here--I hopped on a plane and loved every minute of our time together.  I stayed two weeks and had a great time. 

Thanksgiving in NYC 

 We took a couple days out of the norm and spent some time seeing a few things I wanted to see, such as the Plaza Hotel, the famous Christmas decorations on 5th Avenue, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree (see photo collage above). 

Jingle Bell 5K Arthritis Foundation NYC

Blair and I ran a Christmas 5K - Jingle Bell Run along the Hudson River.   

 

Finished simple and rustic pergola in my backyard

The pergola was completed in November, too!  My Dad and Randy completed the construction of my backyard pergola.  I love it.

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DECEMBER

Randy and I spent the week of Christmas in NYC with Blair.  We did the typical tourist stuff because it was Randy's first time to NYC. 

 

 

Grand Central Station

 

 Wall Street

NYSE Floor

Ice skating in Central Park NYC

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve

It was definitely a time of adjustments for my family of three. My house wasn't decorated with its' usual garlands, wreaths, and tree. I didn't prepare our usual formal Christmas dinner. But, none the less, we had our time together and that's the important part!  

 

Thanksgiving and Christmas both in NYC ended 2013 in a most memorable way... 

 

 

Farewell to 2013...  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Christmas Week in NYC - the final two days!

Christmas Week in NYC continues...

The day after Christmas was our visit to the New York Stock Exchange. 

Randy and me in front of NYSE

Randy made arrangements through his office for us to go down on the floor of the exchange. One of the guys, there on the floor, showed us around. After getting through the security - heck, they took our photo and actually made us a photo ID badge - it was really very exciting!

 The three of us standing in front of the balcony

where they ring the opening and closing bell.

Surprisingly, the balcony area where they ring the bell is much smaller than it appears on TV.  



Randy on the NYSE FLOOR with Mark

No doubt, this was the highlight of Randy's trip.  He has been in the business 31 years and always wanted to visit the floor of the exchange. 

No jeans, though - yes, we were informed prior to showing up. That's kind of an inside joke. Each time Randy communicated with the guy he reminded him "no jeans."    After 9/11, the public is no longer allowed inside the NYSE.  There used to be a viewing area for the public to go inside and see/watch the goings on - even then, the public wasn't allowed on the floor without guided passes, etc.  So, being on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange is a big deal, to us anyway!!!

We each had our picture taken with "the guys."

A beautiful Christmas tree on Wall Street...

Christmas Tree outside of the NYSE on Wall Street

Blair in front of Wall Street tree outside NYSE building

As we walked around the floor of the exchange, we saw FOX  and CNBC area.  It was really neat to see it all.    

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Trinity Church... 

Exterior 

 At the end of Wall Street is a beautiful old church - Trinity Episcopal Church with gorgeous architecture. I was told George Washington went to church there and that Alexander Hamilton is buried there. 

Blair and me - Trinity Church at Wall Street

Me inside Trinity Church at Wall Street

When I closed my eyes, it felt like I was in Little Rock's Trinity Episcopal Cathedral - where Blair went to elementary school - The Cathedral School.  I wanted to stay in there a long time.  It was heart warming as I took in the tranquil and peacefulness of the moment.

I bought a really pretty small cross made of olive wood - a comfort cross.

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Other sites, etc. thrown in here and there during the week.

 A visit to the 9/11 Memorial..

 Sweet and Sad

9/11 Memorial - Randy and Blair

Me at the 9/11 Memorial

Notice the single white rose in the background. 

It was cold and raining the day we visited the 9/11 memorial.  To be honest, I carry a memory of this day in my heart, mind, and soul.  I really didn't need to visit a site to feel the tragedy and pain of that day.  I visited the site to pay respect and therefore, I'm glad I was there.  

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Grand Central Station...

 Exterior of Grand Central Station

Me inside Grand Central Station 

Grand Central Train Station is grand!  It's actually a beautiful building - both interior and exterior. The background in this picture looks like a scene I've seen in a movie before, don't you think!  

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Battery Park...

 Another beautiful park and Christmas tree in NYC.  There's also great ice skating in Battery Park. There were several neat places to have lunch as well as little open air shopping booths to browse. Battery park is actually a very pretty park.

 Blair - Battery Park

Randy and me - Battery Park 

 It was so so so cold the day we walked around in Battery Park. I'm sad to say - we didn't stay long - for that reason alone.  I wouldn't even take my hood down for a picture - and I had on a thick warm headband under the hood of my coat.  That's how cold it was that day! 

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Carnegie Hall, Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Union Square, Greenwich Village, Washington Park, NYU, and Yankee Stadium, were also included in our week. 

Washington Park also had a big Christmas tree and serves as another popular park for filming scenes in movies.  I'm sure I've left some things out;  I've got to stop somewhere with this blog. 

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So, I've saved one of the best for last - our dinner with Gemze...

Gemze

Randy and I dined with Blair's landlady, Gemze. Randy and Gemze got to meet each other. The three of us enjoyed our evening together, with nice conversation, between three people who have one major thing in common --- Blair!   Our hearts forever grateful to this lovely lady who greatly loves our daughter, too!

It goes without saying, but... I had a great week being in NYC with Blair. 

Cheers,
Gayla