What A Difference 60 Degrees Makes!

Before.

After!

 It has jumped 60 degrees in 24 hours here in Iowa...  And you can tell! 

I'm guessing that we are getting a warm southern breeze and that is what is causing the shift... ( And not Global Warming!)  Because it is supposed to not last.   We are going back down into the single digits next week.  But for now...  Shorts Weather!

-15 running. Bad

30 degree running. Better

That is correct!   From -15 to 45 degrees brings out the people in shorts.. Including Cheryl.   It makes for an easier time bike riding as well.  For the last two days I have been free from icy hands and feet.   If only it could stay like this for the rest of the winter.

45 degree running!  BEST!

Heavy Fog See the car with lights on?

The warm snap has caused a few issues.  Heavy fog being one of them.   People around here refuse to drive with their lights on in heavy rain, snow or fog.  Sure, they probably do not need them on in the day time, but everyone else has to avoid them as they disappear into the background!   I almost hit an old man this morning because he pulled right out in front of me and I never saw him until I locked up the brakes!  Good thing the person behind me was paying attention.

The Sun tries to shine through. 

Can you see the car coming?
Neither could I...

The sun tried to shine through for a little while, but currently, the hazy mist remains.

As for the running!   Cheryl ran her 15 mile long run yesterday and ran an additional 6 miles today.   Normally, she takes the following day after a long run  off. 

Saturday,  Some Melting.

Today!  LOTS of melting. 

Today...Mostly Puddles and lakes
on the trail. 

Yesterday,  Still a little snow on trail. 

But with Pearson adding extra days to the project,   we are limited to Weekends for those longer training runs.   She has to get as many miles as she can in those two days... meaning she does not have the proper recovery time.   Luckily,  the project is only going to  last two more weeks.  ( I say luckily, as if having no job is a good thing.... which it is... sometimes.)

Cheryl is ready to be done. 

The frozen river is opening back up again, and the eagles were having a grand old time.

Frozen river. 

 They were very vocal this morning.   I love hearing eagles chipper about.   They hung out with the geese on the ice margins.  (The Geese were looking more frisky as well,  playing in the water like little kids.)  The geese do not appear to mind a giant predator hunching down next to them or flying around over head.   Possibly because an adult goose is not on the menu... Or the Canadian Goose has a reputation for being a "Total Baddies" and more than a handful for any Eagle.  Either way,  it was cool seeing them all together. 

Open River. 

So many Eagles.

I snapped a bunch of pictures of the eagles...again.   I guess I'm always hoping to capture a "moment".   For instance,  one flew over the trail and over Cheryl as she was running.   I was too far behind and had my camera put away ...thus, missing the shot.   However,  I did snag a few worth posting.   Given how many eagles were out today,  You would only think there were a few from my pictures.   Not the case!   There might have been over a hundred total in the 2 mile stretch of trail along that part of the river. (Possibly even more further downstream!)   The reason is probably due to the open water AND the abundance of trees along the trail.   As the river winds through the city, the larger/taller trees disappear.

Eagles Flying next to the Geese.

In addition to all that,  the Robins are back!  I guess it is February.   hey normally come back right about now.   However,   usually they are hanging out in the crab apple trees and cherry trees eating the berries and fruit.   Today,  with the grown melting and exposed,  they were chowing down on worms.  We'll see how hings change when the ground freezes up again.

They perch directly above us. 

So,   now we are trying to relax.   Cheryl says it seems like she spends all weekend preparing for Monday.  It seems like a sad reality of holding a job. We have to cram everything into those two days and it almost seems like we work harder on our days off than at the actual job.   All I can say is..."Two More Weeks!"   And the project is over and we can get back to our normal routine of training run followed by self direction, self fulfillment, and the pursuit of happiness.  Thanks for stopping in.  Oh!  And if you are in Iowa...  try to get outside and enjoy it while it lasts.