Week In Review

Raining at Pearson.

It has been a challenging week this week.   I have been working at Pearson; so that has demanded most of my time.   There really is not much to say about that really.   It's a job and pays.   And luckily it was fairly easy.   The end.

Work in an Office!  Duh!

We did not get any pizza or cupcakes this time.  Not even a handshake and a "Job Well Done!"   Just a "thanks for coming" and hope to see you next time.

One thing I DID pick up was a lovely cold.  Thanks for reminding me why I do not like crowds.  I imagine all those people in a small cramped room would tend to circulate any bug that might be going around.   Mostly it is a seriously stuffed up nose and a bit of a cough.   I'm hoping it will sort itself out before long and not digress into full blown Pneumonia.  Struggling to breathe through my nose is bad enough.

Running in the evening.

Nice Legs!

Cheryl runs!

In the mean time,  Cheryl and I have been running/biking whenever we can fit it in.  Mornings here... evenings there.   The weather has been most uncooperative as of late.   Basically it has been blisteringly hot and sunny.   And if it cool down and rain...  It does it at night.

Marble sized hail

Pretty flower

Speaking of rain.   We had a bit of Marble sized hail this last Wednesday.   It happened around 12:00.   I ran outside at picked up one of the ice drops before it melted away.   You can always seem to tell when there is hail because it sounds like gravel being thrown at the window.   This is the second time this year hail has manifested on our doorsteps.   Hopefully this is not an omen of Biblical proportions!

Cheryl makes a wish

Other than that,   not much else.    This cold really ticks me off because I can't seem to enjoy ANYTHING while under its influence.  (Influenza!   Get it!) Sniffing and blowing and coughing really makes bike riding so much more fun.

Playing in the water

Vultures wait for Cheryl to drop

And sleeping!    Oh Joy!   Waking up with a sore throat and clogged nose is so refreshing.   Cheryl really appreciates my midnight walks and gurgles as well.   Just go away already!

New Shirt Design

Cheryl's Burst of Speed.   We call her "The Flash!"

At least I'm done with Pearson so I can focus and getting better.   Cheryl continues to plug along with her Pearson at home project.  It is scheduled to finish tomorrow.  That leaves only ETS unless something else magically appears.  Cheryl has plans on working on her designs.   She created a shirt and several other things over the last several days.   We shall see how things work out,  but having the time to work on things...little by little,  is a big step.

Hope everyone else out there is healthy and enjoying the week better.   Nice weather would be ... nice.  For a change.   And having no ailments has got to be better than having  one.   Thanks for checking in.

14 miles at Kewash.

Coralville Three miles

Early mornings.

With a slight break in the scoring season,  Cheryl has been itching to squeeze in a long run before the heat of Summer overtakes our running schedule.   Normally we have to set aside a weekend or holiday for such things.   And Cheryl only wants to run in the cool of the morning.  This forces us to run in Coralville.   And only about three miles at a time.

Coralville Dam and bridge

Rain creates gentle waterfalls.

To be fair, the Iowa sun does tend to heat things up rapidly.  I started off with my light jacket, only to remove it about three miles in. Thankfully there was a light breeze blowing cool morning air.

Cheryl prepares for 14 miles!

High Blue Prairie Grass.

As mentioned int he title,  we decided to go back to Kewash.   Sure, there is no river out there, but it has been a while since we visited that area and thought it would be a nice day to give it a go.  Plus it is far closer than Muscatine and it has been several days since it has rained... Meaning the trail will probably be nice and dry.

Running into the sun

And down the path

This was the first time we experienced to new parking spot during the "non-winter" months.  I'm not sure what the grasses are, but I would guess either wheat or rye.  (I'm not a farmer, and even though I took various Botany classes, we never had to ID the all of the grasses.) But there was a lot of it around the parking area and trail entrance.

Chasing Rabbits.

Or racing.....and winning.

 Cheryl ran at a fairly fast pace...for a training run.  She was wondering why it seemed so difficult today...and then she looked at her Garmin.  I was just happy we did not have a melt down on the first day back.

The rabbits were back.   Same as every spring.  Even around our apartment, there are several "new" furry faces hopping around the yard.  I think these guys seem a little friendlier than last years.   Several times the rabbits ran right past me.   Cheryl almost stepped on one!

Cheryl smearing sunscreen on the Subie.

Final approach 

We listened to music for the majority of the run.  (Something we have not been able to do since Boston, I think.) And when it was finally over, Cheryl felt as if she had accomplished something good.  Yeah!   I'm glad we were able to come back to Kewash and have a good experience right out of the gate.   Perhaps we will have to integrate this path back into the rotation, along with Davenport and Muscatine.  We shall see.